Batik currently "decorates" the lives of three young people: Aditya Dwi Saputra, 24, Sulistyani, 24, and Adin Arfianto, 23. Every day, they produce batik. They work to the produce the batik that customers have ordered.
Sulistyani, who is affectionately called Sulis, graduated from an SMPLB (junior high school for the disabled). She appeared to be busy when we met her on Thursday. Briefly, she dripped hot wax onto cloth. After it is finished, the batik will bear a motif of small dots. This pattern is called batik ciprat, or splotched batik.
After that, she and Adin applied color to the motifs on other fabrics. While working, they commented on each other\'s work and the colors they used.
Meanwhile, Aditya was busy dyeing cloth and hanging up the fabric that had just been boiled for drying. Every now and then, the elementary school graduate observed the results of his work with a smile on his face.
For these three young people who have intellectual disabilities, or below-average intelligence, batik was the big thing that changed their lives. Before, Sulis felt inferior. The daughter of a teacher, she twice failed to move up a grade in elementary school. At the SMPLB school, she experienced learning difficulties.
"The learning difficulty made me frustrated. I did not even dare to have a dream because I felt I could not do anything," she said.
Her turning point came three years ago. Sulis\'s parents took her to the rehabilitation and skills education program at the Kartini social rehabilitation center. Last year, Sulis finished the rehabilitation program. Now, she is taking part in a vocational training program before finding a job.
There are six courses on offer. Sulis chose batik, because batik can be produced anywhere, including at home. At the beginning, Sulis and her peers were trained to make only batik ciprat. Their training gradually expanded to rich motifs and patterns made using the canting, a copper-bowled receptacle for applying wax,copying existing patterns.
Sulis and her two peers are not skilled at making batik. They can expertly complete every step of the batik-making process, from dyeing the white cloth, binding the color, boiling, washing, drying and packaging the finished batik for selling.
Adin and Adit even create their own motifs and transfer their patterns onto wood to create a stamp. Aditya, who failed three times to move up a grade during elementary school, said he had self-confidence now. He has been invited several times to teach batik making.
Aditya has held batik-making workshops at several locations in Central Java, including Magelang, Kudus, Blora, Gunung Kidul and Yogyakarta. "At four of the locations, I taught batik-making to more than 40 people," he said with pride.
Sulis has also taught batik making to more than 20 people. She no longer feels inferior. She is also often involved in handicraft exhibitions that the Kartini BBRSBG organizes.
Earning income
The batik that Adin, Sulis and Adit make have become the mainstay of the Karitini BBRSBG center. Several agencies and ministries across the country order their batik, which are sold for Rp 110,000 to Rp 115,000 per piece.
Every day, the three young people produce three to five pieces of batik cloth. They earn Rp 15,000 per piece. They also earn an income from participating in an exhibition or leading a workshop.
Aditya said that he earned between Rp 600,000 and Rp 1,000,000 a month. "Because I already have an income, I can now set aside money for my father when I go home," said the resident of Pathuk, Gunung Kidul.
Aditya saved up for two years to buy a motorcycle for Rp 7 million. Sulis has only been saving for a year, so she has not bought anything yet.
However, she has been able to provide for herself for a year without her parents’ support.
Starting a business
The batik training slowly opened a new chapter in their lives towards a brighter future. In Aditya’s case, he decided to work in the furniture industry after graduating from elementary school and realizing that he was not smart enough to advance to junior high. He became unemployed when the company he worked for closed down.
Aditya originally aspired to work at an automotive repair shop. After joining the training program at the Kartini BBRSBG and gaining batik-making skills, he no longer wanted to work at a repair shop. "In the future, I plan to open my own batik business," he said firmly. He plans to start his batik business after he finishes the training program in December.
Aditya has already begun drawing up a plan and has started scouting for villagers in the surrounding area who are interested in working at his future business.
Self-confidence
Hanung Faris Fahrudin, a batik instructor at the Kartini BBRSBG, said that training in batik-making played a major role in the growth of the three youths, and not merely in developing their artistic sense. Making batik ciprat at the BBRSBG boosted their confidence.
They are now able to make and sell their batik. The training slowly nurtured their confidence and helped develop other skills, like business and marketing. "Aditya is active. He began to upload his batik work [online] to attract buyers from various places," said Hanung.
During Idul Fitri, Aditya actively sought sales opportunities. He took some of his batik ciprat home during mudik [holiday exodus] and sold them to relatives, friends and neighbors.
Hanung said that the three youths showed rapid growth from the very first month they joined the batik course.
"In the early stages of batik making, they were scared, nervous and confused whenever a guest from a [state] office or agency came to visit. Never mind promoting [their batik], they were silent when someone asked them a question. They usually [asked] me or other BBRSBG teachers to guide the guests," he said.
Murhardjani, the head of the Kartini BBRSBG-Temanggung, said batik ciprat was the center’s iconic product. The batik is well known and sold in a number of areas, and regular customers include several ministries and other institutional offices.
The Kartini BBRSBG thus passes on the skill of making batik ciprat to its residents and those with intellectual disabilities at its five branches in Wonosobo, Kulon Progo, Sukoharjo and Blora. Hanung said the batik had more than just commercial value; batik was worth developing because it had an extraordinary impact on the mental and psychical development of people with intellectual disabilities.
"Their batik is accepted and bought by people from several parts of Indonesia. This makes the batik makers with intellectual disabilities happy and more confident, proud of their abilities. This pride is of crucial importance. Later, we provide guidance and encourage them to become more involved in the community," he said.
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