Yohana and Her Big Dream
Yohana (18) is a young girl with curly hair and suntanned skin, who comes from a village far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Her village is located in the Timor Tengah Selatan Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.
Since childhood, Yohana was always haunted by a life of poverty, which left her with no hope of continuing her education past junior high, let alone going to university. The family's economic condition and the fact that the senior high school was only available in the city were significant barriers to her educational access.
However, despite these obstacles, Yohana remained active in developing her skills. She participated in various children's activities held in the village. This involvement instilled in Yohana a fighter's mentality, broad knowledge, and the courage to dream big once again.
These children's activities in the village were the result of a collaboration between the community and Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI). In addition to various activities, children in the village also received support from Child Sponsors. Yohana was one of them.
Yohana's Sponsor regularly exchanged letters and provided gifts in the form of goods or money. She saved the money received from her Child Sponsor, hoping to use it for her high school enrolment fees. With her savings, Yohana was determined once more to pursue her ambitions by not dropping out of school. "I want to become a teacher. I have to fight because there is no high school in the village and my family cannot afford the costs," said Yo, her nickname.
For the sake of her aspirations, Yo bravely chose to pursue her senior high school education in the city and stay with her relatives. Her decision was fully supported by her parents. Yo's perseverance and the care shown by her Child Sponsor became the impetus for her parents to prioritise Yo's education costs. Thanks to her parents' efforts, the expenses for education and living in the city were met, leaving Yo's savings intact.
Now, Yo dreams of attending university. She is currently a senior high school student and plans to start university in 2026. "I am saving all the money from my Sponsor for the initial university entrance fees," Yo said. Yo hopes that WVI and her sponsor will continue to support and pray for her so that next year she can enrol in higher education and achieve her aspirations.
The support from the WVI Child Sponsorship is managed as a community development programme that focuses on children in the most vulnerable areas in Indonesia. The programme impacts all elements of society and aims to empower children and their families.
However, being a Child Sponsor is more than just a monthly donation. Sponsors can connect through letters to exchange stories and share encouragement with the children. Additionally, sponsors can also provide gifts in the form of goods or money.
Yohana, who had initially lost hope of continuing to the senior high school level, is now planning for university. She has also grown into a young woman who never tires of dreaming amidst all her limitations. This transformation was possible thanks to the support of her parents, her Child Sponsor, and the assistance from WVI.
Author: Aprianus Boimau (Freelancer for South-Central Timor area programme)
Editor: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)
