|
YKIP in association with the Annika Linden Foundation is continuing to fund an orthopedic and prosthetic workshop in the village of Abiansemal, Badung, In order to better service the needs of the disabled, ALF has helped YAKKUM purchase a Kijang van, which is being used to take prosthesis and wheelchairs to outlying areas as well as transport clients to Java who need operations.
 At present, the only facility for the manufacture of orthopedic and prosthetic aids in Bali Is at YAKKUM. The only other option is to send those with disabilities to Yogyakarta, Central Java for fitting, repairs, adjustment or replacement of equipment, a process which is physically difficult and draining for many, time consuming and costly, and particularly difficult for those from poor families. Every day there are over 15 clients who use the YAKKUM facilities in Abiansemal. This YKIP-ALF sponsored workshop enables more disabled young people to be reached and offered mobility, thus improving the quality of life of Bali's disabled people.
YAKKUM Bali is a non-profit organisation helping physically challenged young people in poor areas in Bali. Through physical rehabilitation in the form of operations, physio- and occupational therapy, education and occupational training, YAKKUM Bali strives to improve the quality of life of Bali's physically disabled youth in order to promote economic and social independence, self-confidence and self-respect, and respect and value within the community.
 YAKKUM, with assistance from YKIP and ALF, has constructed a workshop to manufacture mobility aids such as braces, prosthesis, artificial limbs, crutches and orthopedic shoes, as well as carry out fittings, repairs and adjustments on aids and wheelchairs. Their policy is to employ only physically challenged staff.in addition to the workshop itself, there are plans to produce a video/VCD and a brochure on the making of said prostheses (pending funding). YAKKUM has an ongoing training program set out to both improve the current skills of staff and train new personnel in the manufacturing of mobility aids.
There are 11,144 registered physically disabled in Bali and we aim to reach as many as possible from all nine regions of Bali, with special emphasis on assisting those from poorer families.
 As a sector of society, the physically challenged are frequently overlooked by development programs, and as a result face many obstacles in regards to accessibility, inflexible environments and prejudiced attitudes. YAKKUM works to grant empowerment and independence to physically challenged people in Bali through mobility and enabling them to become economically independent and respected members of their community. With aids such as braces, artificial limbs, wheelchairs, crutches, and orthopedic shoes, which can be properly maintained, the disabled of Bali will be enabled to walk, to use public transport, to socialize more freely and to reduce the burden placed on their families by becoming independent.
Loka Bina Karya Office in Karangasem
Beginning in July 2005, YAKKUM focused its activities on its Karangasem branch. Karangasem is one of Bali's poorest areas and does not benefit from tourism as much as the rest of the island. Karangasem is in third place, after Buleleng and Gianyar as the regency having the most disabled on the island. Integrated services for the disabled are available at the Loka Bina Karya office in Karangasem, where YAKKUM and the Regional government are working together to help the disabled. The government has given its office space to YAKKUM and an official MOU was signed on Deember 20, 2005.
Before moving into the LBK building, YAKKUM made minor repairs, such as fixing the roof, painting the building as well as fixing up the rooms. In the future, YAKKUM hopes to make major repairs to make the entire building wheelchair accessible. The LBK functions as a center for training for disabled persons in Bali. In 2005 YAKKUM held a two-month training in how to make handicrafts out of the "ata" reed (baskets) for 15 participants. Most of those trained now work as ATA artisans. It is a shame that tourism in Bali has decrease, influencing the income of these artisans.
In 2005, YAKKUM Bali hired a new fieldworker. By using a motorbike donated by ALF/YKIP, this fieldworker has been able to go all over Karangasem servicing clients. Eighty-two new clients have been visited up through April 2006. These consist of both males and females, married and single. The majority suffer from polio, there are amputees as well as other disabilities. YAKKUM have provided braces, prostheses and wheelchairs to these clients as well as medical treatment, training courses and scholarships.
In 2006, one of YAKKUM's major projects is to provide a number of bathrooms specially outfitted for the disabled. Here you can see the before and after photographs of a client who used to bathe out of an old discarded drum and now has his own bathroom to splash around in!
