Build Schools in Indonesia from Recycled Plastic

Through your generous support, we fully funded and recently completed the reconstruction of a school building for SDN Bambor in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

SDN Bambor or Bambor Elementary School is a public school with 100 students located in Watu Wangka Village, West Manggarai District on the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The school did not have proper classrooms for learning. The walls were made out of bamboo that leaked during rainy season. The school was also lacking adequate furniture and sanitary facilities.

We started rebuilding Bambor Elementary School in early July, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, enthusiasm from the community helped accelerate the rebuilding process and it was completed at the end of August. The new school building now has 2 proper classrooms, equipped with furniture, 2 toilets, as well as educational tools. For the next 5 years, teachers, students and community members will also receive training including water, sanitation and hygiene, disaster risk reduction and school management.

In addition to Bambor Elementary School, we also completed 4 more school rebuilding in East Nusa Tenggara for a total of 68 rebuilt schools in the province.

Some schools in East Nusa Tenggara were reopened and then reclosed for safety reasons. It’s now a good time to rebuild more schools so children will be able to learn in a proper school building when they return. Thank you for your support!

Links:

• #IAMCHANGE: Rebuilding 200 Schools in East Nusa Tenggara

To curb the spread of COVID-19, the Indonesian government temporarily closed all schools in East Nusa Tenggara since April this year. Flights and travels were restricted and therefore Happy Hearts Indonesia had not been able to rebuild schools with the pace that we had planned.

As schools are closed, we want to minimize the disruption to children’s education, especially those in remote areas where electronic teaching methods are scarce or non-existent. We therefore keep our libraries open for 2 hours a day, 3 days a week so children can pick up books and continue their learning activities at home. Books are then returned at community drop-offs that our library staff picks up twice a week. In addition to library books, we also equip students with at-home educational tools such as storytelling books, crayons, and stationery.

Our Happy Kids program – funded by monthly giving – has resumed its nutritious meals starting in May. Rebuilt schools with Happy Kids program deliver meals to students’ homes or meals can be picked up at the school 2 times a week so children can continue to receive healthy diet and strengthen their immune system.

To help prevent infections, our field team in East Nusa Tenggara has also provided training to teachers and parents on proper handwashing and other hygiene practices, making at-home disinfectant sprays using common cleaning household products as well as distributing masks and hand sanitizers. Our next training would be soap making that will not only be ongoing measures against coronavirus but can also create an income opportunity for the community.

Government restrictions on travel to some areas of East Nusa Tenggara have since loosened and we continued 1 school reconstruction in Sumba that is scheduled to finish in August. We will resume project activities in East Nusa Tenggara when restrictions are lifted.

Now more than ever, we count on you to continue supporting our efforts in East Nusa Tenggara. With your support, Happy Hearts Indonesia can ensure children and their families stay safe. Thank you.