Seeing this heartbreaking situation, Ni Pande Putu Etiartini, a mother with one child, was deeply moved. She felt a strong desire to help these children live a better and more decent life.
Ms. Putu spent many nights and early mornings reaching out to street children. Over time, she built friendships with them and eventually gained their trust. From this effort, the idea of a beach school was born. Together with several volunteers, Ms. Putu invited the children to learn how to read, write, and draw. The “Beach School” was held every Saturday. At first, only a few children joined the lessons, but eventually, 35 children began attending, with 15 coming regularly.
Not only in the Kuta area, Ms. Putu also established similar classes in Denpasar for street children in and around the city. These classes were held five times a week. Some of the children—sick, injured, or simply exhausted—asked Ms. Putu if they could stay with her for just one night. Her home became a shelter for them, until she eventually found a larger place to house them under one roof.
In 2007, a foundation named Yayasan Kasih Peduli Anak (The Loving Care for Children Foundation) was officially established. This would not have been possible without the support of Michael, a man born in California who consistently helped Ms. Putu in her mission. Michael Pate has a background in public health and has volunteered in several countries, helping in poor regions such as Afghanistan, Africa, and the Solomon Islands. In Indonesia, he had volunteered in Yogyakarta, Flores, and finally in Bali, where he assisted Ms. Putu in supporting street children and establishing the foundation.
The foundation was born out of concern for education, especially for neglected and underprivileged children. It aims to provide them with shelter, protection, healthcare, and the opportunity to live the kind of life every child deserves. The mission of Yayasan Kasih Peduli Anak is to offer support, education, protection, and to equip children with skills they can use to sustain themselves—without ever having to return to life on the streets.
In the beginning, Ms. Putu struggled to get permission from the children’s parents or their “bosses,” who felt threatened by the loss of income if the children were taken in and sent to school. However, over time and through her tireless efforts, more and more children came to live at the foundation. Eventually, some parents even voluntarily brought their children to her.
The foundation also helps young women. Ms. Putu has opened her doors to girls in crisis—some as young as 17, pregnant and abandoned, unable to care for themselves or their babies. Ms. Putu accepts them to live at YKPA and treats them as her own. All the children call her “Mommy.”
Today, some of those children have grown up and left the foundation. Many of them are now working and living independent lives.
Currently, 45 children live at the foundation. All of them are enrolled in school. Some have graduated from high school and are now continuing their studies at university.
Under the Yayasan Kasih Peduli Anak umbrella, several programs and homes are now operating: YKPA Children’s Home in Denpasar, a second YKPA Children’s Home in Tabanan, and a Bamboo School in Kuta—all part of the growing work of Yayasan Kasih Peduli Anak.
