Lombok Children’s Education

Dear Friends, Family and Kind Souls.

At the beginning of this year amongst a global pandemic and uncertainty I travelled to the small Island of Lombok in the Indonesian Archipelago. While there I was humbled, inspired and most importantly motivated to give back to the community. An island full of people that gave so much in regards to kindness, respect and hard work but had little when it came to resources, infrastructure and access to education.

A devastating earthquake at the end of 2018 followed by a global pandemic left many of these small communities at a terrible loss. Specifically the children in these small villages that were left to deal with the fact that their once minimal education was now at an even farther reach due to the transition to online learning; laptops and desktops are an extremely rare commodity and the fortunate ones are now forced to learn on small phones with zero engagement.

During my time there I was fortunate enough to stumble upon the Lombok Children Protection Agency. I met the charity organizer on a beach in the South Island and after speaking he wanted to introduce me to the children. Ranging in ages from 4 to 17, I met about 25 children that called this agency their sanctuary. Lombok is an area that still suffers from child marriages, and without education, awareness and funding this is an endemic problem for the next generation, especially with the current lockdown making matters worse.

I paid a visit to their newly rebuilt structure that sheltered them from the rains during their outdoor lessons. Teaching a couple lessons there on a Sunday afternoon with the children sitting on the bamboo floor in front of me, they were shy but ever so eager to learn.

With the upcoming new semester there is hope that schools in Indonesia will open back up again but I have been notified that many kids in this community will not be returning due to lack of funds. So I am planning on going back to Lombok in July when the new semester begins. I have set aside some funds in order to stock up on school supplies and clothes as well as provide funds for school entrance fees and books that are required.

I recognize that this is perhaps a tough time with limited financial flexibility so please do not feel any pressure. However, I am kindly asking for a donation of any size, nothing is too small and money goes a long way in Indonesia. If you would like to donate or looking for more information please message me directly. I will be documenting and providing updates throughout the fundraising process and during my time returning to Lombok.

You can reach me through email, Whatsapp (+12502028572)

WeChat: +062081319210200 or through social media.

Kind Regards,

Sarah Harding