chapter one
BALI: WOMEN WORKERS IN CRISIS
The women of Bali, both Balinese and Indonesian alike, are the beating heart and soul of the island, carrying the weight of caring for their families and community through their labor and seemingly endless supply of hope, light, and positivity. Their inner and outward beauty shines brightly upon all those around them, and their energy makes Bali an incredibly special place.
But during these unprecedented times, that light has begun to dim. The enormous stress of job loss for women working in the informal, domestic, and hospitality sectors due to the mass exodus of tourists - an industry almost 90% of the island depends on for survival - has begun to show in the worn looks on the working woman’s faces.
We want to help bring a little bit of light back.
Few things light up a woman as when she begins to see herself as the beautiful person that everyone around her sees. Woman:United aims to hold up a mirror to reflect back the woman within, showing her resilience, power, and beauty that shines brightly under all the strain.
In Chapter One of Woman:United, we tell the story of these working women in Bali through creative portraits and film. We raised funds to amplify their voices, financially ease their struggle, and empower them, along with other women and girls in the local community.
We are all in this fight together, United in the mission of helping the people of Bali in whatever way we can. We take great comfort in knowing that our friends at many noble organizations across the island are tirelessly taking care of the immediate physical needs of the people here by providing critical food and supplies.
Our part, our calling, is to take a long term view by tackling the systemic and soul-level issues that have been illuminated during this time for women working in the informal, domestic, and hospitality sectors, issues that have been both created and exacerbated by the crisis: feelings of despair, isolation, and fear; acute and long-term environments of neglect and abuse; and pervasive social systems and long-held beliefs encouraging views of low self-worth, lack of self-love, and disempowerment of women and the working class. These issues have all run rampant for too long, and are only becoming more apparent as the crises progresses.
But we believe that when these deeper issues of the soul are attended to and nurtured, long lasting and wide-spread change can occur.
We’ve already seen the massive shift in the minds, hearts, and lives of the women we have photographed, and our hope is that this chapter, this movement, will create a ripple effect of the same around the island. We want to not only ignite a shift in the way the women of Bali see themselves, but the way their daughters, their sons, their husbands, their parents, their peers, their leaders, and the tourists who visit this special island, see them as well: as the beautiful, strong, powerful, and magical women that they are inside.
While we’ve closed our Bali grant, your donations will continue to support our work in empowering women’s voices everywhere.
meet the
WOMEN
Each woman is posed with the tool of her trade, but our aim was to show that it’s not just a tool. Instead, it is a magical wand, a royal staff, and a powerful totem that transforms the common object of her labor into her superpower, illuminating the way that she provides for herself, her family, and her community - with beauty, strength, and grace. Through this, she is able to share her story, to show that she is so much more than her status, station, or trade.
more than a
FARMER
Nyoman physically guards her fields and as the main breadwinner, protects her entire multi-generational family's livelihood day in and day out, with an immense physical and mental strength and kind heart.
more than a
COOK
Wayan leads by example what it means to celebrate inner beauty, stand up to bullies, and break the cycle of abuse in a family. Her vulnerability and insight into the world around her inspires everyone she touches.
more than a
CLEANER
Cici has lifted the life of her entire family by providing them with jobs, and works tirelessly with the goal of ensuring her children have a better life than she did. Her humor, sass, and heart shines bright in everything she does.
more than a
WAITRESS
Candra has a quiet power, and comes from a multi-generational family of strong, independent women. Her positive attitude and empowered view on women and the world lifts everyone around her.
more than a
MASSEUSE
Kadek is a dedicated and loving mother and true healer, working miracles on every body she encounters every single day. Her quiet strength and calm spirit give all around her deep relief in mind, body, and soul.
more than a
CARETAKER
Kristina is a single mom of three, not only providing for and inspiring her own children, but faithfully saving and shaping the lives of the neglected and abused women and children in her care at Bali Mother and Baby House.
more than a
LAUNDRESS
Sofie is the first of her family of rice farmers to attend and graduate university, and is working at the laundry to pay her school for her certificate so she can lift the lives of her family. Her huge smile brings such light to those in her orbit.
more than a
MANICURIST
Feli's bravery, positivity, and open heart is infectious, and she is a true artist of her craft. Her pure and joyful smile lights up any room she enters - immediately changing the mood and day of anyone she meets.
more than a
SEAMSTRESS
Putu has taught her entire family the craft of garment making so they can work together to support their family and help her community. Her big, open, and emotional heart was one of the inspirations for this project.
more than a
VENDOR
Tias is the powerful matriarch of her family, and an inspiration to her daughters. Her strong work ethic and striking balance of strength and softness is a force to behold for every person who crosses her path.
THE PRINTS
We began the Chapter One journey imagining we would walk away with one image of each woman, but something striking emerged quickly on the first day of our photoshoot: each woman was so vulnerable, so raw with her emotions, and so open with her story that she wore an incredible range of expressions during her time in front of the camera. In the end, we chose two different images of each women to represent both sides of her emotional journey, and the complexities of who they are as a woman. The hope and the suffering. The joy and the pain. The fear and the resilience. The quiet power and the loud roar.
two ways you can
HELP WOMEN DISCOVER THEIR POWER
All donations and print pricings are listed in GBP, to see what that looks like in your home country’s currency, visit this link for a live rate currency conversion.
