No classroom.  No chairs.  No desks.  No problem.

Many underprivileged children in small villages in Indonesia do not have access to classrooms. Lack of education has kept many of them from achieving their full potential. Ibu (mother) Yanti who lives in Ciputat, Jakarta, saw the need to help children in her neighborhood.

In 2005, she transformed her large veranda into a classroom for 80 children to teach them how to read and write. She founded the Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini (PAUD) Budi Mulia, an early childhood education center, all on her own, with no financial assistance from public institutions or private charities.

The lack of a formal classroom doesn’t seem to bother the students.  They are just eager to learn.

To recognize Ibu Yanti’s contribution, a group of Amway volunteers visited her veranda on National Education Day. They spent time reading books, playing games and teaching English to the students. At the end of the day, each child received a back pack and school supplies.

Love, dedication and a small veranda may be all that is needed to ignite a passion for learning in some ambitious young children.

Thanks to Sri Soekarmoen for sharing this story.