Breaking off Financial Dependence and Freeing from Domestic Abuse

Full Name: Sri Lestari
Country: Indonesia
Location: Yogyakarta 
Batch No.: Pilot, Batch 4
Date Trained: 10 – 12 August 2016
Disability: Spinal injury (wheelchair user))
Business: Knit (crochet) bags/ purse
Average Monthly Income Before: IDR 0
Average Monthly Income After: IDR 5,000,000

Sri Lestari was an orphan who was forced into an early marriage by her relatives at the age of 15 years old. She was not prepared for married life, but she had hoped that she could find a place where she could finally belong. After her marriage, her dream was shattered and altered into a nightmare by the hands of her abusive husband. Life seemed to challenge her strength even further, in 2006, her house collapsed because of an earthquake and she was buried beneath the rubble for more than 10 hours. The tragic incident crushed her spine beyond healing and she was bound to wheelchair for the rest of her life. By this time, she was losing hope for a better life, and was worried and in despair over the future of her two children. She was also in constant fear from her abusive husband.

She used to be a laborer for a renowned knitting brand, Dowa, which was famous in Indonesia and had never stopped knitting for her own usage. After attending the Maybank RISE training, she regained hope and purpose, she started designing and knitting her own products to sell to the public. Beyond her wildest imagination, her products received a tremendous demand, and people started to request products & customized products from her. This is because she used good quality materials and produced quality goods. This was because she was taught in the R.I.S.E programme to differentiate herself and her products from her competitors. Not only had her increase in sales provide her financial support that her husband failed to offer, but it also gave her a sense of confidence and independence that revived her life. Through the income increase, she was now confident to move away from her husband and bring along her daughter to Lampung, believing that their lives would get better without him and she would be able to create a safer environment for her children.

Lestari always had a dream to provide education for her children, sadly, it was a little too late for her eldest son to experience formal education. However, her courage of starting a new life in Lampung has given her an opportunity for her younger daughter to attend formal secondary school, this was something she was never able to do before. Though her body was physically disabled, her spirit has never been stronger.

Her story has become an inspiration among the disabled-community. Not only has she managed to free herself from her abusive husband, but she managed to build up her own brand and became a successful entrepreneur. With the increase demand of her products, she now has started to provide job opportunities to other disabled and marginalised housewives. She empowers & employs to these women to help her with production as she has become a good saleswoman to get more orders for her products. This is because from her gratitude of being impacted by Maybank through the R.I.S.E programme, she also wants to help others now as she has been through the programme. She also coaches and mentors them so that they too can be financially and emotionally independent. As she understood the hardship of a struggling single mother, the adversity of an abused but dependent wife, the grief of a helpless disabled person, she saw a great need of helping those who are in the same struggle. So, she is now on her own mission, to help within her own capacity, people with disabilities to breakthrough in life and income as she has done.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Have questions about partnering with Maybank Foundation for BSAS 2027? Find out more about the programme, application requirements and selection process below.

A. About BSAS 2027

  1. What is the Balai Seni Art Series (BSAS)?
    The Balai Seni Art Series (BSAS) is a Maybank Foundation initiative that supports the development and appreciation of arts and culture through programmes that nurture artistic talent, preserve cultural heritage and create meaningful opportunities for arts and cultural practitioners and communities.

  1. What programmes are open for applications under BSAS 2027?
    Organisations may apply to partner with Maybank Foundation under any of the following programmes:

        • MyTIGER Values Art Competition (MTVAC)
        • Cultural Art Showcase and Bazaar (CASB)
        • Maybank Foundation Artist Fellowship Programme (MFAFP)
        • New Arts & Culture Programme – an open-concept programme for proposed arts and culture initiatives. 

  1. Can an organisation apply for more than one programme?
    Yes. Organisations may apply for one, multiple or all four programmes. A separate proposal, including the proposed approach, implementation plan and budget, must be submitted for each programme applied for.

B. Eligibility and Requirements

  1. Who is eligible to apply?
    Registered organisations with relevant experience and capabilities in arts, culture or creative programme delivery across ASEAN are invited to apply. Applicants should demonstrate their ability to develop, manage and deliver programmes aligned with the objectives of the selected BSAS programme.

  2. Can organisations based outside Malaysia apply?
    Yes. Eligible organisations from ASEAN Member States may apply. Organisations outside Malaysia should submit the equivalent legal registration or establishment documents recognised in their respective countries.

  3. Can an organisation apply if it has not previously partnered with Maybank Foundation?
    Yes. Organisations that have not previously worked with Maybank Foundation may apply, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and can demonstrate relevant experience, capabilities and a suitable approach to delivering the proposed programme.

  1. What should be included in the proposal deck?
    Each proposal deck should be tailored to the selected programme and include the following:

    1. Programme Overview: Proposed concept, objectives and alignment with the selected BSAS programme.
    2. Approach and Value Proposition: Programme design, delivery approach and the needs or opportunities addressed.
    3. Target Beneficiaries and Intended Impact: Target audience, expected reach, key outcomes and measurable impact.
    4. Scope of Work and Deliverables: Key activities, implementation plan, timeline, milestones and expected outputs.
    5. Partnership and Delivery Capability: Proposed team, relevant experience, key partners and resources required.
    6. Budget and Funding Request: Itemised budget, funding requested and any co-funding or other resources, where applicable.
    7. Sustainability and Scalability: Plans to sustain outcomes, extend impact or scale the programme beyond the implementation period.
    8. Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposed indicators and methods to track progress, measure results and report impact.

  1. What supporting documents must be submitted?
    Applicants should provide the required organisational information, relevant legal registration or establishment documents, and a proposal deck for each programme selected. Additional information or supporting documents may be requested during the assessment and due diligence processes.

C. How to Apply

  1. How can an organisation submit an application?
    Interested organisations should complete the BSAS 2027 Partner Application Form through the application link provided on Maybank Foundation’s website. Applicants must select their preferred programme(s) and upload the corresponding proposal deck for each programme.

  1. What is the application deadline?
    The application deadline is 8 November 2026, 11:59 PM MYT (UTC+8). Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications and supporting documents before the deadline to allow sufficient time for review.

  1. What happens after an application is submitted?
    Applications will undergo an evaluation process to assess their suitability for the selected programme. Shortlisted organisations may be contacted for further information, clarification or supporting documents and may be required to undergo Maybank Foundation’s due diligence, compliance checks and procurement processes.

  1. What happens if an application is incomplete or additional information is required?
    Maybank Foundation may request clarification, additional information or supporting documents where necessary. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their submissions are complete and that the information provided is accurate.

D. Evaluation and Selection

  1. How will applications be evaluated?
    Applications will be assessed based on their alignment with the objectives of the selected BSAS programme, the strength and relevance of the proposed concept, expected outcomes and impact, implementation approach, organisational capability, budget and overall feasibility.

  1. Does submitting an application guarantee selection or appointment as a programme partner?
    No. Submission of an application does not guarantee selection or appointment as a BSAS 2027 programme partner. All applications are subject to evaluation and the relevant approval, due diligence and procurement processes.

  1. When will successful applicants be notified?
    Applications will be evaluated from 9 November to 15 December 2026, with the selection outcomes scheduled for consideration by the Maybank Foundation Board. Further information on the announcement of successful applicants will be communicated when available.

E. General Enquiries

  1. Who can I contact if I have further questions?
    For enquiries regarding the BSAS 2027 Partner Application, please contact Maybank Foundation through the general enquiry in the “Who We Are” section provided on the website.