Article
Leaving No Child Behind: Bayu Leads the Way for Inclusivity
From the day he came into the world, Bayu has been breaking through barriers. The 25-year-old, who hails from Simeulue Island in Aceh Province, was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects his movements and posture. Yet, Bayu refused to let this define him. Thanks to the unwavering support of his parents...
Article
Triumph over challenge: children overcome obstacles to return to school
Just before dawn, it is quiet in the small four-bedroom house that Renata Azhari (Rere), age 11, shares with 15 other family members in Rembang, Purbalingga District, Central Java. Sitting in the living room, Misyati gently pulls together her youngest daughter’s strands of hair, as she helps her get ready for scho...
Report
Discussion paper: Key issues for children with disabilities in Indonesia
This discussion paper highlights the key data, challenges, and opportunities to support children with disabilities in Indonesia. It was developed to trigger and support multi-stakeholder discussions around this important agenda for children with disabilities and ways of developing an inclusive society in Indonesia...
Article
Thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic
Ariel Fitriani has never let her blindness get in the way of achieving her dream of becoming a professional singer. The bubbly 17-year-old studies at a public vocational high school in Surakarta City, Central Java, majoring in Javanese music ensemble or Seni Karawitan . After she graduates, she wants to enrol in t...
Photo essay
Building Back Better: towards a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions to children’s education. With the majority of schools in Indonesia still closed, millions of students have been forced to continue their learning remotely. Yet the impacts have not been felt equally. School closures have disproportionately affected childre...
Article
Inclusive education adds colour to children’s and parents’ lives
“Yellow,” said Kevin quietly, noting the colour of paper before moving to another object. Placing his magnifying glass closer to his nose, he whispers “Blue,” while peering at a crayon. It’s not a game that other children play at school – but for this nine-year-old boy, identifying different colours inspires him t...
Article
Diversity is a Source of Learning: The Story of Atika
SEMARANG, Indonesia –, The building was vibrant with laughter as 12-year-old Atika and her closest friends Nayla, Keysha and Farah played in their school’s resource room, as they love to do, supervised by their teachers Ika, Nila and Mintarsih. Atika usually plays in the resource room three times a week. She part...
Article
On Top of The World: The story of Millah
UNGARAN, Indonesia –, Her right hand grasped the wooden handrail tightly as she put her left hand lower on the spindle of the staircase. When she managed to put both her legs on the first tread, Millah turned back and smiled. Her mother Wida smiled back at her oldest daughter, masking pride and just a hint of con...
Article
Children take over the COVID-19 Task Force on National Children’s Day
JAKARTA, INDONESIA, – When schools closed in early March to prevent the spread of COVID-19, 8th grader Janish struggled to adapt to the realities of learning remotely. Living in a rural village in East Nusa Tenggara province, her household is one of thousands across Indonesia that have limited or no internet acce...
Press release
New global UNICEF paper highlights major disparities in distribution of public education spending worldwide
A new global UNICEF paper released today highlights how major disparities in the distribution of public education spending worldwide have an adverse impact on attendance, enrolment and learning for the children that need the most support. The paper Addressing the learning crisis: an urgent need to better finance e...
Document
Children with Disabilites and Education
In Indonesia, challenges to inclusive education include insufficient training for teachers, incomplete data on children with disabilities, especially those who are out of school, and attitudes of caregivers who believe their children will not benefit to the same extent as their peers without disabilities. Recent d...
Article
Growing into Hope
It was easy to spot Farhan among the hundreds of students gathered for the inclusive sports and arts festival that morning. He stood tall, all smiles, despite the scorching heat of the dry season sun in Parung district, Bogor. Out of the 20 schools participating, Farhan’s school, Madrasah Tsanawiyah Cakrawala Cend...