Letters from a sponsor encouraged Ester to try learning to read and write again. Through exchanging letters, she also regained the motivation to return to school.
Twelve-year-old Ester lives in Biak Numfor Regency, Papua, where her community is supported by Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI). A sponsor from Indonesia has been a loyal supporter of Ester. The donations received are managed through programmes that benefit Ester’s education as well as that of her friends. What is more, the correspondence between sponsor and child has grown into a meaningful relationship.
When Ester was in Year 4 of primary school, she became ill and needed to stay at home for a long period of rest and recovery. Sadly, this eventually led her to drop out of school. She felt embarrassed in front of her classmates because she had been absent for so long and had fallen far behind in her studies.
“As parents, our hope is for Ester to return to school like her brothers and sisters. We feel sad when Ester is not in school,” said Sisye (50), Ester’s mother.
Being out of school also affected the development of Ester’s reading and writing skills.
Throughout her journey, Ester’s parents and the WVI team continued to support and encourage her. One small but significant step was helping her exchange letters with her sponsor. Although simple, this activity became a practical way for Ester to strengthen her literacy skills.
She needed to read in order to understand the letters from her sponsor. She then had to put her thoughts into words when writing a reply. Ester practised. She kept trying, and she succeeded. Through this process, she began to realise that there was nothing lacking in her. With renewed confidence, she resolved to return to school and continue her education.
Ester’s parents were overjoyed when she agreed to go back to school. Gradually, she became her cheerful self again. She worked hard to improve her reading and writing skills. Besides attending school, she spent her time taking part in activities at the local Reading House and playing with her friends.
“I’m happy that I can go to school again,” she said.
Today, Ester has taken the next step in her educational journey and recently started secondary school. Her future is full of possibilities. There may be challenges ahead, but Ester knows that many people are supporting her along the way. One of them is the sponsor who continues to send letters, reminding her that she is valued, cared for, and never alone.
Author: Emelia Sarakan (Field Facilitator in Biak Area Programme)
Editor: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)