Fighting for Education, Opening a Window of Opportunity for Children

Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) assistance to more than 1,000 children in the Surabaya Area Program has been bringing good impact for community. People have also felt the various impacts of the assistance, especially the Child's Friend and the Women and Child Protection Task Force.

They said that with WVI's assistance, they understood their roles and duties in the community, so they understood how to help the community and how to communicate problems at higher levels of government. Mita, one of the WVI’s assisted children, also felt the impact of the assistance.

Starting from the information that Child’s Friend received about Mita not being able to go to school, they felt concerned. Moreover, this happened because of the inability and lack of information by Mita's father regarding procedures and policies regarding education that can be received by children.

However, this situation did not defeat Mita's father's great determination so that his daughter could continue his education.

In response to this issue, Child's Friend and the Women and Child Protection Task Force helped find information about free school registration for children.

Various obstacles continue to appear to make it happen, especially when Child's Friend hears that the registration period for new students is over.

However, it did not become a barrier for them to stop trying and be discouraged. They continue to be enthusiastic and take advantage of the understanding gained during WVI's assistance by conveying this issue to the government, namely the Community Unit, Subdistrict, and the Education Office.

The efforts of the Child's Friend and the Women and Child Protection Task Force and the incredible determination of the Mita’s father were realized. Mita can continue her studies for free and get into a school closest to where she lives.

"I am happy to be able to go to school even though it is still online, because I can advance to first grade. I'm good at writing and arithmetic because papa taught me. So, I can teach friends. I want to be a teacher," Mita said when expressing her gratitude for being able to continue her education.

Mita's father hopes that he can continue to go to school, become a dutiful child, and become a successful person in the future. We also hope that more assisted children who have the same problem as Mita can receive the same assistance so that more children can go to school.

Likewise, Child's Friend, Neighborhood Unit, Community Unit, and the Women and Child Protection Task Force hope to help more underprivileged children so that they can still get their rights, especially in terms of education.
 

Written by: Martharia Anugrawati, Staff of Surabaya Area Program Wahana Visi Indonesia 
Translated by: Klaudia Mawuntu, Intern Wahana Visi Indonesia