Bali Children Foundation has extended its work in the Lombok region, following last year’s earthquakes.

The foundation is working with elementary school principals on Gili Air, Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno, as well as junior and senior high school principals on Gili Trawangan and Tanjung Lombok.

Aiming to empower children in the communities through education, the foundation is implementing programs in seven schools over a three-year period.

“Some school buildings were so damaged by these events that children have been studying in temporary tents or bamboo buildings with less than half the rooms needed to teach core lessons and with few chairs or desks for them to use they sit on the floor. This is all while children are still suffering trauma from the earthquakes,” founder Margaret Barry said.

“We are working alongside village leaders and parents so that families can understand and support them to realize our education-to-employment goals.”

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The project started in 2016 in Gili Meno and resulted in 12 out of 13 students continuing to junior high school in 2018-2019 from no students progressing in 2015-2016.

The new project aims to impact 1,674 students to ensure that each year skilled graduates will enter the workplace. In the long run, graduates that are employed will hopefully strengthen businesses on the island.

Founded in 2002, Bali Children Foundation seeks to provide educational pathways to employment for disadvantaged children living in Bali, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Lombok.

The charity provides primary, secondary and tertiary scholarships to children in 80 communities in remote areas of Indonesia. (wng)