From a Modest Kitchen in NTT, Ayunda Finds the Strength to Pursue Her Education
In a small village in East Nusa Tenggara, Ayunda spends every afternoon helping her mother make juwada, a traditional cake from the region that they sell in the market. With patience and care, she kneads the dough in their simple kitchen. From this small space, her strong determination to continue studying and reach higher education continues to grow. She believes that learning can open doors to a better future for her family.
Ayunda, fourteen years old, is the eighth of nine children. Her family faces financial difficulties. Her father works as a laborer at the port and earns around six hundred thousand rupiah per month. Meanwhile, her mother makes juwada twice a week to support the family’s income. Even with both efforts, their earnings are often not enough to cover daily needs and school expenses for the children.
Despite these challenges, Ayunda stays motivated. Every morning she goes to school happily, and after returning home, she helps her mother in the kitchen. For her, this work is not a burden. Instead, it is a way to show love and support for her parents, who never stop working hard for their family.
From their modest kitchen, Ayunda has learned the meaning of hard work, patience, and gratitude. She believes education will give her family better opportunities in the future. Ayunda’s spirit reflects the struggles of many children in Indonesia who continue their studies despite limited resources.
Through the Foster Parents Program, Human Initiative invites the community to collaborate in supporting children from low-income families so they can stay in school and develop their full potential. Let us join hands in kindness with Human Initiative. Visit human-initiative.jp and take part in helping children across Indonesia achieve their dreams for a brighter future.
*Name has been changed to protect the beneficiary’s privacy.
