JP/18/MASSAG (Jun's corrections entered 23/9) AIDS agency turns to massage for income, employment opportunity
I Wayan Juniartha The Jakarta Post/Denpasar
A strained neck did not prevent Dudy Rohadi, the coordinator of Matahati's After Care Program, from personally directing his staff to clean and spruce up the three-story building on that clear Saturday morning.
"I have to get the building ready for the soft opening or the boss will chew my head off," he grimaced.
The boss he referred to was Yacintha Egamadona, who was chatting animatedly outside the building with Brad Otto of Yayasan Burnet Indonesia (YBI).
She definitely did not look like the kind of person who would chew her employee's head of. Yet, her sharp, restless look and commanding gestures clearly showed that she wasn't a purring kitten either.
"We're taking a big step today and I don't want anybody messing it up," she barked.
The big step was the Matahati Massage Facility, the HIV/AIDS non governmental organization's (NGO's) first foray into the business world. The facility, which charges Rp 45,000 for foot reflexology and Rp 150,000 for full-body massage, is expected to provide an alternative source of income to the foundation and job opportunities to Matahati clients, many of whom are Injecting Drug Users (IDUs).
It is staffed by 10 certified reflexologists, who have undergone extensive training at Jari Menari, an international massage training center.
YBI and Bali Rehabilitation Fund (BRF) provided Matahati with technical and financial assistance to start the business.
"Profit is not our motivation. Basically, we help and assist local communities in creating employment opportunities, thus providing them with a means to survive the economic downturn caused by the Bali bombings," BRF coordinator Donna Leigh Holden said.
In the past three years, BRF, which was set up by the Australian government after the terrorist attack in October, 2002, has poured in A$1.5 million in financial assistance to over 75 projects all over Bali. The assistance covers a wide range of sectors, from agriculture and education to conservation.
"We believe that Matahati's initiative will be beneficial to the IDUs and their families," she added.
Growing foundation
Matahati, which was established in July, 2004, is one of the youngest fighters in the island's battle against the epidemic. Most of its staff, however, are veteran volunteers, who have been in the field since the beginning of the battle.
"We want to expand the coverage of HIV/AIDS programs to include a broader area and larger population," foundation chairwoman Yacintha Egamadona stressed.
The objectives are based on the realization that most of the island's HIV/AIDS-related resources are being disproportionately concentrated in the urbanized areas of Denpasar and Kuta. Moreover, a large number of the prevention programs have focused on IDUs.
"We need to pay more attention to the island's suburban and rural areas and devise appropriate programs for the families of IDUs and the general public," she said.
Currently, the foundation, which is based in Batubulan, Gianyar, manages four primary programs, namely harm reduction, care, support and treatment, recovery and aftercare. Its dedicated staff of 12 outreach workers and counselors provide services and support to over 700 clients, 400 of whom are IDUs, who come from the rural areas of Badung, Tabanan, Gianyar, Bangli and Buleleng.
"We also have to establish a special program to assist the former IDUs and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to regain or maintain their position as productive members of society," she added.
"The establishment of Matahati Massage Facility is the first of a series of programs aimed at providing the former IDUs, PLWHA and their families with vocational training and employment opportunities," she stressed.
It is also the first step toward building a self-supporting NGO. Since the beginning, the island's response to the epidemic has been made possible by generous financial support from foreign funding agencies, most notably the Indonesian HIV/AIDS Care and treatment Program (IHPCP).
"The NGOs, and later on the IDUs and PLWHA, must gradually learn to be self-supporting financially. Otherwise, the funding agency will be overwhelmed by the prolonged burden of funding so many NGOs," said Yacintha.
in box: Matahati Massage Facility Jl. Mertanadi 86 E, Kerobokan, Kuta (0361) 7425001
open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Caption Foto: Brad Otto (front) of Yayasan Burnet Indonesia enjoys an invigorating foot massage given by Vrisca, a reflexologist at the newly opened Matahati Massage Facility in Kerobokan, Kuta.