Live Street Kids in Bali’s Villages: A Hidden Reality Behind Paradise of Bali

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The Life of Bali Street Kids: A Story from YKPA



Why do street children from the villages of Karangasem, Pedahan, and Munti Gunung go to Denpasar and Kuta? Bali, renowned as the "Island of Gods" with its rich culture, hospitality, and stunning natural beauty—including mountains, forests, and oceans—does not offer a decent life to everyone. Especially in East and North Bali, specifically in Karangasem, where the villages are still underdeveloped. The dry land in these areas is not suitable for rice cultivation, and the lack of education makes it difficult for the community to harness the potential of the land for farming or livestock, or to capitalize on the scenic beauty for income.

Children in these villages do not attend school and come from backgrounds where they can only help their families by herding livestock. Their parents have no stable income, so the children are sent to the city to seek livelihood. As adults no longer draw sympathy while begging on the streets, they exploit the innocence of young children or mothers carrying babies with sad faces to elicit sympathy from people who then give them money. In Kuta, a tourist hotspot where visitors bring foreign currency, they see these children as objects to be exploited.

These children are brought to Kuta, often organized by their own families—perhaps by an older sibling, neighbor, or even their parents, who cruelly allow or instruct their children to beg on the streets. The adults remain ignorant of the children's plight, especially at night, when the streets become dangerous with threats of pedophilia or physical violence.

Their lives are truly heartbreaking. From a young age, they are forced to fend for themselves and endure many traumas. However, I believe there are two possible outcomes for these children: they will either grow up strong, resilient, and mature beyond their years, eventually succeeding through hard work, or they will become damaged, closed-minded individuals who may turn to crime or prostitution.

At YKPA.org, we strive to provide education, starting from makeshift classes on the beaches of Kuta to the current Bamboo School, aiming to give these street children an equal chance at education. We hope that through education, they can develop into open-minded individuals with a successful future.

Personal experience from Founder YKPA Bali street kids project 
Putu Etiartini / founder ykpa.org



 

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