Our partner

Recognized as an NGO in 1996, the Yayasan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Foundation (YBTI), whose name means “unity in diversity” in Indonesian, promotes a vision of development that seeks material, intellectual and moral prosperity. With more than 20 years of experience, YBTI has supported several communities in their efforts to take charge of their children’s education by setting up community schools in remote villages of the Mentawaian Island of Siberut in West Sumatra and in the District of Dairi in North Sumatra.

To ensure that schools grow and develop successfully, the foundation has identified four core elements where it provides support to teachers: systematic lesson planning, visits to parents’ homes, parental study meetings and open day celebrations. It also supports schools’ efforts to cultivate relationships with the wider community and government.

The government’s confidence in the foundation was strengthened through conversations with local and regional government authorities of the Mentawai islands, discussions with local community organizations and the participation of government representatives in consultations at each stage of the activities. This relationship of trust results in the fact that, on the one hand, the government offers resources to YBTI, and on the other hand, it sends it requests for training for its officials.