What we do — Sjaki Singa

0 – 8 years · Singaraja

Play-and-learn groups

Seven groups, six mornings a week. Each child joins the group that matches their development, not their age.

In Lodtunduh (Ubud)

Bintang — the children who have progressed the furthest, usually 5–6 years old. Preparation for special education.
Pelangi — 4–5 years old, children who follow the regular lesson programme well.
Matahari — 2–3 years or older with a low level. Stimulation through sensory activities.
Bulan — children with autism or behavioural challenges who need a lot of structure.

In Singaraja

Two groups: a group of younger children, many with Down syndrome, and a group of older children, predominantly autistic.

Parents sit alongside

Parents usually come along to the lessons. That's deliberate: it teaches them to communicate with their child and support them at home. Sometimes a child actually works better without a parent present — especially in preparation for special education.

Tracking and adjusting

For every child we keep a learning-support plan with notes, goals and two progress reports a year. On average there is a home visit once every three weeks.

12 years and up

Teen groups

After school there's a gap in Bali: for young people with intellectual disabilities there's little to do and nowhere to go. We offer a fixed place, five days a week. Nineteen teenagers in Lodtunduh, four in Singaraja.

Personal hygiene — learning what it takes to feel, look and smell clean and fresh.
Creative work — products that are sold via the Sjaki shop in Ubud.
Sport — developing skills and strengthening the group.
Cleaning training — practical work experience, using the same step-by-step method.

The group is very close — alongside being classmates they've become real friends.

The goal: to grow these activities into real work experience, so that in future the young people can earn their own income.

Visitors welcome. By appointment you can join in an activity — painting masks, making kites, music or sport. Fun for children and young people.

For teachers · since 2005

Teach the Teacher

Together with Dutch volunteers, who also mentored the Balinese teachers, experiences and insights have been exchanged about methods and programmes.

The training covers background knowledge about different disabilities and syndromes, workshops on dealing with a disability, movement plans, and training in communication and leadership.

Three competency levels

Assistant — supports in the group.
Independent teacher — runs a group on their own.
Trainer teacher — shares knowledge and gives training to others.

This last level is the most important: it's how the knowledge spreads across the island without us needing to be there.

For schools

Educational workshops

Schools for children with disabilities often have little specific knowledge about these children and lack suitable teaching methods.

We provide training on site: practical, with materials left behind, and focused on what the school itself says it needs.

Request a workshop

Results

What it delivers

2×

a year, a progress report per child

3

weeks between home visits, on average

1×

a week, swimming lesson, minimum

½ year

in which parents already notice behavioural improvement

Will you help?

With a gift, as a volunteer or by sharing our story. Every contribution gives a child in Bali a place where they can be who they are.

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