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Survey of Pedahan Village Karengasem Life where Bali Street Kids Come from

A Journey to Pedahan: The Beginnings of YKPA 2007

When I first started the street kids school on Kuta Beach, only seven children were willing to join. These children, around 10 years old, were eager to attend a proper elementary school. One of the unforgettable stories is that of Ketut Risky, a cute boy with a polite demeanor and good attitude. He and his younger sibling wanted to come to my home to stay and attend school like any other child. Before taking Risky to my home, I sought permission from his parents in Karangasem, where they originated.

Without knowing what the village of Pedahan in Karangasem was like, I, Putu Etiartini, along with co-founder Michael Pate and extraordinary volunteers, embarked on this journey. This marked the beginning of YKPA. We are forever grateful for the assistance of kind-hearted people who answered the call to help the children of Bali. Special thanks go to the incredible young individuals like Kadek Yuliantari, Kadek Guru, Suewda (whom I nicknamed "Mr. Volunteer"), Sangtu, and Adi, who was then a law student at Udayana University. Their contributions were invaluable in the establishment of YKPA.

Our journey to Karangasem to meet Risky's parents was not an easy one. The trip from Denpasar took 2 to 3 hours, and the area was extremely dry and hot. From the main road, we had to park the car and walk to their homes, which felt like climbing a mountain. The walk from one house to another took the entire day, covering a distance of about 7 km through fields, valleys, and rugged terrains, all at the foot of Mount Agung.

We packed simple lunches and carried them as we walked. Our first adventure to Karangasem was exhausting, spanning 12 hours from 7 am to 7 pm, just to visit five children's homes. Amazingly, after a day of dry, arduous journey, it started pouring rain as soon as we reached the car, and we were thankful for not getting wet.

The first children we brought home, which later became YKPA’s headquarters, were Ketut Risky, Wayan Trisna, Devi, Merta Sini, and Putri. They began living with us and grew up alongside my son, Gustu. Finding a nearby elementary school for them was our next step.

This story marks the beginning of YKPA, a testament to the resilience and determination of these children and the unwavering support of our volunteers.

By Putu Etiartini, Founder of

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eet7X5F76H4

Life Beyond the Bali Street Kids Supported by YKPA

I feel very sad when I recall the first moments I got to know street children more deeply. Their age should be spent in school, playing with friends, and enjoying childhood. However, they have to be on the streets, selling bracelets, begging, or selling fruit to earn money. Even then, the money is not fully used by the children themselves; most of it has to be handed over to their boss or adults, or even family members who brought them from the village to live in Kuta, Bali, where many tourists pass by enjoying Bali.

Their age should be for schooling and playing, not working hard to earn money. I wondered, what could I do for them? Just giving them food is not enough to help them. Then the idea of providing them with education came up. But where to start? Sending them to formal school would be difficult.

One night, I heard that some street children were arrested by the local security (trantib). That night, at 1:30 AM, I went to see them. They were arrested and lying on the ceramic floor like fish. I saw the frightened faces of the little children. I couldn’t imagine the trauma of their childhood with such experiences. How could they receive love and protection from their parents like other children?

Living on the streets can make them vulnerable to various forms of abuse, both sexual from tourists or adult strangers, and physical abuse. A hard life can happen anytime and every moment. The feeling of pressure and worry can worsen because something bad can happen at any time.

There was a story from the local security (that most street children are afraid of them. Even from a distance of 500 meters, if they see the shadow of the trantib, they will run as fast as possible to hide or avoid being caught. One trantib officer told me that one day he was just walking around without being on duty, but the street children recognized his face and ran away in fear. One of the children was hit by a car and died. The trantib officer did not intend to catch or scare them. It was very unfortunate.

