J997N Child Education & Care Initiative, Indonesia (Stage 2)

The Situation

Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, is home to approximately 2.5 million residents. The city has several slum areas, exacerbated by an influx of economic migrants from Nias seeking employment. Projections indicate a further population rise in North Sumatra, with the number of unemployed workers expected to nearly double from 383,000 to over 700,000. Many families struggle to care for their children due to issues like Muslim remarriage (where stepchildren are sometimes rejected), dysfunctional family dynamics, or chronic illness, leading to neglect, abuse, or abandonment. Additionally, there is a critical need for educational programs for children from lower economic backgrounds, who face difficulties in literacy and mathematics that hinder their high school completion. Poorly paid teachers, earning between $50 and $70 per month, along with a lack of resources and motivation, contribute to low teaching standards, while families and schools struggle to access computers and training.

The Objectives

The objectives of the Child Education & Care Initiative, Indonesia project are to enhance the educational outcomes of primary school children from impoverished backgrounds in the Medan and Belawan areas over three years, focusing on math, literacy, and computer skills to better prepare them for high school success. The initiative achieves this by delivering:

·      Two tuition classes (in different locations) three afternoons per week for primary-age children from low socio-economic backgrounds.

·      Conducting a computer skills class three afternoons per week.

·      Providing residential care for at-risk children in a home (re-integration with families is the priority).

J997N empowers children to break the cycle of poverty by providing a safe-haven home, transformative educational opportunities, and essential life skills that set them on a path to a brighter future.