Help for street children

In Jakarta, many children and young people live on the streets.

Children who can be reintegrated into their homes are reunited with their families. But KDM often has to take responsibility for the children until they become independent.

The work of the street children project consists of four components: Staff members initially establish contact with the boys and girls, primarily at various railway stations where the street children spend their days. In addition to coloured pencils, paper and games, the KDM staff gives out food. KDM seeks to establish a trusted relationship as fast as possible. Since the visits regularly take place at the same location, the children often anticipate the street workers’ arrival. During these visits, the children are always invited to accompany the staff members to one of the KDM projects.

In the immediate vicinity of the children's village, in Pondok Gede, former KDM street children have opened a camping ground. This serves as a source of income for the former street children, but it is also a drop-in centre for newcomers. The children learn in an environment that is close to nature how to live in a group along with simple skills like cooking and cleaning.

Living in this camp means a life without drugs. During the time that they spend in these natural surroundings, many of them have to deal with withdrawal symptoms. Most street children sniff glue or are addicted to other drugs. After a few weeks, the younger children move to a KDM children's village, while the older ones are transferred to an agricultural training centre.

At the children's village, boys and girls can be carefree.

For the younger girls and boys, the children's village is their first shelter after living on the streets. In addition to a primary and middle school, the village has a training centre that offers classes on how to work with wood and textiles as well as car repair and welding.

Approximately 100 children are living in the children's village. In addition to opportunities to attend school and receive training, the centre promotes the children's musical talents, in particular singing. The children's choir performs at a wide range of events outside the children's village.