It’s an exciting time for 8-year-old Kadek Dwi Purwana Yasa – and a big smile crosses his face after receiving his new, replacement prosthetic leg from PUSPADI Bali. Every six months or so, he returns to our workshop to be refitted with a new prosthetic leg, as he has been growing so fast. Sadly, Kadek Dwi lost his leg after a motorbike accident in 2011 when he was travelling home to Karangasem.

Since then, it has been a long, difficult journey for him as he had to deal with losing his leg and then learning to walk again with a new one. It’s tough for his family too, as without PUSPADI Bali and the PAR 5 Club’s (their child’s sponsor) help, they couldn’t afford quality rehabilitation support for Kadek Dwi. His mother makes offerings for sale and his father works as a security guard at a wedding organiser company. They are like many others in Indonesia who are living on or below the poverty line, so basic healthcare, good jobs and an education are often out of their reach. It is why Kadek Dwi and his family are extremely grateful for PUSPADI Bali and PAR 5 for sponsoring his leg because it improves his chances of inclusion in his community as well as pursuing his dreams.

PAR 5 Club President Tony Lorenzo and member Norm Key are in our workshop and watching as Kadek Dwi is fitted with a prosthetic leg that they’ve kindly paid for. They describe it as the ultimate feeling. “The money comes direct from us to the people who actually need it so there is no waste of money,” Tony said. “The self-reward of being able to come and see it all is worth it and I would encourage people to give direct to the people of Bali who really need it the most.” PAR 5 put aside money each year for charity projects, like PUSPADI Bali, instead of using the funds for an end-of-year party. The organisation plans to continue doing this in 2017. PAR 5 also recently generously paid for modifications on a motorbike for Darma (one of the people we support) who became paralysed after falling out of a jackfruit tree. Both Tony and Norm see how their sponsorship and donations are directly reaching local people with a disability who without our help, would face an uncertain, destitute future.