Help Two "At Risk" Teens Learn Organic Farming

Andre, Riyan and Faisal, all 18 years old, are the three “at risk” youths from the Cirendeu open garbage dump in Jakarta who will attend the 3 month session at The Learning Farm in Cipanas, near Jakarta beginning August 10. When XSProject General Manager, Retno Hapsari,  first introduced the program to them, none of them were interested in going. They were feeling vulnerable and afraid of the unknown future. Growing up in the extreme poverty as these young men have, with no male role model, they could not imagine their lives without  the security of their home family, and friends at Cirendeu.

 Retno Hapsari picks up their story, beginning with the first meeting between the original 6 youths, and Emily and Adrian from The Learning Farm:

” I asked them, what they thought after seeing the presentation and listening to Adrian’s experience. No one said anything. I asked them, ‘are you interested in the program?’ Finally one of the boys said ‘no’. I acknowledged his voice, and then I asked them one by one. Every single one of them said no. (I am sure no one wanted to say anything different from the rest).

“I think Emily and Adrian were shocked. I was too, but then I continued asking them what it was that made them not interested. Again, no one said anything. So I asked them one by one. First, second and third boys said, 'don't know’... the fourth boy said – ‘it looks boring’, then the rest followed that answer.

“I thought I had to do something. So I said to them, that since they are not interested in the program and because their reason is that it looks boring would they like to go visit the place to see what it’s like? Everybody said yes.

The following week, Retno took all the young men to The Learning Farm. Three of them, Andre, Faisal and Riyan decided right then that they wanted to enroll in the next session. Despite their fears and uncertainty, when they saw the organic gardens, the animals being cared for, the produce being prepared for market, and when they talked to the other young men already in the program who encouraged them to join, they understood the power of the program.  They knew they wanted something, but dared not to dream for an opportunity like this. Very soon those dreams will become reality.

Retno will never give up on these young men. She knows what is in their hearts and the opportunities that will be open to them after they complete the program.  Please support her, XSProject and Andre, Riyan and Faisal. With your donation, their lives can be changed forever and their families will also benefit from what they learn.