Bali Online Information The Hidden Life of East Bali1|

The Hidden Life of East Bali

A child's Life of Labour

By Degung Santikrama

Mardu and Kacrut grew up together in a small village on the east coasts of Bali , one of the poorest areas of the island. As children, Mardu and Kacrut were inseparable. The two boys went to primary school in the mornings, and played together in the afternoons while looking after their families' cows. They were something of an odd couple. Kacrut was known for his mischievous cunning, while Mardu was a quiet boy who liked to read and study.

But if the villagers didn't expect to see Kacrut and Mardu become friends, few were surprised when both boys dropped out of school after the third grade. Indeed, few children in the area continue their education past primary school. Kacrut s parents, poor farmers with six children to support, and Mardu's mother, a widow with four children, could hardly afford the money for books, mandatory uniforms, shoes, and “teacher's gifts” that providing an education required.

Kacrut didn't mind much being forced out of school. He had never liked the lessons, oriented towards discipline and memorizing at the expense of creative thinking. Beside, he had heard from his older brother that he could earn some money by making handicrafts to sell to foreigners. And so, at the age of eight, Kacrut left his village for Tegalalang, a centre of handicraft production to

few were surprised

Competition among handicraft

hunt for frogs

started skipping school