Students with disabilities explore Betawi culture through craft training

Wood, paper and fabric became creative tools for 50 students from five special-needs schools in Central Jakarta as they explored Betawi culture through craftwork.

The students attended a 10-day workshop at the Muhammad Mashabi Arts and Culture Training Centre in Tanah Abang. Organised by the Central Jakarta Cultural Sub-Department, the programme relied on hands-on practice and allowed participants to develop ideas according to their abilities.

The training covered the use of fabric, wood and paper to make crafts inspired by Betawi traditions. One activity introduced students to making ondel-ondel dolls, an icon of Betawi culture. Instructors accompanied participants through each stage of the work.

The finished pieces will be curated for city and provincial Disability Week events. The programme aimed not only to build practical skills, but also to give students a way to display their creativity while learning about and preserving Betawi cultural values.