Regular school in Indonesia costs a lot of money. For many families the school fee is big, and often too heavy a burden.
Yayasan Cipta Mandiri (YCM) tries to help children from as many families as it can. YCM is for children between 10 and 24 years old who come from poor families but really want to learn and 'go a step further'.
Starting from a small house with a few children, YCM has grown a lot. Today, thanks to the invaluable
support of well-wishers, YCM has its own place and works with 145 active students.
The students learn about the English language, computers, general knowledge and sewing skills,, mathematics, housekeeping tasks, cooking, and other character building skills..
YCM helps some families to pay the regular school fees at the public schools. YCM also pays for transport
and provides food for those who cannot afford to buy some food. At the same time, the students
are taught to live in a self-reliant and independent manner. For instance, in the YCM kitchen, the students can
cook together and everyone has to clean up themselves.
The Lives We Touch!
Who are the children or youth we work with? What does our work mean to them? You can better understand YCM’s work when you listen to their backgrounds and what they want in their lives, as they tell it in their own words.
In the English classes, we have the following students.
My name is Hendi Wahyudi, I'm 17 years old, I was born in Bogor. I've been joining with YCM for 2 years, and I'm also live in YCM with other students. YCM is a good place for for learn anythings. My hobbies are listen the music, especially I like to listen Avril Lavigne, Because she's a good singer and also I like to play skateboard, and also drawing.
My father works as a driver in a company and my mother just stay at home as house wife, but now they live in different places, my mother and my sister live with my grandfaher in vilage ( Java) and m father works in jakarta.
Before I joined with YCM, I just stay at home and it was so boring. then I went to YCM and study there until now and I got manythings here like konowledge, english, and lesson about computer in YCM, we can improve our skill by join with another activities here such as sport, music, art, etc.
I hope by studying in YCM, I can Improve my skills, and can reach my dreams. My dream is make an art school, because I like art things and the place can practice their art skill there.
And I hope, YCM still can help the students to reach their dreams.