Story
Accessing school helps Dena discover her passion for cooking
Learn about Dena, a girl with disabilities, and how we helped her access an education in her remote village in Indonesia.
Come with us to a village nestled at the foot of a volcano in East Java, Indonesia and meet Dena, an adolescent girl who has multiple disabilities. Mainstream school education always proved challenging for Dena. She wanted to learn, but without teachers who could customize her education to her specific needs, Dena’s parents decided to withdraw her from school at eight years old.
From there, life remained challenging for Dena. She couldn’t read, write, or speak even though she had attended school for several years. The nearest school with a special education program was hours away. Simply too far for Dena and her family to travel to on a regular basis. So, Dena remained home with her family while other kids her age went to school.
This is an unfortunate reality for many children like Dena, who live in remote areas and can’t access an education that meets their needs. That’s where Perkins stepped in to help.
Opening access to school for students with disabilities
Even though there weren’t any school programs near Dena that could help her, Dena did engage in local programs run by community volunteer groups. Eventually, these volunteers decided to start a school for children with disabilities like Dena, but lacked an experienced teaching staff.
Around this time, Perkins and our local partner, Yayasan Bhakti Luhur, connected with this school and we met Dena. Together with Yayasan Bhakti Luhur, we hosted training sessions for teachers and families. Dena and her mother, Mrs. Een, joined a transition-centered workshop that transformed Mrs. Een’s perspective on her daughter’s abilities.
Initially, Mrs. Een had many complaints about Dena’s limitations. It was difficult for Dena to complete what many consider “simple daily activities” and so she didn’t give Dena many responsibilities around the house. Through these training sessions, Mrs. Een learned the power of patience, especially when implemented with the right teaching methods and modifications.
We helped Dena’s family set goals, which included helping her mother to cook, do laundry, and clean the rooms.
Learning helps Dena find her place in the world
When we followed up with Dena a few months later, she amazed us with her progress! Now she cleans her room, sweeps the house, waters the plants, and even brews coffee for the family and guests.
Mrs. Een credits the transition training for opening her mind and enabling the family to introduce new, effective practices in the home.
“I thought I was patient enough and knew how to support Dena, but actually I wasn’t. Now I know and I have a better way and understand the true value of patience. The training was an eye opener for me.”
Mrs. Een, Dena’s mom
During a cooking class at home, Dena quickly picked up the skills to cook two dishes: vegetable soup and fried tempeh. Dena’s abilities amazed her parents, who were initially apprehensive about letting her into the kitchen. When her mother had a guest over, Dena took the initiative to make a drink and serve it to the guest.
Now, Dena’s dream is to continue learning recipes and one day have her own small business selling her dishes. Sometimes, the biggest impact one can have on a person’s life is unlocking opportunities so that they can find where they belong in the world.
Help children like Dena find their place in the world.
3 in 10 children with disabilities in Indonesia have never even set foot in a classroom. Unfortunately, this story is not uncommon around the world. That’s why Perkins works in 17 countries with local partners to train teachers, empower families, and help children like Dena find their place in the world.
