Overview

Children born into families, who for generations were resigned to a life of poverty, have little hope of breaking the cycle of poverty unless they have access to education. YUM has developed a wide-range of educational solutions including vocational training centers, community libraries, scholarships and sponsorships.

School Sponsorship

In Indonesia, approximately 4,5 million children ages 7-18 drop out of school because of financial difficulties. These children grow up uneducated and unable to obtain decent jobs that would enable their own children to go to school. If the last generation grew up in poverty, the next generation will most likely do the same and the cycle repeats itself again and again.

The sponsorship program is one of YUM’s oldest projects, where school children ranging from elementary, junior high, high school and university students in Jakarta, in West Java and in Central Kalimantan are supported by donors. A school sponsorship provides families with financial support to cover the cost of a child’s schoolbooks, equipment, uniform and fees at a local school. It also includes bi-annual medical check-up and parenting meetings.

Families of sponsored children are regularly visited by a YUM social worker and are required to demonstrate a commitment to education through their children’s regular school attendance and satisfactory results.

"By continuing to study at university, I wanted to dispel the notions that are circulating in my village; the assumption that a woman does not need to be highly educated because later on she will only take care of the household. I hope that such assumptions can be dispelled because it will limit a girl's dreams"

Heni Rahmawati, university student, Institut Pertanian Bogor

Family-Based Sponsorships

The Family-Based Services are the continuation of a government funded program. This program not only sponsors children to stay in school, but also gives nutritional supplements to the families, vocational skills and tutorial sessions for the children as well as recreational activities.

"I want to make something of myself and become really successful so that one day, I too am able to provide help for children like me to go to school. The sponsorship money provided has lifted a huge burden off my mother's shoulders!! It has helped out my family so much as I have two other brothers who are also in school."

Zachfiah Subaya, high school student, Cipanas, West Java