Indonesia
Stories from change-makers in Indonesia
After an eight-month closure due to COVID-19, schools in Indonesia are starting to reopen in low-risk areas.
For many students, being at home has been hard. “I feel uncomfortable studying from home,” says Angelina. “I’m happy to be back at school and have mixed feelings of joy and excitement.”
Working with the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Health, Plan International developed a COVID-19 response plan for schools to keep children and teachers safe. Each school was assessed using a checklist to determine whether it met the conditions needed to reopen.
We have installed handwashing stations at school entrances and donated contactless infrared thermometers to check children’s temperature as they arrive each day. Students and teachers have been provided with face masks, face shields and hand sanitizer to help curb the spread of the virus and asked to practice social distancing while in class and the playground.
Schools are operating a phased opening three days a week. Class sizes have been reduced and children do not share desk space. Angelina happily wears her mask in school and understands the importance of social distancing. “My friends and I voluntarily cover our faces, not only for protection but also to show our awareness about COVID-19. After the challenge of distance learning, we want to return to school and are ready to comply with the new safety regulations.”
Walkie-talkie radio sets have also been delivered to schools with poor communication signals and no internet access to help teachers maintain contact with children during the days when the schools are closed.
Angelina, who is part of our sponsorship program, tells us all the precautions that are now in place have made her feel safe at school. “I get my temperature checked and wash my hands carefully with soap and water before the beginning of class and I’m okay with that. Thanks to Plan International, I have a nice face mask and face shield. My schoolbag, table and chair are also sprayed with disinfectant before the class begins. I’m not worried anymore as I feel protected wearing these devices.”
Learn more about our COVID-19 response
Working with the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Health, Plan International developed a COVID-19 response plan for schools to keep children and teachers safe. Each school was assessed using a checklist to determine whether it met the conditions needed to reopen.
We have installed handwashing stations at school entrances and donated contactless infrared thermometers to check children’s temperature as they arrive each day. Students and teachers have been provided with face masks, face shields and hand sanitizer to help curb the spread of the virus and asked to practice social distancing while in class and the playground.
Schools are operating a phased opening three days a week. Class sizes have been reduced and children do not share desk space. Angelina happily wears her mask in school and understands the importance of social distancing. “My friends and I voluntarily cover our faces, not only for protection but also to show our awareness about COVID-19. After the challenge of distance learning, we want to return to school and are ready to comply with the new safety regulations.”
Walkie-talkie radio sets have also been delivered to schools with poor communication signals and no internet access to help teachers maintain contact with children during the days when the schools are closed.
Angelina, who is part of our sponsorship program, tells us all the precautions that are now in place have made her feel safe at school. “I get my temperature checked and wash my hands carefully with soap and water before the beginning of class and I’m okay with that. Thanks to Plan International, I have a nice face mask and face shield. My schoolbag, table and chair are also sprayed with disinfectant before the class begins. I’m not worried anymore as I feel protected wearing these devices.”
For students without access to the internet, remote learning has been extremely challenging.
Children without computers or mobile phones are falling behind.
Although 12-year-old Sari has access to a mobile phone, it belongs to her father and is also used by her sister for her studies. To help girls like Sari who have limited internet access, Plan has distributed more than 1,000 solar powered radios.
“I am very happy to be able to study by radio. The radio makes learning easier, especially for difficult subjects such as English. Through the radio, I can learn subjects such as maths and English. My sister has also received a radio," Sari says.
Radio education has renewed importance as an effective, reliable and personal medium for fueling learning – and is currently reaching thousands of students across the country. State radio broadcasts are providing community radio lessons to children living in remote areas, where internet connectivity is poor.
Sari also received a school bag, stationery, soap, toothbrushes, and several text books. "I was delighted to receive the books that I can use for my studies."
Learn more about our Education work
Although 12-year-old Sari has access to a mobile phone, it belongs to her father and is also used by her sister for her studies. To help girls like Sari who have limited internet access, Plan has distributed more than 1,000 solar powered radios.
“I am very happy to be able to study by radio. The radio makes learning easier, especially for difficult subjects such as English. Through the radio, I can learn subjects such as maths and English. My sister has also received a radio," Sari says.
Radio education has renewed importance as an effective, reliable and personal medium for fueling learning – and is currently reaching thousands of students across the country. State radio broadcasts are providing community radio lessons to children living in remote areas, where internet connectivity is poor.
Sari also received a school bag, stationery, soap, toothbrushes, and several text books. "I was delighted to receive the books that I can use for my studies."
Sponsorship changes lives — just ask Vince.
Growing up, the encouragement and support she received from her sponsor inspired Vince to become an educator. Today, she’s a third-grade teacher in Indonesia.
The village where Vince lives is far from the nearest city and has no internet access, or even electricity. But sponsorship taught Vince that education was too important to give up on.
“It is impossible to implement online learning from home, so I came up with the idea of forming a study group for my students,” she explains. “The school welcomed this initiative and four study groups were formed, close to where my students live.”
Vince visits each study group four times a week and provides two hours of teaching during each visit, making sure that everyone maintains an appropriate social distance. She has to walk to each study group, which takes a long time — but she says it’s worth it.
“Every child, wherever they are, has the right to an education,” Vince says. “They deserve a better future. I have achieved my dream by becoming a teacher, now I want all the children I teach to have that too.”
Learn more about sponsorship
The village where Vince lives is far from the nearest city and has no internet access, or even electricity. But sponsorship taught Vince that education was too important to give up on.
“It is impossible to implement online learning from home, so I came up with the idea of forming a study group for my students,” she explains. “The school welcomed this initiative and four study groups were formed, close to where my students live.”
Vince visits each study group four times a week and provides two hours of teaching during each visit, making sure that everyone maintains an appropriate social distance. She has to walk to each study group, which takes a long time — but she says it’s worth it.
“Every child, wherever they are, has the right to an education,” Vince says. “They deserve a better future. I have achieved my dream by becoming a teacher, now I want all the children I teach to have that too.”
Plan International has been working to improve children’s lives in Indonesia since 1969.
Our work in Indonesia
Office & operations
Plan Indonesia’s offices are located in Yogyakarta, South Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Java.
Technical areas
Plan Indonesia focuses on the following program areas: economic empowerment, youth leadership, humanitarian response, health, early childhood development and sanitation.
Number of sponsored children
As of June 30, 2022, people like you sponsor 32,427 children in Indonesia through Plan International.
Our projects in Indonesia
Indonesia: TechMuda
TechMuda trained 150 out-of-school youth (70% of whom are young women) with market-driven information technology (IT) and employability skills and transitioned them into the IT sector.
View the ProjectGender equality is a fight we must all take on together. Through sponsorship, you can change lives and create long-term impact in communities.
The full circle of Fate
When you sponsor a child through Plan, you form an incredible friendship.
But that’s just the beginning. With Plan, you also have the unique opportunity to:
Send them birthday gifts and cards.
Give them special holiday presents called Little Treasures.
Subscribe them to Plan’s educational kids’ magazine, Sunny Days.
Arrange a visit (pending any travel restrictions), with individual travel assistance from us.
Each gift offering is safely hand-delivered by us, and given to your child with personalized cards from you. It’s likely that the child you sponsor will have never seen anything like these gifts, and with the exception of Little Treasures they’re available year-round to make the bond between you and your sponsored child even stronger.
Meet a child to sponsor