Education for Indonesia!

Hi everyone!

For those that don’t already know me, I’m Daniel, a 19-year old-from Stockholm, Sweden. I recently returned from a 4-month trip to Asia, which was easily the best time of my life thanks to the incredible people living there and their communities. They showed me such hospitality and as I learned more about their lives I came to realize just how unfair the world is. A huge obstacle to creating a better life for themselves and their children was the lack of access to education, which is where I believe we can help.

It all began with a chance encounter with Has, a passionate teaching student, during my travels in Indonesia. Has shared his dreams of becoming a teacher but had to halt his studies due to financial constraints. I asked him how expensive the education was, expecting to be hit by numbers similar to that of the UK or US, however, I was extremely surprised when he said 8 million IDR, around $540. He followed by shaking his head and saying “Very expensive”. Bear in mind that this figure is not simply for tuition, but also housing in student accommodation and food during the studies. The median salary in Indonesia is only around $710/year, around 68 times lower than that in the UK, so the unfortunate truth is that many bright, young people are being denied an education simply due to financial restrictions. They are being denied their deserved chance at a brighter future, simply because they were born in the wrong place.

The following is directly from Has:

"My name is Hasbullah, I am 23 years old now, and I come from Indonesia, more precisely in NTB, North Lombok, Bayan, Senaru Village. My job is a tour guide driver, and currently I'm still studying and working, of course it's very difficult to divide the time, and now I choose to work only a few hours and after that I will finish my bachelor's degree.

I am a student at Mataram State Islamic University, and currently I am in my final semester and doing my research, my major is education. Previously, I was interested in the education department. I think being a teacher is not easy in educating a student. I'm interested in becoming a teacher when I see a child who can't afford school but he wants to go to school but is constrained by his school fees, and when a child who can afford school is wasting his time. In Indonesia the cost of school is cheap, but the cost of living makes them constrained, now why do I want to be a teacher, I want to educate children from the lower level to the top to be passionate about education, how important education is for a child from the age of 8 Years up to 17 is one of the processes of educating their life understanding and personality for how they can choose the right path of life. From an education, their mindset is formed to be able to choose, and this is where we know that education is very important to shape character.

"I also thank the people who have helped me to realize my desire to become a teacher and I hope you will be given convenience."

The primary goal is to raise funds to send Has back to university to complete his master's degree in education. By supporting him financially, we can help him realize his dreams and provide him with the tools he needs to uplift his community through education. But our aspirations don't stop there. In the future, the aim is to extend this opportunity to more underprivileged students like Has, transforming their lives and the lives of those around them.

Your support will make a lasting impact. Donations will directly cover university tuition fees for Has and provide crucial monthly subsidies for his living expenses. By investing in their education, we are breaking the cycle of poverty and equipping these students with the knowledge and skills they need to build brighter futures. When I say that any donation makes a difference, I mean it. A donation of just $3 would pay for a full day at university for Has, all expenses included.

To break down the financial side, the $540 would be distributed as such:

$234.50 Tuition - Paid directly to the university. I will update the page with confirmation when this payment goes through. This will be sent at the beginning of August.

$30.55/month ($305.50 over ten months) - Covers living expenses. Will be transferred to Has' account every month.

To ensure transparency, Has will upload documents during his studies and a graduation diploma once he finishes.

But we can't do it alone. To reach more people, I would love for you to spread the word about the cause. Sharing the page on social media or simply discussing it with friends and family would mean the world to me.

Together, we can create a ripple effect of change and empowerment. Let's give these determined students the opportunity they deserve to thrive academically, break barriers, and become the change-makers of tomorrow.

Thanks so much for all of the support, and hopefully we can make a small step in the right direction for the people of Indonesia.