Boys will be Boys

SEEDS members working in partnership with Indonesian charity Yayasan Pendar Pagi (YPP) recently started a new initiative at a community centre in Jakarta: a weekly Boys’ Club for boys aged 12-15.

Young people in this area do not have many opportunities to participate in constructive, meaningful activities outside of school hours and boys particularly can easily be drawn into street gangs (which in recent months has resulted in some deaths), gambling, or the local drugs scene. Many boys lack positive and active strong male role models (be that due to the death or absenteeism of their fathers).

The vision and desired outcome of the Boys’ Club is to see these young boys excel in the talents and abilities that we are confident already exist within them; to see them wanting to achieve (and believing that they can); to see them be young citizens of good character, who can grow into young leaders and pioneers.

The Boys Club sessions include lots of sports; training in practical skills, and character building through encouraging values of honesty, perseverance, and team work. Currently run by YPP’s two male interns based at the community centre, and hopefully joined soon by local volunteers, we see great potential for this club. We also hope to see these boys make a lasting positive impact on their communities, starting now.