New legislation in Indonesia states that all children must attend the full 12 years of primary and secondary education, and government schools are now required to be free. In reality, this is still being rolled out across the country, and many children do not currently complete their secondary education – or even their primary education.

Parents are still responsible for buying books, uniforms and many one-off fees for activities and field trips, estimated to amount to at least US$700 a year, proving an insurmountable challenge for most poor families. In addition some families are forced to send their children to private schools because they cannot get into the government schools, in which case they would need to pay substantial monthly tuition fees as well.

As Indonesia’s economy continues to grow it is also becoming increasingly difficult for those who only have a secondary school education to get good jobs.  By helping those from a poor background gain tertiary education, we hope to assist these people and their extended families to break free of the poverty cycle. The average annual cost to send an individual to university in Riau is around US$850-1000 per year, which includes tuition fees, books and accommodation but not food.

Riau scholarship program for the poor

Receiving new school supplies

SEEDS, in partnership with the Indonesian non-profit organization Pendar Pagi, is providing assistance with the costs of education for around 35 children, with plans to increase this as further funding is available. This program includes the support of several street children, many of whom are not orphans or homeless but come from poor families who are struggling financially.

Pendar Pagi’s staff worker visits the children regularly, working to connect with their families, and those receiving this assistance are also able in certain circumstances to access interest-free small business loans and participate in livelihood programs.