Latest update

Compassion’s holistic child development programs are designed to be adapted to suit the local context and needs. In Indonesia, our local church partners are focusing on empowering youth to pursue higher education opportunities, improving child nutrition and reducing cases of disease.

Watch the latest video update below from our church partners in Indonesia to learn more.

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Country update

How you can pray

Thank you for praying for the children, families and local church partners we serve in Indonesia!

Please join us in praying for the following:

  • Pray that children will receive the nutrition they need to grow and develop well.
  • Pray that God will make a way for youth to be able to attend university, and that God will open doors for those who are finishing their studies.
  • Pray for children and youth who are completing exams, that they will be able to continue on to the next grade at school.
  • Pray for safety for caregivers who sometimes work in dangerous conditions to provide for their families.
  • Pray that God will bless our local church partners as they implement initiatives to improve children's holistic health.
  • Pray for protection and provision for children, families and staff that are affected by the frequent and damaging weather events in Indonesia.
  • Please pray for the safety of children who are left vulnerable to abuse and trafficking as a result of natural disasters.
The gift of education in Indonesia

The gift of education in Indonesia

In rural Munduk village in Indonesia, Tatu loves running through the rows of beautiful flowers on his parents' hydrangea farm. His older siblings also work as garden labourers and did not study beyond elementary school. At just 4 years old, Tatu’s story was set to be the same. But when Tatu was welcomed into the program at his local Compassion centre, he was given the opportunity to go to school.   Read more open_in_new

A snapshot of Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program in Indonesia

Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.

  • Children aged 1 to 3 receive home-based care.
  • Children aged 3 to 5 visit the Compassion centre for six to eight hours a week.
  • Children aged 6 to 14 attend for four to six hours a week.
  • Students aged 15 and older attend for four hours a week.
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Compassion Program Activities in Indonesia

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Compassion assisted children in Indonesia typically attend program activities at their local child development centre on Saturdays and Sundays. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Indonesia.

8:00am - A time of prayer and devotion.

9:00am - Spiritual lessons where children sing songs and learn Bible stories. They are given complete Bibles once they enter middle school.

10:30am - Break time where children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships.

11:00am - Social-emotional lessons from conflict resolution to developing healthy self-esteem. Children often come from challenging home environments and are taught social and personal skills.

12:00pm - Lunch time where the meal usually consists of rice, meat, vegetables and fruit. Milk is provided for young children. Typical Indonesian foods that are rich with protein such as ‘Tempe’ and tofu are often provided. Children are given meals once or twice a week.

1:00pm - Health lessons where children are taught practical health and hygiene tips.

2:00pm - Letter writing and career planning. Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests, setting realistic goals for their future.

Children also often have opportunities to join in extracurricular activities such as sporting activities, painting, singing, computer training and English courses. Older students receive practical skills training in areas like car repair and sewing. Every year parents are offered parenting classes.

The greatest needs impacting children living in poverty in Indonesia

14%

of households lack access to basic sanitation services

Indonesia is a highly diverse society, with a wide mix of people and cultures influenced by Oceania, Asia, and Europe. There are hundreds of ethnic groups, and more than 600 distinct languages are spoken.

Indonesia is the fourth-most populous country in the world and its urban growth rate is enormously high. Many of Indonesia’s more than 17,000 islands are at high risk of earthquake and volcanic eruption. Hundreds of thousands of families have been displaced and severely affected by natural disasters in recent years.

Poverty and pronounced inequality persist throughout Indonesia, particularly in rural areas. In these regions, 30.8 per cent of children under 5 years of age are affected by stunting due to poor nutrition. Many rural communities lack basic infrastructure, such as internet access, roads and safe water. Children are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of poverty and almost one in 30 children die before reaching primary school, many from diseases resulting from poor sanitation and environmental conditions.

Our Indonesian church partners have been stepping up to address inequality in a number of ways. Churches are providing tutors to work with children in small groups and through home visits to ensure children are catching up with the education they have missed out on during COVID-19.

All child development centres are equipped with internet access and 60 per cent have dedicated computer labs for children to use. Where possible, children are able to share computers and tablets distributed by the project to enhance their education.

Compassion Indonesia has also established a link with a teaching college in Jakarta. Trainee teachers, as part of their studies, have to serve the local community. Compassion has linked a number of these university students with church partners to run virtual classes and mentor other Compassion assisted children. They have focused on subjects such as maths and science, and the children’s academic performance has improved as a result.

To break generational cycles of poverty, access to a diverse range of education and training opportunities are essential. Compassion's analysis of our program's effectiveness in Indonesia has shown that income-generation skills are key drivers of long-term economic self-sufficiency. That's why our local church partners are passionate about providing agency for youth to choose their own career path and have a variety of options for employment after school.

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Stories from Compassion around the world

14 Mar, 2018

Why Do My Sponsored Child's Letters Sound the Same?

It can be disappointing if your sponsored child hasn’t responded to your questions or even mentioned the letter you sent them. Here’s why this could be happening, plus handy tips to prevent it. .. Read more

08 Sep, 2016

3 People On the Moment They Met Their Sponsored Child

You see their photo on your fridge every day. You pray for them while stuck in traffic. You wonder if the words you write really sink in; or if what you’re doing even makes a difference. Three Newcastle women had all these questions answered and more when they met their precious sponsored children in Indonesia... Read more

07 Sep, 2016

10 Eye-Opening Photos of Classrooms In the Developing World

Most classroom in Australia look fairly similar. Although they might be decorated differently, you can pretty much expect to see the same things—some desks, a board, and maybe some computers. But what about the classrooms of children in Compassion’s programs? We all know education varies across the world, but so do the classrooms! .. Read more