Empowering disadvantaged young people in Indonesia

This time I will share you a story about Fila, a young man who joined YCM in the past. He joined YCM since he was 13, about 15 years ago.  At that time, he was still studying in a junior high school in Bogor city. He lived with his mother and his two younger siblings. His mother was a house maid and had to work extra in some houses in order to fulfil the house needs, the rent and school fees of her children. Fila told me that he felt sorry for his mother who had to work extra hours for them.

Fila considered himself lucky because he knew YCM from his neighbour and decided to join us. I remember how diligent and smart he was. He was always so energetic and confident although he lived in a very humble and simple life, never I heard him complained about his life’s situation.

His family’s life was getting tougher since the children of his mother grew. The expensive school fees, life’s needs and many other things were more expensive and more to be paid. Fila then decided to talk to me and asked me if he can live at our place to lighten up the burden of his mother and to let him study more comfortably in our “house of dreams” as their rented “house” was too small to be occupied by the four of them.

Basically, Fila is a smart and diligent one, so when there was an opportunity for him to get a scholarship for his high school and university, I recommended him. He was so delighted, as it meant a lot for him and his family. He lived in our house building with his friend Ronald and help us with the house chores. But sometimes he also returned to his family's rented house and gathered with them. One night, when no one home, his rented house was burned by an insane neighbour, and they lost everything. Although it was not their house, but they lost their belongings. They were already live in a difficult life situation, and it made their situation worse. With the help of our network and friends, we assisted his family for a new rented place, things for their house and life. They bounced back and returned afresh again. While studying, Fila was also doing some freelance jobs to help his family.

Fila mentioned that joining YCM was helping him to get to know himself, to have dreams and confidence,while he did  his best to reach them. YCM accommodated his dream to work in computer and IT field. He learnt things he did not get from his school. He grew as the one who has confidence for his future and reach his dreams.

Fila has managed to change his life with the assistance of YCM and its donors, he is now a married man with one daughter and expecting the second one soon. He is working as a programmer in a start-up company, he lifts his family’s life up and his mother does not have to work as a maid anymore.

Experiencing and witnessing the progress of people to reach their dreams, to have better lives is a bliss for me, for Ibu Gesine the founder and also the donors of YCM.

Fila told me that he is so grateful for the help and assistance from YCM and the donors who let him and other who have dreams and make them come true.  He did not give up on his tough life’s situation, a better future awaited him, he said. Positive attitude of him brought positive result. He is a role model for others!