Give An Education To A Trash Picker's Child

According to a 2012 article in the Jakarta Post, Indonesia has the second highest rate of blindness in the world, with around 1.5 percent of the population listed as legally blind. The problem is no longer just a health issue but also social issue.

But our story isn’t about blindness. It’s about two brothers and their sister, whose parents happen to be blind and the role XSProject has chosen to play in their lives.

At XSProject, we know these children well because they are enrolled in the K-12 school programs that XSProject pays for. Agung, age 14, Septi, 9 and Bagas, 5 are the first generation in their family to have an education. They live at the garbage dump with their grandmother, Ibu Salim. She is a widow with eight grown children who are all trash pickers. Agung, Septi and Bagas miss their parents, who are living far away and unable to visit, but by living with grandmother, they are able to go to school in Jakarta.

Agung is in the 5^th grade. He and Septi, who is in the 2^nd grade leave for school together at 6:30 AM every day, six days a week. Because of the very early hour, XSProject also provides them with safe transportation to and from school. The money to do this comes from the generous donors in the GlobalGiving community.

Agung is very curious and loves to learn about anything related to science. His other favorite classes are math, algebra and chemistry. He also loves watching soccer and playing it even more!

Septi’s favorite class is Bahasa Indonesia which would be the same as our English class. Perhaps one day she will write about growing up at the garbage dump. We hope so!

Bagas attends the XSVillage pre-school where our volunteer mom’s prepare all the children to enter first grade. He will be one of many XSVillage children starting school for the first time this July. If there’s even a slight breeze, Bagas is out flying his kite.

These students have experienced a lot of hardship and heartbreak for their young years. Yet, they are very much like children everywhere; still innocent and finding joy in the simple things. Children like Agung, Septi and Bagas are the reason why XSProject continues to support the education of the trash picker’s children.

                 Please Help XSProject Meet Our $5000 Challenge – Microsoft YouthSpark One Day Only Bonus!

These children are pretty special to the XSProject family. That is why starting at 12:01 PM (EDT) on April 16 we invite you to take part in the GlobalGiving/Microsoft YouthSpark Bonus Day.

By making a donation of $10 or more here: 
                        http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/give-education-to-a-trash-pickers-child/

Microsoft will add ANOTHER 50% to your (tax deductible) donation. But only from April 16 at 12:01 PM (EDT) until April 17 at 11:59 AM!

Instead of making a single donation, please consider making recurring donations here:                     http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/give-education-to-a-trash-pickers-child/.

Recurring donations can often be helpful for planning ahead, but the best part of making a recurring donation on April 16 is that XSProject will receive a 50% Bonus match PLUS an additional 100% for the recurring donation campaign.

Hey! That’s a double matching opportunity for you to help Agung, Septi, Bagas and the other 100+ students who go to school because of XSProject.

                                         Please help XSProject reach our $5,000 goal. 

                          When Will You Have More Time Than You Do Right Now?
                                                                    
                                                                               THANK YOU!

* Title from Shel Silverstein’s, Where the Sidewalk Ends