SOCIETY WEEK – Empowering Women In Bali – Sari Pollen

The KIM Women’s Centre provides a safe haven for divorced Balinese women who are highly stigmatized in the community by providing training and jobs to help the women gain independence again.

Ibu Sari dedicated her life to helping vulnerable women and children in Bali after her own experience of going through a divorce and not being allowed to see her daughter for 12 years. Regardless of the circumstances of divorce in Bali, it is very difficult for women to be accepted back into their communities and rebuild a life afterward. Suffering severe depression Ibu Sari decided to turn her adversity around and went back to school.

While in school to become a teacher, Ibu Sari heard of many other woman’s difficulties and decided to start KIM Women’s Centre to help others overcome similar challenges she had experienced. She noticed not many people talk about these kinds of difficulties so Ibu Sari made it her mission to help women become healthier in mind, body, and spirit while bringing emotional and financial stability into their lives. After finishing school Ibu Sari became the headmaster of Sari Hati school for mentally disabled children.

Ibu Sari has a vision for KIM Women’s center and needs continued support to help fund the projects they offer. The centre runs several programs teaching women to sew, cook, do yoga and integrate back into the community.