Indonesia Cancer Awareness: Community knits artificial breasts for cancer survivors

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02:14

Indonesia has one of the world's highest number of breast cancer patients. A community is now lending a helping hand and providing hope for survivors with knitting. Silkina Ahluwalia has more.

Mari Irawati has been cancer free for two years now. Throughout the most challenging time of her life, Mari says she was able to find happiness within this community. The women at Knitted Knockers Indonesia spend their days knitting and crocheting prosthetic breasts for cancer survivors like Mari.

MARI IRAWATI BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR "I found out about Knitted Knockers through the hospital I was being treated at. I feel really lucky to have connected with these women. Now I'm a part of their community, I'm a volunteer. I'm happy I can help other survivors like me now."

Its founder Rosalina Lee has always loved knitting. Her community began with a small group of only 8 people.

Today, there are more than 200 volunteers across the nation and they have delivered a total of 2,000 pairs of knockers throughout the country.

ROSALINA LEE CHAIRPERSON, KNITTED KNOCKERS INDONESIA "I lost my niece to cancer and that motivated me to get this community going. Indonesia still needs to support breast cancer survivors more and we are here to provide that support. Now, we want more volunteers to join us, especially those in the rural parts of the country."

The knockers are available upon request but the community's main priority is to provide for those from low-income families in the smaller provinces of Indonesia, and many of them do not have access to the internet.

For them, Rosalina and her team deliver their creations directly with the help of doctors and nurses from hospitals across those provinces.

DWI VOLUNTEER "It feels amazing to be a part of this community, knowing that my work here is benefiting the lives of so many women."

Through their hobbies, the women at Knitted Knockers Indonesia are empowering and inspiring breast cancer survivors to feel confident and comfortable in their bodies. Silkina Ahluwalia, CGTN, Jakarta.