About SHOES FOR FLORES - Profile (ENGLISH)

The island of Flores belongs to the province of the eastern Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia, with a population of 1.831.000 (2010). The population mainly earns their living by agriculture. There is no factory, the interest of local people to become an entrepreneur, is very low. Regarding the education,Flores has actually a long history, long before the independence of Indonesia qualified schools and educational institutions existed. The decline of educational systems in Flores started in the early 90s when(usually private) schools experienced a reduction of organizational and financial support.

The surface of Flores is hilly and mountainous, so the  primary and secondary schools that are far from towns, have difficulties to develop. Nowadays, although increasingly colleges and universities arise, the development of education is limited to the towns  and the basic or secondary schools easily fall into oblivion.

BACKGROUND

WHAT IS "SHOES FOR FLORES"?

Shoes For Flores is a humanitarian activity to facilitate and improve access to education for elementary students in remote villages in Flores by providing shoes and basic school utensils for those who cannot afford them. Flores is an island in East Nusa Tenggara Province in Indonesia. Students in remote areas have to walk a few kilometers everyday under the hot sun to go to school because there is no public transportation. Hilly dirt roads make it difficult to ride bicycles. Many of them cannot afford to buy shoes and have to walk barefoot or wearing sandals. Books and school utensils are also too expensive for them. The school facilities are very minimal. School library and library books do not exist in most schools. The absence of such basic necessities for studying makes the teaching/learning process less effective.

Shoes For Flores is created to encourage those students to keep their spirit for education, to motivate the children to attend school and to cheer them up, that  they do not get desperate, to build up a self-esteem and develop a positive view of themselves ( such as an awareness of cleanliness, health, caring for nature and wildlife as well as the rights and obligations of a child).

This  is a social humanitarian action that does not exclude any particular ethnic group, religion or race. Shoes for Flores is neither a foundation nor an institution under public law. Participants are volunteers who are interested in the educational situation in Flores. Everyone has his own job, nevertheless they feel they have a mission to improve the education of children in Flores. Shoes for Flores is not about the amount of the donation that counts, but the desire to take care of others.

This social action is convinced that:  if we  want to create a better future, we have to start right now. Shoes for Flores  considers education as an important sector for personal development, that affects to the (social) environment as well.

THE MAIN OBJECTIVE

Shoes for Flores  focusses on pupils of elementary schools, not to the building or the infrastructure of the school. The aid is subject to the basic needs of children, for example:

The situation of the students in the schools which will be helped are mostly from poor families and live in remote areas. The children need to be encouraged to take their future in hand.

IMPLEMENTATION

The social humanitarian action Shoes For Flores is carried out by a group of local volunteers who feel they have the mission (on a private level without salary or compensation) to share  and to care. The volunteers have different professions and educational backgrounds, are not politically aligned, and do not represent any opinions which contradict the charitable thoughts.

All decisions that are related with the activities of Shoes For Flores, are based on open discussion and fraternity, and everyone is involved in the coordination. There is no prominent status, no subordinates and no superiors. The distribution of tasks and responsibilities will be taken over by so-called "coordinators".  The number of volunteers will be adjusted in accordance with the respective requirements of the activities, and is therefore changeable.

SPONSOR & DONORS

Shoes for Flores gratefully accepts assistance, support and aid of like minded people, individuals, or representatives of institutions, offices or businesses.

HISTORY, METHOD & ACTS

HISTORY

A posting on Facebook mid-2014 contained pictures of primary school pupils of Sikka region - Flores, who went to school barefooted, wearing  wornout  school uniforms ; these photos were the catalyst for the emergence of Shoes For Flores. That posting of Valentino Luis (initiator of Shoes For Flores, travel writer and photographer from Flores) was released on his own Facebook page and within a short time received numerous reactions from other users.

Valentino Luis  then met with Dede Prabowo, an observer of education and activist in the social sector (Institut Alam aksara / www.alamaksara.org). At a meeting that took place in Bali, a plan to do something for the needy students emerged.

While visiting the school and getting in contact with the pupils and teachers, they got a direct impression about the actual situation. It was remarkable that most of the children had no shoes, therefore the social movement created and named as “Shoes for Flores”.

The further plan was to engage local youths to contribute  time and manpower. Astry Bogar (pharmacist), Mikael Jefrison (radio announcer) and Joseph Werang (hotel employee) were the first volunteers who stood aside Dede Prabowo and Valentino Luis.

ACTS

First act

In December 2014, the first social and voluntary action took place in the primary school SDK Niobewa, Region of Sikka. It is situated on a hill, two hours away by car and about 40 km from the town of Maumere. There were 101 school children got help. Although the name of the action is Shoes For Flores,  the sum of the funds raised was enough to provide school uniforms, writing materials, textbooks and reading books.

Second act

The public response to Shoes For Flores was so positive that we expanded our activities  to other schools. In February 2015 the activity of Shoes for Flores moved from the  district of Sikka  to the  district of Nagekeo, about six hours from Maumere. In the primary school of Nipado the conditions were worrisome, so this was the second school in which 81 students were supported. Here we started the section called “Inspiration Class.”

Third act

The enthusiasm grew, so two months later, in may 2015 volunteers of Shoes For Flores could support children again. This time it was the orphanage "Clara Fey" in Mauloo, in the district of Sikka, where 70 children were helped.  Together, the children and the volunteers carried out a garbage collection campaign.

