Indonesia
Higher education for youth in Indonesia
Helping students in Indonesia pursue their dreams and secure good jobs
Education & Training
The Need
Compassion-assisted children living in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, face many barriers to pursuing higher education. Most caregivers in this community work as day labourers and struggle to sustain daily life. Families struggling to provide food and other necessities for their children simply cannot afford to pay the high cost of post-secondary tuition. But without university or college degrees, young men and women will have no choice but to find low-paying, unskilled work to support their families, continuing the cycle of poverty.
Education is a critical factor in helping families break free from poverty. Like youth all around the world, young people living in Yogyakarta often dream of their future careers in fields like accounting, nursing, mathematics, chemistry and information technology. However, the high cost of tuition makes the pursuit of these dreams out of reach for many young men and women living in poverty. In Yogyakarta, it is not uncommon for students to live in one-room homes with no plumbing or drainage, no windows and no place to study uninterrupted.
Three of Compassion’s church partners in Yogyakarta have seen the desire in the young people they serve to pursue a higher education. Although students receive educational support and mentorship from centre staff during program days, church staff know that without financial support, these high-achieving students will not be able to realize their dreams, attend post-secondary education and establish careers.
Our Response
Thanks to your generous support, Compassion helped 21 students from three Compassion centres in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, pursue higher education and gain the knowledge and skills needed to become financially independent adults.
At the time of the last report, some of the students had graduated and others were in their final year of study. We are happy to report that all 21 participating students have successfully completed their studies and have graduated from their programs. As education costs continued to rise over the last few years, the students were grateful and relieved, knowing that they would not have to worry about covering the increasing tuition fees.
Centre staff report that all these young men and women felt ready and empowered to compete in the increasingly competitive local job markets and have been positively contributing to their families, their churches and their communities. Staff also noted that the participants have experienced a profound sense of God’s presence and intervention in their lives through the support they have received. Through this intervention, their self-confidence has grown and they have been able to develop healthy, strong relationships with others. These students have also been eager to support and mentor their peers as well as volunteer in local ministries and their communities.
Activities
Dyah: Dyah successfully graduated from the Food and Beverage bachelor program at Sarjana Wiyata University Yogyakarta. Since her graduation, she found a job and has been working.
Erlita: Erlita studied Indonesian Literature in university. At the end of her program, she worked hard to complete her thesis.
Roni: Roni studied a three-year diploma program at Sekolah Tinggi Seni Rupa dan Desain Visi. He has been working since his graduation, which involves meeting with clients such as travel agents.
Diah: Diah completed the Accounting and Administration bachelor program at the Academy of Nursing Notokusuman. She completed her studies and has been working at Academic Hospital of Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Lusi: Lusi successfully completed her nursing degree at Akper Bethesda in Yogyakarta. In this picture, she celebrated National Children’s Day with her colleagues at the hospital.
Yosephin and Theofano: Yosephin and Theofano completed their studies in Health Analysis and Civil Engineering, respectively. Both students found jobs after graduation—Yosephin in a hospital medical laboratory and Theofano with a construction company.
Your Gift Provides...
Your gift supported 21 university students in Indonesia to attend college or university and secure their futures, including:
• Post-secondary education tuition fees for 21 registered Compassion students in the programs of their choice:
o Chemistry, early childhood education, accounting, counselling, engineering, health analysis, mathematics, business management, medical school, public administration, tourism, communication, hospitality, informatics, English literature, Indonesian language & literature and family welfare
• Support and encouragement from Compassion centre staff
ReportA message from those your gift helped
For me and my family, paying for higher education was challenging, as our family’s economic situation was very limited. I was very hesitant about continuing to higher education or not, because I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to finish college due to financial constraints. So, this intervention has been a great blessing for me and my family, and I was able to complete my studies successfully. Praise the Lord!
As a participant in this intervention, I am truly blessed. I was able to continue my studies, and I have now completed my D3 degree in Laboratory Technology (Health Analyst) at the Manggala Health Analyst Academy in Yogyakarta. I am very grateful to have completed my studies, and I learned peacefully at that time because of the support from this intervention program. I have also been working at a hospital and am now able to live independently.
This intervention has been like a game changer in my life, teaching both me and my family to keep striving because where there’s a will, there’s a way. My studies in higher education have equipped me to prepare for a career and become an independent adult, confidently stepping into the future with what I have learned during my college years. I hope to be a blessing to my family and community. This educational intervention has been a truly invaluable asset throughout my life.
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from this intervention is the impact of sharing and giving back to others. Just as I have been blessed, I also yearn to be a blessing to others. I’ve learned not to give up despite the limitations I might face in life, but to persevere diligently and live life well. Education is the best foundation in life, so let’s not lose hope in pursuing education as high as we can. Keep studying diligently and don’t be afraid because there’s always a way out of every problem. I’ve also learned the importance of discipline, so that I could stay focused on the ultimate goal for this season, which was to complete my studies in higher education.
