Lina Kasenda Fund for children in Indonesia
Donation protected
This year for my birthday, instead of gifts, I am welcoming donations to a new charity I am setting up in my mother's name. I am deeply grateful for any support you give to this cause.
My mom was the most caring person I know. Lina was a light in our lives. Kind, compassionate, and warm to everyone. She always gave to others - whether it was cooking for hundreds of people at church, caring for her friends and family, or giving a meal to a homeless person. She was always busy helping other people. That's the kind of person my mom was.
My mom and I have been talking for years about setting up a charity to help children in Indonesia to go to school. She always gave back to our family in Indonesia, but her heart went out to everyone in need in our community. Especially kids. She loved kids.
My aunt Dewie, who lives in Indonesia and works as a teacher at a school in Ciwidey, has had many conversations with my mom about setting up the charity. My mom was so passionate about this cause and was about to set up the charity before she fell ill. It's almost been a year since she's passed away (R.I.P. 21/01/2019). Now, I feel more motivated than ever to do this project to honour her and to do something meaningful for children in need in Ciwidey.
What is the problem?
This project will benefit students who live in Ciwidey, a small town near Bandung, where I was born. My aunt Dewie has worked as a teacher at 'Miftahurroja School' for 3 years, and has seen a lot of students struggle to stay in school. A lot of students come from low-income families. They often drop out after junior high school (Grade 9), or during Grade 11 before they finish their final year of senior high school (Grade 12). They're usually 15 to 17 years old when they drop out permanently.
The reason for this is two-fold. Firstly, some families do not have the means to cover the costs needed for their children to go to school. Costs include tuition fees, books, school supplies, meals, and uniforms. Secondly, because of their financial situation, parents ask their children to stop their education and get a full-time job.
We believe that all of these children deserve an opportunity to go to school. It's not only a basic human right, but it is also a long-term investment. Students who graduate from high school will have higher chances of getting a better job to support themselves and their families.
What do we want to do about this?
Our goals are:
- To help students stay in school to get at least a high school diploma
- To teach valuable life skills so their education is relevant to the job market
The idea is to set up a scholarship fund that covers the basic expenses a student needs to go to school, and provide any other support the student and their family needs to succeed.
Who will the scholarships be for?
The scholarships will be both need-based and merit-based. They will be awarded to students who would otherwise not be financially able to stay in school, and who are committed to going to school and getting good grades. We will also work closely with their parents. Their commitment to their child's education will be critical to the success of the scholarship.
My mom and my aunt Dewie have already supported one girl, Hani, who has now graduated high school, found full-time employment, whilst being mentored by my aunt.
What are the expenses?
The costs below are noted in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
- Tuition fees: 600 IDR/year
- Books: 210 IDR/year
- Shoes: 70 IDR
- Backpack: 100 - 150 IDR
- Uniform: 700 IDR/year
- Other fees (exam fees and misc. supplies): 500 IDR/year
A scholarship would be given to a student at the time they are most likely to drop out (at the end of Grade 9 upon graduation of junior high school). The scholarship would need to cover the final 3 years of senior high school (Grades 10 to 12). The total costs above multiplied by three equal roughly 6,540 IDR. This is about €430.
I am raising €500 for the first recipient of the Lina Kasenda Scholarship Fund. This will cover the basic expenses for a three-year scholarship, and some extra funds that might be needed for critical costs that we have not foreseen yet.
Update: We've raised far more funds than I could have ever expected! The fundraising goal will be flexible: every €500 raised, we will be able to fund 1 more scholarship, and help to transform one more child's life.
What will your donation do?
All donations will be contributed to a wider scholarship budget, but here are some examples of what your donation means.
€5 = 76 IDR = Tuition fees for 6 weeks
€10 = 152 IDR = Books for a semester + Tuition fees for a month
€20 = 304 IDR = Books for a semester + Tuition fees for 4 months
€50 = 760 IDR = Books for a year + Tuition fees for 10 months
€75 = 1150 IDR = Books for almost 2 years
€100 = 1520 IDR = Tuition fees for almost the entire scholarship (2.5 years)
How will the scholarships be administered?
We'll start small with one scholarship. This allows us to test our hypotheses and learn what works, and what doesn't. My aunt Dewie is closest to the school and students, and will be able to make a fair assessment together with the other teachers and principals to determine the recipient and how to work with them and their family.
What are our bigger plans?
The Lina Kasenda Scholarship Fund will be the first project which will fall under the new charity.
Additionally, our ambition is to set up programmes that will reach a wider group of students (beyond scholarship recipients) at Miftahurojjah School that will:
- Teach valuable and relevant life skills that will increase their chances of employment (digital skills, sewing skills)
- Raise awareness among parents to help them understand the importance of education.
Thank you
If you enter your e-mail address, I will send you updates:
- When we develop the project plan and impact strategy in more detail
- When we choose who the scholarship will be given to
- Regularly on the progress of the scholarship recipient and their journey
Thank you so much for being a part of my mom's legacy, and for helping to make a transformative impact in a child's life.
