The phrase “Back to School” evokes many emotions. For parents of a 14-year-old about to go into high school, “dread” might be a good term. For a 7-year-old, the word “excitement” is probably an understatement. For us at NOVICA, we chose the word “hopeful” to describe how we feel.
This time of year, we can’t help but think of our artisans who are working very hard to send their kids to school. Many of them spend an incredible percentage of their income on their children’s education. They are hopeful that books and learning will give their kids a chance that they perhaps did not get.
A short time ago, we sat down with jewelry artisan Komang Wirawan from Bali. He epitomizes the hopefulness and resilience that so many of our artisans have. The names of Komang’s two young children are written above his dusty and very busy workbench. Irma is 4, and Wahyu is 2 — and Komang is determined to allow them to have the childhood that he missed out on.
In Bali, school is not free. The costs vary, but for families struggling to put food on the table, it can be a crippling amount. Instead, kids join their parents in the field or walk the beaches, selling trinkets to tourists.
Komang was one of those kids. In third grade, his family ran out of money for him to go to school. They were able to send his two older sisters to school, but just could not swing Komang’s educational costs too.
When Komang’s parents told him that he was going to have to drop out, they expected Komang to join them in the fields, picking rice. But Komang, with incredible insight, was not going to give up on his future. He decided to pay his own way through school — and to help his family at the same time. Further more, he set his goal on high school graduation, something no one expected him to do.
At age 9, Komang became a water buffalo caretaker. The water buffalo is often used to stomp and fertilize the rice, and the animals needed to be taken to pastures throughout the day. Komang would go to school in the morning, then in the afternoon, he would walk a mile to take care of a neighbor’s water buffalo. While the animal was grazing, he would study.
Rice has seasons, and when his family wasn’t working and the money wasn’t coming in, Komang says times got very tough. He would make just enough money to pay his school fees, but he remembers going to school hungry. He had to walk over a mile to school each day, and almost never had lunch money. He even remembers fainting one day from hunger. Despite the hard times, Komang never gave up and continued his schooling.
Soon, he learned the skill of woodcarving. He eventually left the water buffalo job and started creating beautiful wood sculptures to sell in markets after school. While this business was riskier, each sculpture that sold earned him enough money to survive. From woodcarving he learned how to work with silver. In high school, he was carving and selling large, traditional Hindu statues. These statues were intricately designed and fetched good prices in the markets. They were so carefully carved that it looked like someone with years of experience was behind him.
Against all odds and thanks to numerous jobs, Komang graduated high school.
“People despised me as a poor boy so I wanted to change my life and make it better because I believed my fate depends on my own efforts,” says Komang. “One day an old wise man told me that I had to be patient, that my struggles would lead to a better life. These words became my spirit during my difficult life.”
Komang now makes silver jewelry in his Bali home.
“I don’t want my childhood experience to happen to my children,” says Komang. “I am working hard to make jewelry and I sell it on NOVICA because I believe I can provide a better life and education for my children. My kids are my work spirit and I want to be able to send them to school. For all of you who support me and buy my works, thanks for your support. Please continue to take a look and buy my other works. I also need your feedback … I like to improve and make my customers satisfied because your smile when you wear my works is precious for me.”
Just one of the inspirational stories of artisans on Novica. “My fate depends on my own efforts” is a fact that should resonate throughout the world. Thank you for sharing this moving story.