Build Safe School For Children In East Indonesia

In August a new academic year has started for all schools in East Nusa Tenggara. Out of the 103 schools rebuilt by Happy Hearts so far, almost all reopened their doors for in classroom learning. Only 4 schools on the island of Flores remain closed and practice distant learning. Enrollment has gone up by 23%, but fell below pre pendemic years. 

Many areas in East Nusa Tenggara are still battling the effects of the pandemic and its tight restrictions on schools and other educational facilities. Class hours are restricted to 2-4 hours per day and in some areas the students are devided into groups and shifting model. Novita Nggebu, an 8th grade student of SMP Amarasi in Kupang, Timor shares her hope for the new school year: "I’m happy I can go back to school, because during learning at home I cannot learn well and cannot meet the teacher every day, so very little I can learn. Hopefully the pandemic can be over soon so we can go back to normal". Like Novita most students felt bored and uninspired at home. While distant learning is challenging even in most developed countries, it's a barrier for many students in East Nusa Tenggara. 

Bringing students back to a rebuilt Happy Hearts school where they face proper and spacious classrooms, with table and chairs for everyone to sit on, toilets with clean water facilities and adequate learning tools and books help these kids to be back on track and overcome the setbacks of the pandemic. 

Since the beginning of the year we have completed 25 schools and 4 libraries in East Nusa Tenggara, with 5 more schools under construction. Thank you for your continuous support in providing a better quality of education in East Nusa Tenggara! 

Links:

• #IAMCHANGE - Rebuild 200 schools in East Nusa Tenggara