A Second Chance to Learn

Yayasan Teman Baik (Friends Indonesia)

Imagine you had to move to a new city fast. Not because you wanted to, but because your child needed medical care only a hospital there could give. You’d focus on that first. Wouldn’t you?

That’s what happened to one family in Jakarta. They moved from their hometown so their youngest child could get treatment. In the middle of hospital visits and settling somewhere new, one thing got pushed aside: enrolling their older son in school.

They didn’t forget he mattered. There just wasn’t room to think about it yet. By the time they tried to enroll him, a year had already passed. Two schools said no. They didn’t know what to try next.

That’s when one of our ChildSafe Agents met him. She was out talking with kids in the area, the way our teams do every day, and noticed he wasn’t in school. She asked why. His story came out from there.

Our team stepped in to help the family sort it out, not to judge them, but to walk alongside them. This year, he’s back in school. Fourth grade, not fifth, since he lost a year. But he’s back. Learning again. Catching up.

That’s the part that matters most.

Why we’re sharing this now…
This is what our Backpack for Better Futures campaign is really about. Getting a child enrolled is step one. Making sure they can actually stay in school, with supplies, support, and someone checking in, is what makes the difference over a whole year.

Right now, we’re trying to reach 12,000 kids like him across Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, and Myanmar. Just $25 covers a backpack, supplies, and a year of support to ensure that a child stays in school.

Want to help? The campaign runs until 30 September. Donate here: https://tinyurl.com/BackpackforBetterFutures

Some details in this story have been changed to protect the child and family’s privacy.