Education is one of the most important factors in the development of a country. Through education, individuals can acquire the skills and knowledge needed to obtain a decent job and improve their quality of life. However, in Indonesia, many people do not have the opportunity to receive a good education due to poverty and lack of access to education. The Central Statistics Agency’s data reveals that Indonesia’s poverty rate is still high, especially in rural areas. Nearly 9.54% of the population is still struggling to live above the poverty line in 2022, indicating the urgent need to support people to improve their lives.
In addition, data from the Ministry of Education and Culture shows that the number of families without formal education in Indonesia is still quite high. In 2020, about 20.9% of families in Indonesia did not receive formal education. This causes the second and subsequent generations of these families to also tend not to receive a good education, resulting in a cycle of poverty that is challenging to break.
To address this issue, YCAB Foundation and YCAB Ventures provide scholarship opportunities for children of YCAB Venture’s clients to pursue their education. The program includes four types of scholarships, including batik courses and coding. In YCAB’s scholarship program, not only do they provide financial assistance for education, but they also provide intensive training and guidance for selected students. In this program, students will have the opportunity to develop their potential and talents, so that they can obtain decent jobs in the future.
“After my father passed away, I had to help with household expenses. My mother worked as a motorcycle taxi driver, and a small-scale trader, and was a client of YCAB Ventures. I was grateful to receive a scholarship from YCAB Group, which allowed me to study management at Semarang University. I’m now a staff admin at PT Multindo Semarang and earning minimum wage. I am thankful for the opportunity to lighten my family’s financial burden.” said Ivandito Kusuma Aji, YCAB’s scholarship recipient.
Since 2019, the scholarship program has helped 24 students, with nine graduates now employed, demonstrating the program’s value in providing quality education and job opportunities. The scholarship program aims to reduce Indonesia’s poverty rate and provide equal education opportunities for all levels of society. It provides financial aid, as well as training and guidance, to selected students to develop their talents and potential to secure decent jobs and improve their quality of life.
YCAB Foundation urges students and college students interested in education, programming, or batik-making, and who come from underprivileged families, to apply for the scholarship program. This program provides a gateway for them to develop themselves, acquire essential skills and knowledge, and improve their life qualities.