Research and the National Standards for Child Welfare Institutions from the Ministry of Social Affairs of Indonesia shows that living in a family environment is the best option for children wherever possible. Whilst we aim to provide excellent care as a refuge at JOS, it is ultimately in the child's best interests to be in a family, extended family or a foster care environment wherever possible and safe to do so, provided it is monitored and assessed properly and on an ongoing basis.
Our new management, which changed in 2019 due to the previous director retiring, have been looking at ways JOS can support parents or other family members living in poverty to look after their kids at home. Potential carers are vetted via thorough analysis and the help of trained child wellbeing professionals who are volunteering their time. It is required that there is an immediate family member who is enthusiastic and capable to take care of these children in a responsible way. If and when reunification is advisable, JOS is committed to supporting these kids with ongoing monitoring, and family and child support. The process of reunification, although initially borne from COVID fears, but also in line with the renewed insights into child care by the Indonesian government, has been a resounding success at JOS in 2020. It has been beautiful to see the tears of joy as children are reunited with their parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts.
In the past - and still today - many disadvantaged parents in Indonesia felt the only way they could ensure their children had a decent life was to surrender them to an orphanage. Current research among orphanages in Denpasar has pointed out that 76 percent of the institutionalized children researched still have both parents alive (and known) and a further sixteen percent of children similarly have one parent. We believe, in accordance with the National Standards for Child Welfare Institutions from the Ministry of Social Affairs of Indonesia, for the benefit of the children, this needs to change. Every child is different, and their circumstances are different - we are committed to working with the child to find the best environment for them, whether it be in-house at JOS, or supported reunification with family.
Our new management, which changed in 2019 due to the previous director retiring, has been looking at ways JOS can support parents or other family members living in poverty to look after their kids at home. Potential carers are vetted via thorough analysis and the help of trained child wellbeing professionals who are volunteering their time. It is required that there is an immediate family member who is enthusiastic and capable to take care of these children in a responsible way. If and when reunification is advisable, JOS is committed to supporting these kids with ongoing monitoring, and family and child support. The process of reunification, although initially borne from COVID fears, but also in line with the renewed insights into child care by the Indonesian government, has been a resounding success at JOS in 2020. It has been beautiful to see the tears of joy as children are reunited with their parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts.
This year, at JOS:
It is essential families receive support to ensure that their children grow into healthy, well-educated young adults, enabling the cycle of poverty to be broken. JOS, again, supported by relevant and experienced professionals, has examined every individual circumstance of every child and committed to a support package accordingly, typically, but not always, including such fundamentals as educational and associated costs, food, phone data (which is needed for educational purposes as all schools are closed in Indonesia this year and going forward due to the COVID-19 pandemic), rent assistance, personal care items, etc. Support packages are delivered monthly, and correct implementation is ensured by close monitoring. Support is designed to foster the family’s financial independence; in select cases vocational training for parents or guardians may even be provided.
Of the 68 children JOS is financially responsible for, there are just 23 with full annual support currently in place. We urgently need more donors like you to support all the children whose future lays in our hands; to keep our life-changing programs going.
A JOS support package is the most effective and rewarding way to help give children living in poverty a better future. The best way to help a child break the cycle of disadvantage is through adequate and targeted financial support. When a child’s home life is stable, the family around them is then much better able to provide for their long-term wellbeing.
You can help make this life-changing work possible. When you financially support a child, you’re joining a community of generous people around the world committed to bringing lasting change to children living in poverty.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 7.88% of Bali residents lived below the poverty line and 0.57% of the children in Bali were similarly living below the provincial poverty line. 7.45% of the children were living below the International Poverty Line (IPL) of $2USD per day.
However, with 70% of the population in Bali dependent on tourism, there have been extensive job and income losses since it closed its borders in April 2020. The economic impact so far has been greater than that of the Bali bombings of 2002. In the aftermath of 2002, many Balinese and migrant (from other Indonesian islands) kids were sent to orphanages because their parents could not look after them. We want parents in Indonesia to know they can keep the kids they love, and still feed, clothe and educate them and to break the cycle of poverty. Incidentally, emerging research specific to Bali shows that 65% of adult respondents (500 in total) have experienced a loss of income of between 60 to 100% in 2020, and we now see the financial crisis in Indonesian deepening as the pandemic worsens in 2021.
Please see our new 2021 Child Safeguarding Policy:
Before we commence supporting a child in urgent need, the following is essential:
Child support ship, via a JOS support package, is the most effective and rewarding way to help give children living in poverty a better future. The best way to help a child break the cycle of disadvantage is through adequate and targeted financial support. When a child’s home life is stable, the family around them is then much better able to provide for their long-term wellbeing.
You can help make this life-changing work possible. When you support a child, you’re joining a community
Please see below the in new support ship information which is in line with our new pending Child Protection Policy :
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