Empowering disadvantaged young people in Indonesia

This time I share you the story of Ari, a young man who decided to join YCM when he was 11 years old. A neighbor told him about Yayasan Cipta Mandiri (YCM), a House of Dreams for underprivileged young people to gain knowledge, confidence and skills. He is indeed a clever one, but unfortunately his parents were not supporting him to come to YCM. For them, Ari must help the financial condition of the family as his father who is an angkot (minibus public transport) driver struggles to earn enough money for the family’s daily needs. Ari’s mother is frail and often falls ill until now. So, Ari had also the responsibility to help the house chores. For them, Ari was better to work both to earn money and do the house chores rather than developing himself for a better future.

Ari insisted on coming to YCM after school, and he managed his time also to do the house chores. After he graduated from high school, through YCM's network he got an offer to work in a villa in a small island Gili Trawangan a tourism object island in West Nusa Tenggara. He received that offer as he could communicate well in English and his attitude was superb. At that time, we knew that we could recommend him.

Ari worked for about a year in Gili Trawangan, and then he returned to our city, Bogor. He received a scholarship from YCM’s donator to continue his education in tourism industry and not long after completing his one-year study, he again received another offer to work in another tourism island Gili Asahan also in West Nusa Tenggara.

Ari works as a Guest Relation Manager in a resort in Gili Asahan. He enjoys his unique island life now. There, he has gained so much knowledge of environmental awareness, improved his communication skills, and learned to communicate in other languages besides English, such as French and GermanThn

Well, nowadays Ari’s family is depending on his financial support. His father, who is nearly 70 years old, is still working as an angkot driver, and his mother is still so weak. Although he is an independent man already now, but he cannot leave his family without providing support. But he can support them in better way now.

Ari’s initial dream was to work abroad but working in Gili Asahan where most tourists are foreigners from Europe, he feels like working in Europe already now.

Ari is so grateful for his decision to join YCM and not follow his parents’ wishes at that time. YCM has helped to guide him to set his goal, gain knowledge and skills. 

Below is what he wrote by himself:

“I am so grateful that I had a chance to join YCM (The House of Dreams) and to continue my education by the help of the donors. Now I have become an independent man. I really wish YCM will be forever existed to help many other underprivileged young people who need guidance to face their future”.

Thank you the donors through GlobalGiving, may YCM keep existing like what Ari and others wishes!