The Indonesian Embassy of the United Arab Emirates created an initiative to support struggling Indonesian children and families in need of educational resources. The program is called One Dirham A Day and is implemented by placing small tin canisters in strategic locations throughout Abu Dhabi to collect coins that may otherwise be forgotten. Lalan Purnama, deputy head of the project, began the initiative when realizing that while a single dirham (equivalent to .27 USD and .20 EUR) may seem like a small amount, it also has the power to greatly affect the livelihood of a child.
Each tin can hold Dh 3,600 and is returned to Indonesia once filled. The money collected is used to provide basic living and educational support for children, their families, and orphanages. The project will also help rebuild damaged wooden bridges in remote areas to help children reach schools in otherwise difficult locations.
40 additional tins have been purchased and will be placed in Western Regions of UAE, Dubai, and Northern Emirates. Indonesian ambassador, Salman Al Farisi, said “If it’s collected bit by bit, it becomes a significant amount, which can address significant problems. Small steps can do significant things for children who face varied problems back home.”
57 million children attend schools in Indonesia, yet only a third are able to complete basic schooling because of minimal resources, poor teaching, and an outdated curriculum that results in many early drop outs. Approximately 100,000 Indonesians (as of 2012) currently reside in the United Arab Emirates and 65 percent are domestic workers, many of whom are women struggling for their own livelihood. A current increase in expatriates from Indonesia to UAE further exemplifies the importance of bringing access to education to the home country.
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Written by Rachel Pozivenec