Trantib officers are also human. They are only tasked with maintaining security, not being evil to street children. Many of them are kind-hearted like police officers in general. They have feelings and families. However, some street children like to steal and pickpocket tourists’ wallets who pass by in Popis 1 and Popis 2 in Kuta, Bali. Not all street children do that, but some have crime ingrained in their minds since childhood, maybe because they are forced or no longer cute enough to sell bracelets as teenagers.

If we trace it, who is to blame and who should be responsible? The parents who gave birth to them in this world do not take responsibility for their lives. I feel I can’t do much to help them, even though my heart is very sad to see their reality. Imagining my child, Gustu, who is still small and the same size as them, I could never imagine that happening to him, even though I am a single mother.

At that time, I thought of helping with the small things they needed. I asked one of them, Risky, and his brother. Every night I saw them selling bracelets on the street. Risky is the cutest, most charming, and polite child. It’s a pity that such a good child is on the streets every night without schooling. I asked him what he wanted. He answered, “I really want to go to school and wear a red and white uniform like other children my age.” Tears came out of my eyes hearing those words. I was determined to fight for them to get an education, hoping their dreams would come true.

Please follow and stay tuned for the next story. I will be uploading a video soon, which is currently in progress. Your comments and feedback are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for reading and watching the video. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Journey of Hope: The Street Kids School Project Before Bamboo School

Street Children in Bali, 2007

No child wants to be born and grow up on the streets, but they are extraordinary children. The harsh life on the streets and the nightlife they frequently encounter and experience, and some even engage in criminal activities out of necessity to bring money to their families. Their determination to survive in the bustling city of Kuta, where many foreign tourists come from all over the world, both good and bad, is remarkable. Violence can happen at any time, especially sexual abuse or physical violence. They have to run whenever officers come within a few meters, even if the officers are not on duty. Their fear is evident every moment, afraid of being caught by officers who are just doing their job to maintain street security.

So much violence and trauma occur to them. Because they have to work to earn money for their families, they do not have the opportunity to go to school. Leaving in the evening and returning at dawn, children their age should be playing and learning, protected by their parents. Unfortunately, they have to go to the streets to struggle to make a living.

Seeing them on the streets at the same age as my son, my heart was moved to help them. But I also didn't know how. Sometimes I would come bringing ice cream, snacks, and talk to them, giving them small attention. Once I asked, "What do you want?" Some of them said money, food, and toys. But Ketut, the most innocent child among them, said, "Ma'am, I want to go to school wearing a red and white uniform, studying in an elementary school like other children." Tears streamed down my face as I hugged him, trying to think about what I could do. Please follow net story Ykpa starting by joinwithusinternational.org

https://youtu.be/Uvxttofhtwg

The Story Behind YKPA Organization Bali Indonesia

The Birth of YKPA: A 17-Year Adventure

Welcome to the YKPA blog! I’m Putu Etiartini, the founder of ykpa.org. If you’re interested in my personal journey, you can also check out my other blog https://putuetikbalistory.blogspot.com/,

Which I started in 2007. Here, I share my experiences and the story of YKPA. Let’s travel back to 2007 and 2008 to explore the beginnings of YKPA and follow its story up to 2024. It’s been a 17-year journey filled with ups and downs, challenges, and triumphs.

After returning from a trip to survey organizations across the islands of Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, and other parts of Indonesia, I was inspired by the diverse cultures and languages I encountered. Meeting different people was incredibly interesting and rewarding. Despite some initial challenges, such as being a woman riding a motorcycle and facing judgments from locals, my friendly demeanor and smile helped change their perceptions. My businese partner, Michael Pate, and I were on a mission to help people, which was an essential part of our journey.

During our month-long trip back from Flores, I began thinking about starting a non-profit organization in Bali. We also planned to extend our help to other islands like Flores. Starting YKPA was a significant challenge, especially with only a high school education and finaly I get greduation collage assiosian degree nothing to late to school is my age was 27 year old, Despite Michael Pate support and his impressive qualifications (RN, NP, MPH), I still felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the project. However, we began YKPA with a mission to help street children, and that was the start of our incredible journey.