I am deeply grateful to the supporters and donors who have provided financial support, enabling the implementation of this intervention. This program has helped me complete my studies and pursue my dreams for a better future. I pray that you continue to receive blessings from the Lord, so that many children and youths in need can be helped to lead better lives.
ReportThank you for your generosity
Thanks to your generous support, 21 students from Yogyakarta, Indonesia were given the gift of higher education. All participating young men and women attended university, gained knowledge, learned vital skills and were prepared for the workforce in a field of their choice. Without access to post-secondary education, these students had little hope for the future. But thanks to your gift, each of these bright young men and women has been able to pursue their dreams, help their families and become a light in their communities. These students have been eager to mentor others, encourage their peers and volunteer at their churches. Their self-worth and self-confidence have grown and they are now prepared to become leaders in their communities.
Here are updates on some of the students you supported through this initiative:
Destantry attended medical school at Universitas Gadjah Mada. She completed her studies with a GPA of 3.75. She was announced to have passed the thesis examination on December 11, 2017, and graduated on August 30, 2018. This intervention allowed her to attend the practical program as a doctor’s assistant. During the pandemic, she completed the program and passed all her exams. She is now working as a general practitioner. She is one of the youngest doctors to graduate her class. After taking the doctor’s oath, she devoted herself in her hometown of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. She feels really blessed to be able to serve the community. She is still active at the church and hopes to be able to inspire younger children to keep pursuing their dreams.
Theofano completed his Civil Engineering degree at Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta with a GPA 3.48. Since his graduation, he has been working at a construction and mining company in Sulawesi.
Yosephin studied to become a health analyst at Manggala Health Analyst Academy, Yogyakarta. She completed her studies and graduated from the three-year diploma program with a GPA of 3.45. She now works in a hospital as a medical laboratory technician.
Karunia studied chemistry education at Universitas Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta. She completed her bachelor’s program with a final GPA of 3.44. She has been working at a Christian high school as a teacher and an academic staff member.
Lusi completed her Nursing degree at Stikes Bethesda Yakkum Yogyakarta. She then decided to continue her studies in professional nursing and graduated with a GPA of 3.78. Since her graduation, she has been working as a nurse in a hospital.
Maria studied Mathematics Education at Universitas Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta. She graduated with a GPA of 3.52. She continued her studies in the post-graduate program through a scholarship offered by her university. In April 2023, she successfully completed her master’s degree. Currently, Maria is employed as a math teacher at a high school.
Dion completed his studies at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta with a GPA of 3.51. He is still active with the youth in his neighbourhood and is involved in community service cleaning activities. He has also been working as a translator for a company that translates novels and books.
Your generous gift has allowed 21 students to realize their God-given potential, excel in an academic environment and pursue the career of their dreams. These students are now working as teachers, nurses, translators, engineers, technicians and other professions that are helping others in their communities. These young men and women are encouraging their peers and young people in their communities, providing for their families and breaking generational cycles of poverty. Thank you for bringing hope to these young people and turning their dreams into a reality!
ReportA message from a centre director
Yogyakarta, our city, is well-known as an educational city in Indonesia. We are blessed to serve the children and youths in this city, which is the destination of tourism, and all children and youths keep their hopes to further their education, especially to higher education. The majority of the youths we serve aspire to pursue higher education at the best universities in the city of Yogyakarta but are hindered by financial constraints. Through the assistance of this intervention, the children were able to complete their higher education according to their academic interests, as evidenced by their excellent results. Currently, the majority have successfully found employment and are making a positive impact in the communities where they reside.
The youth participants in this initiative are actively engaged in programs organized by campuses, Compassion centres and within their local communities by volunteering according to their abilities and areas of interest. Currently, these youths are employed and able to apply professionalism and Christ-like character, especially in terms of honesty and accountability, enabling them to compete and make a positive impact wherever they are and work. This clearly demonstrates the fruits of the ministry of partner churches and Compassion centres in the Yogyakarta area for these youths, their families and generally for the wider community.
This intervention has provided us with valuable experiences such as knowledge about serving college students, skills in mentoring university students, project management, project administration and also spiritual experiences in witnessing how God provides all that is needed and seeing participants grow personally and in character. In certain situations, when working on this formal education project, we stepped out in faith and have relied on the power of prayer.
We are deeply blessed by the service of the supporters and donors in this intervention. Thank you very much. We pray that your service in supporting other interventions continues to bless many children and youth. What you have done for the participants in this intervention is highly meaningful to them and will continue to grow and bear fruit in the lives of these youths.