Fourth act

The fourth action took place on a small island named Damila, featured three schools: a central school, a branch school and the school of Madrasah Islamiyah Salafiah (Islam based school). Volunteers spent two days (including overnight) on that island.  In the evening two films were shown at the central square of the village, one  about the  protection of coral reefs and  "The Rainbow Troops" - a film to motivate the children to believe in dream of future. The health and nutritional status of the children was examined by a team of doctors.  The children received basic help (shoes, school uniforms, and writing materials), and Shoes For Flores set up a mini library with bookshelves and reading books.

Fifth act
SFF moved to East Flores regency, visited Tanjung Bunga, a districts at the edge of mainland Flores. From the pre-survey, we discovered an elementary school 'SD Bedaliman' which is physically has dirt floors, bamboo walls and thatched palm fronds. There were 50 students. To give a wider impact, SFF add  nearest elementary school 'SD Lamaojan'. The condition of the students were not much different from the SD Bedaliman.

Implementation of the activities carried out in the end of October 2015. Inspiration Class, Edu Game, Health Education. We gave shoes, uniforms, bags, books and stationeries to each students. Also  milk and multivitamins.

Bedaliman elemntary school

Sixth act
Turned to Ende regency. SFF greeted 120 students from two primary schools, namely SDN Feoria and SDK Wolomuku. The activities lasted for two days, precisely in Detukeli District a mountainous region in the north Ende, about two hours from the famous Kelimutu Lakes. Access here past the ridge surrounded by misty forest.

Inspiration class carried out at night by three volunteers. Edu Game, Counseling, Testing and dental health care, as well as the donations: shoes, uniforms, backpacks, books, etc made in the morning until noon. 

Children from Detukeli

Seventh act
Lembata regency became our choice for SFF season 7. We found three elementary schools, in three different villages. Due to long distances between  these villages, then the activity was focused  in Atakowa village, Lebatukan district. The process lasted from March, and was realized at the beginning of May 2016. We gave shoes, uniforms, backpacks, book. Also movie night, Edu Game, Counseling, dental and  health care.

Atakowa elementary school

METHOD & TECHNIQUE

First step is always a direct survey to the school.  If a proposal arrived, volunteers will visit each school to gain an impression and to talk with the school administration. It is to understand the problem, to see the real situation. There will be a direct contact with the children and their parents as well.

As Indonesian  government supports the schools financially (operational costs), Shoes For Flores has to ensure that the support is coordinated, particularly because Shoes For Flores concentrates the help on the private needs of the children, and not on  the equipment of the school that is granted by  the government as mentioned above.

Shoes For Flores avoids the system "drop and go" and ensures that any help for the children is useful. To respect the help of donors and to ensure the effective use by the target group, the body measurements of children are raised in detail. Height and shoe size are important so that the shoes and the school uniforms fit.

The distribution of donations is complemented by the volunteers through an educational aspect. Therefore every action includes the section "Inspiration Class" designed to energize the children, physically and mentally. The work experience and life experience of the volunteers are the basis for an exchange of ideas, so the children are inspired and motivated to attend school regularly and to develop their visions. The section "Inspiration Class" also takes a role, also films and fun games also take part of it.

EXPENTANCY

Started just eight months since December 2014, Shoes For Flores certainly still need to learn and improve its methods so that the actions run even better in the future. Flores and the surrounding small islands still possess many unheeded schools where the students come from poor families and their future opportunities are limited.

The volunteers of Shoes For Flores will constantly strive to inspire the students, and will be "the extended arm"  of all of those who take care of the upbringing and education of schoolchildren in Flores.

Hopefully this social action will extend to other districts, and the spirit of sharing spreads out, sharing ideas, giving assistance and support, leading  to direct contact with the children.

Few things still need to be carried out, for example; the forms of communication between the volunteers and coordinators of the different regions, faster and easier connection between schools that need help and the volunteers of Shoes For Flores. After all, the social action of Shoes For Flores feels responsible for education and the future of Flores.

In order to gain a stronger educational significance to the actions of Shoes for Flores, we try to cooperate with non-governmental organizations, government departments and institutions that may be able to give positive recommendations and instructions, for example, regarding waste, sustainability of the forest, coral reef protection, nutrients, etc., based on the particular conditions and location of the school.

Shoes For Flores rejects all donations from political parties and individuals who are pursuing political purposes.

The aid is best done through donations. If, however, the donor  who could not make a donation in form of objects, because of lack of time or other reasons, he/she can make a cash donation. The bank detail as below:

Bank: DANAMON Maumere

Stevania Beatriks Bogar

No.Rek : 003578726980

Donations (writing materials, reading books, clothes, toys,etc) please send to:

Shoes for Flores Stock station

d/a  Ibu Nur Kartika (Stylen)

Jl. Anggrek, Samping Gelora Samador

Maumere-Flores, NTT

Advice and detailed information regarding assistance, cooperation and sponsorship:

Valentino Luis (initiator Shoes for Flores)

Email                           :  valentinoluis45@gmail.com

Facebook                   :  Valentino Luis (da Mendez)

Phone & WhatsApp :  +62 81338783834