Since its inception, YKPA has been dedicated to supporting street children, disadvantaged children, and empowering women in Bali. We also provide disaster relief and bring donations to villages in need. Through ykpa.org, we have positively impacted the lives of many children, offering them education, shelter, and hope for a brighter future.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope my story inspires you to pursue your dreams and make a difference.

Stay tuned for the next chapter: the beginnings of YKPA.

Putu Etiartini and Michael Pate

https://youtu.be/kdHuNKzHppU

Putu Etiartini And co founder Michael Pate story about starting this Yayasan Kasih Peduli Anak and Bali street kids project

Yayasan Kasih Peduli Anak (YKPA) ykpa.org

Founded in 2007 by Putu Etiartini and co-founder Michael Pate, YKPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children in Bali, Indonesia. Our mission is to provide education, shelter, medical care and a children's home for kids from different backgrounds, offering care for street children and education to give them a brighter future.
See the impact of our work firsthand through inspiring videos that showcase our journey from the very beginning in 2007 to where we are today.
Our Projects Include:

✅ Bali Street Kids School in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia (since 2007) – We bring education and hope to children living on the streets and in slums. We provide homeschooling, food, and supplies donations, ensuring these children receive the support they need to thrive.

✅ YKPA Denpasar Children’s Home (since 2008) – We offer a safe and loving home environment for disadvantaged children from various backgrounds, including those with disabilities, those who have experienced trauma or sexual abuse, orphans, and children whose parents are unable to support them. We care for children from infancy up to 18 years old.

✅ YKPA Tabanan Children’s Home (since 2015) – Our home provides nurturing and secure care for younger disadvantaged children under 15 years old, including those with disabilities, those who have faced trauma or sexual abuse, orphans, and children whose parents are financially unable to care for them.

✅ Village Kids Project & Remote Village Support (since 2020) – Initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, this project brings education, healthcare, and essentials to children in underserved villages. We support village kids with English and arts classes, distribute food and groceries to the community, and care for the elderly with blankets and food donations.

✅ Women’s Shelter – We empower women with safety, skills, and opportunities for a better future. Our shelter provides a haven for abused and traumatized women, including those facing stigma for being pregnant without a husband.

✅ Disaster Relief Project – In response to natural disasters in Indonesia and around the world, we distribute food, donations, and essential support to those in need, offering a helping hand during challenging times.
By following our Facebook page, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube channel, you’ll get an inside look at the lives we’re transforming and the communities we’re uplifting.

Join Us in Making a Difference
Join our international community in making a difference! Follow us today and be a part of our journey.

Our projects include:

✅ YKPA Denpasar Children’s Home – Providing a safe and loving environment for children in need.

✅ YKPA Tabanan Children’s Home – Supporting and nurturing children in rural areas.

✅ Bali Street Kids School in Kuta – Offering education and hope to children living on the streets.

✅ Village Kids Project & Remote Village Support – Bringing education, healthcare, and essentials to children in underserved villages.

✅ Women’s Shelter – Empowering women with safety, skills, and opportunities for a better future.

By following our Facebook page, you’ll get an inside look at the lives we’re transforming and the communities we’re uplifting.

Join with us International org in making a difference! Follow us today and be part of our journey.Our projects include:

✅ YKPA Denpasar Children’s Home – Providing a safe and loving environment for children in need.

✅ YKPA Tabanan Children’s Home – Supporting and nurturing children in rural areas.

✅ Bali Street Kids School in Kuta – Offering education and hope to children living on the streets.

✅ Village Kids Project & Remote Village Support – Bringing education, healthcare, and essentials to children in underserved villages.

✅ Women’s Shelter – Empowering women with safety, skills, and opportunities for a better future.

By following our Facebook page, you’ll get an inside look at the lives we’re transforming and the communities we’re uplifting.

Join with us International org in making a difference! Follow us today and be part of our journey.joinwithusinternational.org