About

Project sites

Possible project sites include the Marsudi Utami Project, Cabean Project, and others. These are private, non-profit kindergarten schools located in densely populated, low-income neighborhoods on the outskirts of Semarang, alongside the Banjir Kanal Barat river. The area experiences annual river flooding, which presents ongoing challenges for the local community.

Community and mission

The schools serve children from the surrounding neighborhoods and support disadvantaged families who cannot afford to send their children to other schools. Many families in the area rely on informal and low-income work, such as factory jobs, collecting stones or sand from the river, and waste picking.

Student activities

In addition to regular classes, the schools offer practical extra activities for students, such as:

• Making compost

• Creating handicrafts and souvenirs

• Participating in cooking lessons

Students sell their products to churches, members of the local community, and teachers from other schools, gaining early experience in entrepreneurship and community engagement.

Location

These projects are located in Java Island

Accommodation

The accommodation and food will be provided by host project. The volunteer will stay at local host family or dormitory (to be confirmed). Facilities are simple and Indonesian style

Volunteer Tasks

• Organize basic English learning through games and fun, age-appropriate activities for children

• Lead and support sport activities that promote teamwork, health, and confidence

• Develop additional creative activities that enrich children’s skills and interests

• Assist with practical extra activities such as cooking lessons and compost-making

• Spend quality time with the children, offering play, encouragement, and positive attention

• Teach introductory topics in health and hygiene, art, music, mathematics, dance, computer science, and English

• Support local staff and motivate children from the slum area to believe in themselves, pursue their goals, and develop passion and hope for the future

• Foster intercultural learning and mutual understanding between volunteers and the community and gain a deeper understanding of daily life

Volunteer Requirements

• Appearance: facial piercings, visible tattoos, and no conventional hairstyle please contact the host organization.

• Personal qualities: Open-minded, tolerant, creative, flexible, patient, respectful of local customs and rules, willing to share, and genuinely motivated to work with adolescents and young people. Volunteers should feel confident and be prepared to accept basic living conditions at the project site.

• Legal and safety requirements: Volunteers must not have been found guilty of a criminal offence.

• Dietary requirements: Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate strict vegan diets at this time. Vegetarians are welcome.

Child Protection

Please note that you will be required to sign ICYE’s policy Care to Engage on Safeguarding Children