Lombok is a beautiful island, just east of Bali, in Indonesia. This island features the most beautiful sceneries and an awesome volcano, Mount Rinjani.
But there are also a lot of less beautiful things to see in Lombok. Most of the island’s population is extremely poor, children are undernourished and education in schools is not very effective since a lot of teachers do often not appear in classes because they have to supplement their poor wages with other sources of income. A lot of children’s parents do not have the money to pay for their kids’ schooling and going to school means for a lot of poor families a waste of time. In fact, kids as young as 5 years roam the streets and beg for money. Some of them are also living on the markets looking for left - over vegetables and fruit to bring home. Education is something that only exists in those kids’ dreams, bringing money and food into the home is much more important.
Some of those children’s’ fathers have left the home to look for work elsewhere and have never returned, nor have they ever sent money home. Mothers have taken contract jobs as maids in Saudi Arabia and most of those women have disappeared or have been tortured by their employers and have returned traumatized and without any wages.

2006 the Hadi Sakti Foundation was established by Mr. Lalu Nurtaat, a local university lecturer at the University of Mataram, the capital of Lombok. He looked for the children in the places they spent their time and told them about the importance of education. A small building was erected using his own savings on the outskirts of Mataram but near the main market place and bus terminal, a favorite place for the Street children to hang out. Lalu Nurtaat then started to organize two class rooms and announced the times of teaching. An amazing number of kids turned up to every session and by now there are classes for very young children (4 – 5) and for older children (7 – 13).

Not long after that it was clear that he could not run the classes himself anymore and also more class rooms were needed, as well as books, writing materials, and of course teachers. He employed 2 teachers and started to pay their wages himself but it became too much of a burden financially. Some time ago, Lucretia Prang, an Australian anthropologist and the coordinator for In Country Language Programs at the University of Mataram joined Hadi Sakti and offered assistance by way of her organization CCTA which incorporates a development agency dealing with education-and health projects in Lombok, Sumbawa and Flores since 2002. CCTA started to apply for funding in Australia and Europe and has received some assistance from Germany and Australia so far.

However, a lot more help is needed to keep the school running effectively and to help the children and their parents with basic life necessities. The teachers need an income to have motivation to teach and to stay with Hadi Sakti.

Apart from that, CCTA and Hadi Sakti strongly support female street kids since they are the most vulnerable. 7 young girls have been selected for sponsorship. Their ages are between 13 and 14. The aim is to rent a house for them where they can be trained in different skills to acquire a job and some regular income or even start their own businesses.
If you would like to sponsor the school or the children, any amount of donation is appreciated.

For further information and bank details you might want to contact Lucretia and Lalu Nurtaat on creativetoursasia@yahoo.com.au
We thank you in advance and hope that those kids will have a future and one day can help their community with obtaining better jobs and income.