Kartini Day: Foreign inmates join salon training at Bali women's prison

The Class II-A Women’s Penitentiary in Kerobokan, Badung Regency, Bali, held a salon training session on makeup and Balinese hairstyling, as well as a crafts exhibition, as a form of fostering self-reliance to commemorate Kartini Day.

“Every time they receive training, they get a certificate as proof that they have acquired skills training,” said the Head of the Class II-A Women’s Penitentiary, Ni Luh Putu Andiyani, during the Kartini Day commemoration in Kerobokan, Badung Regency, on Tuesday.

The facility brought in salon practitioners to provide training on Balinese hairstyling and traditional makeup.

Wearing kebaya, shawls, and kain kemben, 20 representatives of the prison inmates (WBP) participated in the makeup and hairstyling training.

“Usually, I’m used to natural makeup for everyday, but this is Balinese hairstyling training for a different purpose, so it’s a bit different because it’s my first time and quite difficult,” said inmate Kasarin Khamkhao from Thailand, who has been serving a seven-year sentence out of a total 16-year conviction for a drug case.

They took turns applying makeup and styling each other’s hair for a subsequent fashion show.

Like models, they strutted in the hall carrying craft products such as bags, knitted scarves, hand fans, and light snacks like pie susu cakes.

On that occasion, 80 inmate representatives also received literacy in the form of spiritual counselling and political education.

In addition to salon training, empowerment provided to female inmates includes making tempeh crisps, hand fans, cakes, nail care, up to chicken farming, catfish ponds, and gardening melons and grapes.

The Class II-A Women’s Penitentiary in Kerobokan houses 258 inmates from 12 countries worldwide, exceeding its intended capacity of 120 people.