Reni: A Little Light from the Streets of Kuta

💖 Reni’s Journey: From the Streets to YKPA High School

Beneath the glittering night lights of Kuta, alive with the laughter of partying tourists and the clinking of street music, a small five-year-old girl slowly walked along the sidewalk. Her feet were bare, her clothes worn out, and her eyes were clear but silent. Her name was Reni. In her hand, she tightly held the hand of her older brother, Made, while in their mother’s arms, their baby sibling slept soundly. Nights like these were spent offering woven bracelets to tourists or simply extending tiny hands in hopes of receiving a few coins.

Life never gave Reni the chance to choose. All she knew was to walk, to survive, and to stay silent.

But one night, those small steps caught the attention of a woman named Ibu Putu Etiartini, the founder of YKPA Foundation. She didn’t just see… she felt. Something touched her heart when she looked at quiet little Reni. From that moment, she would often come with ice cream, wrapped rice meals, or simply an unjudging smile. Gently, she would ask in Balinese who Reni was and where her father had gone. The answer was simple, yet heartbreaking: their father had passed away when they were very young. Their mother, a strong woman, kept fighting on her own, even after remarrying… carrying the weight of a large extended family that never seemed to shrink.

When YKPA opened a free school in Denpasar for street children, Reni and Made were picked up from Kuta. Among dozens of children, Reni stood out the most. Her silence held an incredible eagerness to learn. But not long after, it was discovered that both Reni and Made had hearing difficulties. Untreated childhood infections had left holes in their eardrums. Only after receiving proper medical care and treatment did the once-quiet world begin to open up, and slowly, their smiles began to bloom.

Feeling called, Ibu Putu asked their mother for permission to