Project Description
There are an estimated 75,000 street children in Jakarta. That number is increasing. A handful of those children leave the street to live in orphanages. Another handful live in half way houses. Many, however, live and work on the street. They can’t afford school. And, once they are about 7 or 8 years old, if they’ve lived on the street, they’re likely to stay on the street; they have great difficulty adjusting to the classroom setting, even if they’re given a chance.

This project targets these children – the children whose future is “on the street.” The problem faced is how are life skills and values taught to street children? Sahabat Anak, an organization that has been around for over 10 years, works with such street children to find alternate ways to “teach” and “skill” them.

This project is aimed at providing education / vocational skills in street children (ages 4-18) using alternative approaches and teaching methods. The goal is to get the children off the street, and skilled so they can have a more meaningful, less dangerous life. This is not new for Sahabat Anak. They have been using alternative approaches all along. However, what is new is to have monies to intensify their efforts.

Sahabat Anak's target is to impact almost 300 children in 5 targeted areas of Jakarta. Breaking the poverty cycle benefits everyone: the children, their families (if they have family), and the local and larger communities. The proposed time for this project is one year.  For more info: SA website

General Activities

1. Provide alternate learning opportunities to learn traditional subjects and life subjects

2. Create opportunities for character building / new mental models (“instant” mentality vs “build skills” mentality)

3. Help youth identify specific interests and talents, and find alternative / creative outlets

Specific Activities

1. Early childhood education

2. Library

3. Routine learning activities

4. Life skills classes

5. Computer classes

Location 1: More Information
Description: Sahabat Anak began working in this area in 2004. They chose this area because the children were very interested in studying basic things like reading, writing, and counting. So, the volunteers opened a free Tutoring Program that was held once a week. At the beginning, they taught the children on the side of the street near the parking area of the Cijantung Mall. Since 2006, they've been teaching the children in 2 classrooms at a nearby Senior High School. These classrooms were donated for use by a concerned local resident.  

Goals:

• Provide alternative learning opportunities to street children / youth where they live and work ("on the street") and in learning centers.

• Provide opportunities for character building; introduce new mental models ("build skills for the future" vs "instant gratification")

•  Help street youth identify interests and talents, then enable them to develop and maximize those talents working with professionals in the community (provide alternatives to street life)

Location 2: More Information
Description: Sahabat Anak Grogol was established in 2002. The area is located in west Jakarta. Grogol is a favorite place for urban children from the surroundings to earn money by becoming street singers, beggars, vehicle window cleaners, and shoe shiners. Sahabat Anak delivers free tutorial classes Sundays at noon under the Grogol overpass. There are about 113 kids who join the class regularly, and 22 volunteers.

Goals:

• Provide alternative learning opportunities for early year street children, especially basic knowledge in the areas of "reading, writing, and arithmetic" (counting) BEFORE they enter primary school
• Provide opportunities for character building in the young street children before they enter the public education sphere

Classes: On schooldays (Mon-Fri) from 8:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. there are classes for early year childhood (e.g., learning colors, numbers, songs, manners, etc.). From 1:00 – 3:00p.m. there are classes for primary students. Then from 7 – 9:00p.m. there are classes for Junior and Senior High students (Math, Physics, Biology, English, Computers, character building, sport, etc.).

Goals:

• Deliver alternative learning access to street children / youth i
• Help to build character and spiritual strength
• Help street youth identify their interests and talents, then enable them to develop and maximize those talents through professional connections in the community (provide alternatives to street life)

Location 4: More Information
Description: Sahabat Anak started its service in Prumpung area in 2000. Prumpung is a "fringe" area of Jakarta, home for prostitution, drugs, and poverty, and known to regularly flood during the wet season. Many street children in Prumpung are in dire need of support in studying. Most of them lack basic knowledge.

Sahabat Anak Prumpung started free tutorial classes by using a house of one family. Now there are about 120 children who join various classes.

Through years of hard work, many of the children are going to school. Though we still face problems of youth dropping out of school, child labor, prostitution, and poor hygiene.

Goals:

• Provide a study house as an education center for Prumpung's children, most of which has no access to a library / books.

• Deliver various avenues through which the children / youth can gain knowledge, e.g., audio-visual programs, text books, children/teen magazines, computers

Location 5: More Information
Description: Tanah Abang is one of the most densely populated areas of Jakarta. Many people live in semi-permanent houses close to the river or train tracks. After the Sahabat Anak Street Children Jamboree 2006, we followed up with the street children of this area, offering free tutorial classes.

Goals:

• Deliver a class for pre-school children for social and communication skills and basic knowledge (read, write, count) before elementary school
• Deliver educative activities for the children in creative ways (educational movies, story telling, music and cooking classes, origami, etc.)
• Help street youth identify interests and talents, then enable them to develop and maximize those talents that might be useful in the future