I Still Have Hands to Work ...

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Despite losing both his legs in a work accident, Aang Santosa, 27, still works to make face shields in Cipaku village, Mrebet, Purbalingga, Central Java, Saturday (6/6/2020).

The pandemic has reduced the livelihoods of many people, but at the same time has given birth to new opportunities. That is no exception for Aang Santosa, 27, a person with disabilities, in Purbalingga regency, Central Java. Limitations do not prevent him from creating and at the same time helping others.

Aang swiftly put on socks to wrap both ends of his shin. Patiently, Retnowati, 22, his wife, helped put a prosthetic leg on her husband and slowly helped him up. While limping a little, Aang walked to the porch to complete hundreds of face shields.

"I am disabled and it is not possible for me to depend on my parents, wife, or anyone else," said Aang when he was interviewed at his home in Cipaku village, Mrebet district, Purbalingga, Central Java, on Saturday (06/06/2020).

Aang lost both legs in November 2017 while trying his luck in the capital as an electrician. When he had to put an electrical installation on the roof of the West Karawang toll gate, he was electrocuted by high voltage electricity coming from an extra high voltage electricity network (SUTET).

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Despite losing both his legs in a work accident, Aang Santosa (left), 27, still works to make face shields in Cipaku village, Mrebet, Purbalingga, Central Java, Saturday (6/6/2020).

"I just wanted to stand up but I was immediately electrocuted and fell. I sustained burns and when I woke up, I was at the hospital," Aang recalled, showing his skin blisters all over his body that was burned up to 80 percent.

Three weeks of being hospitalized in Bekasi, Aang, who had just been married for three months, resigned himself to the accident. He was so anxious about his future. His concerns grew high when the team of doctors told him that both of his legs had to be amputated because they were burned.

"My shoes went up in flames. My feet too. The doctor said, if my leg was not amputated, it could endanger my safety. The risk is high," he said.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Aang Santosa, 27, is assisted by Retnowati, 22, his wife, to wear a prosthetic limb in Cipaku village, Mrebet, Purbalingga, Central Java, Saturday (6/6/2020).

Retnowati, his wife, who was shocked to receive news that her husband had an accident, immediately departed from Purbalingga to Bekasi. Patiently and faithfully, she accompanied and guided her husband to recover and live life as a disabled person. "I was shocked when I got the news [about the accident] because my husband had just left home for work," she said.

However, because of encouragement from his wife, family, friends and doctors, he could overcome his limitations.

Aang was so emotional when he realized that he had to lose both legs. The graduate of Madrasah Tsanawiyah or junior high school equivalent did not know what to do to earn money. However, because of encouragement from his wife, family, friends and doctors, he could overcome his limitations. "I don\'t have legs, but I still have hands to work," said the father of a boy who is now 16 months old.

His responsibility as a husband made Aang start to get creative in producing various handicrafts from ice sticks to making miniature items such as houses and ships. He also used wood to be carved into calligraphic writing. Craft was made by request with a price of Rp 50,000 to Rp 200,000.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Aang Santosa (left), 27, works to make face shields in Cipaku village, Mrebet, Purbalingga, Central Java, Saturday (6/6/2020).

"However, there was no regular orders for me to produce crafts. So, I could not rely on this to make a living. Then, I sold spaghetti at schools," said Aang.

Economic conditions began to stabilize a little. Aang was able to earn around Rp. 150,000 per day from selling snacks at schools. However, as was the fate of many others, Aang\'s income was hit by the impact from the Covid-19 epidemic. The schools were closed and Aang could no longer sell goods at schools.

Like the contemporary Javanese saying, ora obah ora mamah (people need to work to earn money to eat), so Aang has to work to earn money.

He tried to look at opportunities from growing demands of particular stuffs ahead of the new normal adoption.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Despite his motor impairment, Ragil, 24, still works to make face shields in Cipaku village, Mrebet, Purbalingga, Central Java, Saturday (6/6/2020).

Together with Ragil, 24, his friend with motor impairment, and assisted by Tofik Sudarmono, 44, a volunteer from the Indonesian Disability Association of Purbalingga regency, they produced face shields to prevent the transmission of the new coronavirus. He tried to look at opportunities from growing demands of particular stuffs ahead of the new normal adoption.

"It\'s been two weeks [for us] producing face shields. There are already 150 orders from the Purbalingga regency administration. Each piece is sold for around Rp 15,000 to Rp 20,000," said Aang.

In producing the face shields, Ragil was assigned to put together the piece of mica with foam.

Ragil, who was an elementary school graduate and works odd jobs every day, was eager to get involved in producing face shields. Because it is now hard to get job unlike the past days when he could earn money working as a construction worker. In producing the face shields, Ragil was assigned to put together the piece of mica with foam. As for Aang, he was tasked with cutting the mica, installing rubber and attaching stickers.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Aang Santosa (second left), 27, prepares to work to make face shields in Cipaku village, Mrebet, Purbalingga, Central Java, Saturday (6/6/2020).

Tofik said that although Aang and Ragil had physical limitations, they were still eager to work. "They are very excited. With this activity, they can be grateful and then motivate their other friends," said Tofik.

Purbalingga Regent Dyah Hayuning Pratiwi appreciated Aang and Ragil\'s efforts. She said all parties must participate and move together to fight the epidemic and support the new normal policies that will be implemented to restore the nation’s activities, including the economy.

I instructed to buy [face shields] from the disabled people.

"Ahead of the adoption of new normal, all government agencies must provide equipment, one of which is face shield. I instructed to buy [face shields] from the disabled people," said Pratiwi.

All parties must participate and move together to fight the epidemic and support the new normal policies that will be implemented to restore the nation’s activities, including the economy.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Aang Santosa, 27, and his wife, Retnowati, 22, work to make face shields in Cipaku village, Mrebet, Purbalingga, Central Java, Saturday.

Through the Purbalingga Cooperative and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Agency, the business owners such as food stalls and cafes are encouraged to apply the health protocols. One of them, the sellers were asked to wear masks and face shields.

This prompted Aang and Ragil to continue working to overcome their limitations and at the same time survive the economic impact of Covid-19 epidemic. They see opportunities, working together, create, and survive from the epidemic.