Renovation at YAKKUM BALI main office in Abiansemal (housed at the Social Welfare Department):
 Even though the renovations took place after the petrol hike (and therefore an increase in all materials and labor), YAKKUM was able to successfully complete this project within budget. Every area of the building now can be accessed by wheelchairs. An exercise railing was installed to assist those with new protheses/braces to practice walking. All doorways were widened to allow wheelchair access and the kitchen and bathroom were totally renovated to make it more comfortable for clients to use them.
The entire building was painted and the roof repaired.
Visits from Government Officials. The Regent and Vice-Regent of Badung have made three visits to YAKKUM, with a grand ceremony occurring on December 12, 2005 with the governor of Bali also in attendance. YAKKUM's orthopedic shoe-maker, I Made Suarcana, very proudly made shoes for the governor, the regent and the head of parliament. The Bali Rehabilitation Fund/ACCESS under the auspices of AusAid funded three YAKKUM clients to take a wood-carving course. A demonstration of their skills was shown on December 12. The assistance of ALF/YKIP to YAKKUM was acknowledged at this ceremony.
Administration. YAKKUM hired an accountant, Sang Ayu Eka (client), a graduate of UNUD's accounting department (Diploma 3). Aside from being YAKKUM's new accountant, she is also the treasurer for the Communication Forum for Disabled Parents and Children and is forming a new organization called Indonesian Coalition for Disabled Women. She attended the Regional Workshop to Empower Disabled Women in Surabaya, Java from November 16-19, 2005. Sang Ayu is a real asset to the YAKKUM team.
Prosthesis and Orthopaedic Workshop. Since 2005 YAKKUM has been able to offer complete services to its clients. The previous years, they made prostheses, braces and repaired wheelchairs. This year they have expanded into making orthopaedic shoes as I Made Suarcana spent a year at YAKKUM in Jogjakarta learning how to make these shoes.
Up to now, YAKKUM Bali has given out 39 braces (19 new ones and 20 repaired), 30 prostheses (24 new and 6 repaired), 52 wheelchairs (48 donated by Rotary Club of Nusa Dua and 4 wheelchair donated by Rotary Seminyak) and 3 pairs of orthopaedic shoes and also 7 pairs of Normal shoes. Many of the clients would not be mobile at all without these types of assistance. Many of the clients cannot afford the transport costs to come to YAKKUM, so either YAKKUM provides them with transport monies or goes to their home. In the future, we will ask clients to give what they can to increase their feeling of responsibility and ownership.
 Clients to Jogjakarta. With the assistance of transport funds from ALF/YKIP to YAKKUM clients, in 2005 YAKKUM was able to send 16 people to the YAKKUM Center in Jogjakarta, Java to receive further treatment or training. Three people had operations, two took secretarial and computer classes, two courses in batik making, two in electronics and two in sewing. YAKKUM is looking for work for them in Bali now.
Gamelan. A gamelan is a musical ensemble consisting of a number of gongs, drums, flutes and metallophones (xylophone type instruments made out of bronze keys). Sidhakarya gongmakers in Blahbatuh have just finished making YAKKUM an angklung (four tone) gamelan and lessons should be beginning in July 2006.
Recreation In 2005, YAKKUM held two "tirta yadnya" or holy pilgrimages to sites on Bali for their disabled clients and families on November 23 and December 30, 2005. Seventy disabled clients from Karangasem went to Serangan, Garuda Wisnu Kencana and Uluwatu. Jan's Tours helped by donating one vehicle.
In early 2006, seven clients were sent to Jogjakarta for operations and to enroll in courses at the YAKKUM center there.
IN THE FIELD
YAKKUM goes out into the field nearly every week, delivering prostheses, braces and wheelchairs as well as scouring the countryside for new clients who may need their assistance. The following photographs show what they are doing in the field:
The YAKKUM staff consists of : I Nengah Latra (Operations Manager), I Made Gunung (Field Officer), I Ketut Nesa (prostheses maker), I Nyoman Sumerta (bracemaker), and Made Suarcana (shoemaker)
Click here to read stories of some of YAKKUM's clients
|
