Who is Sonya?
Sonya is a 9-year-old girl, born and raised in Bali.
She lives with Global Developmental Delay,
a condition that brings unique challenges to her life.
Her speech is limted, yet her spirit speaks volumes.
From physical movement to social and emotional skills, from learning to communicating—each step forward is a journey of courage and resilience.
Since she was 18 months old, Sonya has been supported through various therapies, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, neuropsychology, speech therapy, play therapy, and art therapy.
Painting has become her joyful outlet, a way to express how she sees and feels the world around her. Her creations are full of color, emotion, and imagination.
Sonya attends school daily in a special needs classroom where she receives individualized support and learns at her own pace.
Alongside school, she works with a support therapist who helps her develop life skills, build on academic foundations, and participate in a variety of activities tailored to her needs.
Her afternoons are often filled with extracurriculars that she loves including swimming, gymnastics, horse riding, music, and even boxing.
These activities not only support her development, but also give her space to explore, grow in confidence, and simply enjoy being a child.
How Sonya Joye was sparked
It began as a school project — Sonya and her classmates created a T-shirt with their handprints, a symbol of unity and pride. Inspired by Sonya’s colorful, expressive art, it grew into a collection that celebrates individuality, creativity without limits, and the beauty of being seen.