My mom was the most caring person I know. Lina was a light in our lives. Kind, compassionate, and warm to everyone. She always gave to others - whether it was cooking for hundreds of people at church, caring for her friends and family, or giving a meal to a homeless person. She was always busy helping other people. That's the kind of person my mom was.
My mom and I have been talking for years about setting up a charity to help children in Indonesia to go to school. She always gave back to our family in Indonesia, but her heart went out to everyone in need in our community. Especially kids. She loved kids.
My aunt Dewie, who lives in Indonesia and works as a teacher at a school in Ciwidey, has had many conversations with my mom about setting up the charity. My mom was so passionate about this cause and was about to set up the charity before she fell ill. It's almost been a year since she's passed away (R.I.P. 21/01/2019). Now, I feel more motivated than ever to do this project to honour her and to do something meaningful for children in need in Ciwidey.
What is the problem?
This project will benefit students who live in Ciwidey, a small town near Bandung, where I was born. My aunt Dewie has worked as a teacher at 'Miftahurroja School' for 3 years, and has seen a lot of students struggle to stay in school. A lot of students come from low-income families. They often drop out after junior high school (Grade 9), or during Grade 11 before they finish their final year of senior high school (Grade 12). They're usually 15 to 17 years old when they drop out permanently.
The reason for this is two-fold. Firstly, some families do not have the means to cover the costs needed for their children to go to school. Costs include tuition fees, books, school supplies, meals, and uniforms. Secondly, because of their financial situation, parents ask their children to stop their education and get a full-time job.
We believe that all of these children deserve an opportunity to go to school. It's not only a basic human right, but it is also a long-term investment. Students who graduate from high school will have higher chances of getting a better job to support themselves and their families.
What do we want to do about this?
Our goals are:
- To help students stay in school to get at least a high school diploma
- To teach valuable life skills so their education is relevant to the job market
The idea is to set up a scholarship fund that covers the basic expenses a student needs to go to school, and provide any other support the student and their family needs to succeed.
Who will the scholarships be for?
The scholarships will be both need-based and merit-based. They will be awarded to students who would otherwise not be financially able to stay in school, and who are committed to going to school and getting good grades. We will also work closely with their parents. Their commitment to their child's education will be critical to the success of the scholarship.
My mom and my aunt Dewie have already supported one girl, Hani, who has now graduated high school, found full-time employment, whilst being mentored by my aunt.
What are the expenses?
The costs below are noted in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
- Tuition fees: 600 IDR/year
- Books: 210 IDR/year
- Shoes: 70 IDR
- Backpack: 100 - 150 IDR
- Uniform: 700 IDR/year
- Other fees (exam fees and misc. supplies): 500 IDR/year
A scholarship would be given to a student at the time they are most likely to drop out (at the end of Grade 9 upon graduation of junior high school). The scholarship would need to cover the final 3 years of senior high school (Grades 10 to 12). The total costs above multiplied by three equal roughly 6,540 IDR. This is about €430.
I am raising €500 for the first recipient of the Lina Kasenda Scholarship Fund. This will cover the basic expenses for a three-year scholarship, and some extra funds that might be needed for critical costs that we have not foreseen yet.
Update: We've raised far more funds than I could have ever expected! The fundraising goal will be flexible: every €500 raised, we will be able to fund 1 more scholarship, and help to transform one more child's life.
What will your donation do?
All donations will be contributed to a wider scholarship budget, but here are some examples of what your donation means.
€5 = 76 IDR = Tuition fees for 6 weeks
€10 = 152 IDR = Books for a semester + Tuition fees for a month
€20 = 304 IDR = Books for a semester + Tuition fees for 4 months
€50 = 760 IDR = Books for a year + Tuition fees for 10 months
€75 = 1150 IDR = Books for almost 2 years
€100 = 1520 IDR = Tuition fees for almost the entire scholarship (2.5 years)
How will the scholarships be administered?
We'll start small with one scholarship. This allows us to test our hypotheses and learn what works, and what doesn't. My aunt Dewie is closest to the school and students, and will be able to make a fair assessment together with the other teachers and principals to determine the recipient and how to work with them and their family.
What are our bigger plans?
The Lina Kasenda Scholarship Fund will be the first project which will fall under the new charity.
Additionally, our ambition is to set up programmes that will reach a wider group of students (beyond scholarship recipients) at Miftahurojjah School that will:
- Teach valuable and relevant life skills that will increase their chances of employment (digital skills, sewing skills)
- Raise awareness among parents to help them understand the importance of education.
Thank you
If you enter your e-mail address, I will send you updates:
- When we develop the project plan and impact strategy in more detail
- When we choose who the scholarship will be given to
- Regularly on the progress of the scholarship recipient and their journey
Thank you so much for being a part of my mom's legacy, and for helping to make a transformative impact in a child's life.
Organizer
Andre Damian
Organizer
Utrecht