Dian's Diary: Reflecting Positive Change in Indonesia

Editor’s note: Child Diary is a project designed to document the effects of ChildFund Indonesia programs. Children were asked about their experience of poverty and the organization’s interventions on their behalf.

Dian, in her third year of high school, is 18 years old and lives in a small house with her parents (both farm laborers), her younger brother, a grandmother and great-grandparents. Before ChildFund arrived in their community, the family lived hand-to-mouth. Here is a page from her diary:

As a child growing in this situation, I understood I could not always get what I wanted. I used to be shy and afraid to mingle with other people. I was afraid that they would make fun of me or reject me.

When ChildFund Indonesia started their services in our village, things started to turn brighter. The project provided much education, training and facilitation, which are changing our community’s face.

I got training on disaster reduction risks, leadership and journalism, and education on drugs and HIV/ AIDS. I love the trainings, where I can meet more new friends, and also I have broader understanding and experience than before. I also joined computer and English courses for free, thanks to the support of ChildFund Indonesia.

The education and trainings were not only provided for the children and youth, but for parents as well. The [programs] changed our parents’ lives; they are now experienced and confident.

The real example is my mother. She used to be a plain housewife—she knew only how to take care of the children and went to the field to help my father. Look at her now: She is the secretary of the community association. She knows more about health for child and family, sanitation, early childhood development and children’s rights, and she is also capable in organization.

Now my mother also teaches other mothers in our neighborhood how to prepare nutritious meals with ingredients from our gardens and also to keep the house clean and healthy. I am so proud of my mother—she is my role model. She is so patient and full of understanding; in spite of her limits, she is willing to learn and move forward. I can share everything with her—she is my closest friend. Right now, our family’s condition is much better, due to my mother’s effort.

I’m thankful to have a very supportive family. They encourage me to study hard. I’m always in the top 10 among my classmates, and I’m so grateful that this semester I got first rank.