DIRECT DONATION
Donate to further our mission to make sure every woman’s voice is heard.
PURCHASE A PRINT
Bring a piece of Bali soul to your space with a fine art print.
rsvp
GALLERY SHOW: 2021
Join us to celebrate the women of Bali at our opening exhibit at Desa Potato Head in Seminyak. Potato head is a a creative village by the ocean where music, art, design, food and wellness play together.
Enter your information below, and when information on the opening date is available, you’ll be the first to know. Outcome of current world events pending, we’re aiming for 2021.
chapter one ambassador
HAPPY SALMA
Happy Salma is an Indonesian actress, model, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and writer. Undoubtedly recognised as one of Indonesia’s most influential artists and well-known for her passion for arts and heritage, Happy was included as one of the most influential figures in Asia in 2020, according to Malaysia Tatler Magazine. Happy joins the Woman:United cause to help us reach and inspire the women and girls of Bali and Indonesia.
chapter one charity
BALI MOTHER AND BABY HOUSE
Bali Mother and Baby House is more than a refuge, it is a home and a safe place for women and children who have nowhere else to go.
They take in babies, children and women faced with dreadful situations of abuse, neglect, abandon, and violence and look after them for as long as they want to stay.
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the house, and the rise in abuse, poverty, and hopelessness on the island due to Covid has exponentially increased the severity of their needs. The long-term implications on the health, safety, and empowerment of the women and children in their care is at stake, and the situation is getting more dire and urgent with every day that passes.
Woman United created a dedicated grant fund to support their growing needs and dreams, enabling them to not only survive the pandemic, but to thrive for years to come and help more women and children across the island. This fund is currently closed.
chapter one
CREATORS
stephanie goldfinger
Photographer + Creative Director
Born and raised in the United States, Stephanie is a lifelong digital creator, moment collector, and light seeker. Her passion lies in finding the stories that only a photograph can tell, and splits her time between Bali and the world as she shoots on assignment as a freelance travel, portrait, and food photographer. She is the founder, photographer, and creative director of Woman:United.
lara maysa ingram
Filmmaker
Born in Egypt, raised in Thailand and adopted by Bali, Lara is a freelance BBC-trained documentary filmmaker and creative portrait photographer. Her passion is split evenly: between finding unbelievable stories and making character-driven documentaries out of them, and capturing the essence and unique beauty of people and places through conceptual photography. She also sits on the Board of Trustees.
jeffrey scott riviera
Makeup
Cultivated in America, Jeffrey has worked his hair, makeup, and creative magic on set for music and promotional videos, and fashion campaigns. He has also transformed faces for notable international fashion designers, beauty campaigns, and personal clients around the globe. He recently jetted off from Bali to create more beauty and magic with the people of San Diego, California.
oliver leftley
Hair
Born and raised in England, Oliver has been obsessed with all things hair since he was 15. His work has appeared on Australian television and high-profile celebrities, crossed oceans and continents, and transformed the luscious locks passing through his very own Sydney studio. He is currently cutting fringe for fun while “stuck” in Bali.
caroline kjellberg
Graphic and Motion Design
Bali-based Caroline Kjellberg is a Danish 2D motion designer and illustrator with a passion for mixed media cel animation, rotoscoping, and quirky character design. Her work is inspired by the cultures she’s encountered on her travels, and she has collaborated with brands such as Visit California, Adobe, Calvin Klein, Beats by Dre, UNIQLO, and Carlsberg.
jade sarkhel
Behind the Scenes Photography
UK bred, Jade is known for her award-winning work as a food & drink photographer. Featured in Vogue, Forbes, GQ, Telegraph, Conde Nast Traveller, Elle Decoration, Financial Times & BBC, she’s now snapping away between busy London and sunny Bali. She also led the charge on developing the Woman:United branding and sits on the Board of Trustees .
bunga seni
Floral Styling
Bunga Seni is a floral design house serving up creative arrangements across the island of Bali. They handpick all of their flowers and put their hearts into creating each arrangement and product. Dedicated to creating bouquets, installations, and floral styling that make people smile, Bunga Seni believes flowers have a magical healing power.
special thanks to
Hanum Aprilliani: Translator
Dewa Bintara: Translator/Logistics
Ruth Allmark: Marketing Strategy
Twisty Images: Photo Retouching
Joshua Phrakhun: Video Editing
Liz Ryder Smith: Video Editing
Our Bali Printing Partner:
Jennifer Sembler: Production Assistant/ Copy Editor
Elkin Nance: Charity Coordinator
Prakasha Chitrakar: Photo Retouching
Marco Perdigones: Photo Retouching
“When people feel validated, when they’re seen and heard, and what they’re saying means something to you - they feel like they’re not alone and that they matter. That is the deepest desire we all share - is to matter. And that’s the way to make hope real for anyone in the world. Make them matter.”
— Oprah