In the society, there are still negative views towards disabled groups who are regarded as a group that is not independent, unable to work in the society and often considered as the burden for the society. Unfortunately, those points of view can be a barrier for the disabled groups to interact normally with the society. Responding to those issues, UGM students raised a mission to realize an inclusive community for disabled groups through a community, namely Give Your Heart.
“In Indonesia, we can see that the disabled groups not mingling and normal people are often confused when interacting with the disabled people, afraid to talk and so forth. Those are what we want to get rid of. We want the interaction between disabled and non-disabled people to be more natural, so we try to create an inclusive community that can build the interaction,” said Urfa Tabtila on Friday (9/6).
Together with Bernadeta Yosefani, Menuk Rizka Alauddina, Lidwina Meta, and Bangkit Wibowo, Urfa created this community last February through a students creativity programme. Since that, this community has been active in conducting various events which focus on the interaction between disabled and non-disabled groups during arts event that can also serve as a therapy facility to enhance the confidence of the disabled groups.
Give Your Heart events which aim to build an interaction between disabled and non-disabled groups are held every weekend at Cacat Ganda Sayap Ibu Orphanage in Kalasan, Yogyakarta. For more than two months, Give Your Heart community with disabled children in the orphanage intensely conduct various art-based events such as making ribbon keychains, origami, lanterns, as well as painting and dancing. All of the art products and performances are exhibited and performed in an event entitled give your heART which was held on Monday, May 22, 2017, at Societet Militaire Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta.
“Through these events, the community can see that the disabled groups also have the same ability with normal people,” said Urfa.
The events also obtained supports from many parties, including Yogyakarta’s artists, Sayap Ibu Foundation, Deaf Art Community, Yogyakarta Pantomime House, as well as communities who have concerns on disabled groups.
“We hope these events can acquire supports from more people, thus many people can be aware on the rights of equity for disabled groups,” said Menuk.
Besides various arts events with collaborative arts as the peak of the events, there is still another event that will be held by Give Your Heart collaborating with the disabled group in Sayap Ibu Orphanage, namely Education Day. Through Education Day, volunteers can introduce their field of study to the disabled groups by integrating it into arts events.
Urfa further said after finishing their programs with Sayap Ibu group, Give Your Heart commits to keep spreading their mission which is realizing an inclusive community in Indonesia. It is realized by doing interaction with the other disabled groups as well as showing their abilities to the community.
“Through this community, we want the society to realize that we are the same. We are not supposed to underestimate the disabled groups just because they are different,” she added.