Marshanda and Goodbye Letter

One of the great things about Plan is the opportunity to be an ambassador, the opportunity to make friends. The chance to learn from each other. The opportunity to see another world. Without having to experience and see it first hand. Through writing. It may seem simple, but a letter can say so much.

Having been part of the communication sponsorship team for so long, we have witnessed stories of experiences, hopes and dreams of not only parents but also child writers shared with sponsors in distant lands. Each piece of writing has its own story.

Through the writing, readers seem to see how each child develops. When not yet able to string words together into a meaningful letter. What started out as just a few words, over time and age, became a full page. The story is also getting more and more. From just a short introduction with an expression of gratitude, it became longer with stories of experiences at home, at school, with family, friends, difficult times, happy times, seasons lived. Especially when I started participating in Plan Indonesia activities.

The more activities they participate in, the more diverse things they tell and share. The more they write, the more their cognitive skills are honed. Of the many letters written and sent, there is one that illustrates how Plan’s efforts can have such an impact on a person’s life.

“Now I will continue my education to a higher level by studying at one of the best universities in Indonesia. One of the disciplines that studies the laws and regulations that serve as a legal umbrella for the protection of women and children.”

The letter is full of determination and the writer clearly knows what she wants to achieve. The writing is a fragment of a 4-page letter
Marshanda, one of the sponsor’s children, wrote as a farewell letter to the sponsor. This year Marshanda has just finished her high school education. It is safe to say that Marshanda’s sponsor would be very proud to read this letter. One of the things that drives people to become sponsors is the hope that their support will make a difference to the living conditions of other children.

For Marshanda herself, more than half of her age as a sponsored child. She started being a sponsored child since she was approximately 5 years old until she finally graduated at the age of 18 this year. Regardless of whether Marshanda’s plans will soon be implemented or temporarily delayed due to various obstacles such as family conditions that are not yet possible, but such strong determination is not found in many other teenagers’ writings.

Marshanda recounts how the situation and reality of daily life in her childhood affected her as a little girl “I used to be just a little girl who found it difficult to express myself. Growing up in an area with a very strong patriarchal
patriarchal culture made it difficult for me to develop”.

But in the course of time with Plan, Marshanda found new experiences that changed her to become the teenage Marshanda that many people know today.

“….at the same time Plan International Indonesia organized an activity called Choosing a Future. To replace my free time so that it would not be wasted, I began to participate in the activity. through the MAPAN activity, I was very interested in materials about child marriage, gender equality and reproductive health. Since then I have become active in voicing these issues in my environment”.

Marshanda proved herself to not only be a passive trainee but an active voice. Apart from attending MAPAN classes, Marshanda is also an active member of the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP). Marshanda admitted that she was able to develop herself through MAPAN activities which led her to become the Chairperson of the Student Council at her school. What Marshanda has achieved now can someday lead her to become a leader in a larger scope. Armed with the understanding gained regarding matters that are closely related to everyday situations and affect teenagers and young people, it will be easier for her to help influence the views of other teenagers and young people.

How Marshanda got to where she is today was certainly not a short process. It has taken a long time. Unlike charitable aid, capacity-building trainings are only useful after a long time and require perseverance, commitment, patience and, most importantly, support from family. The family, as the smallest sphere in society, plays a major role in shaping a child’s values and self-concept.

Something that is considered an achievement or success will become an example and will be followed by others. Families of other children will be encouraged to encourage their children to join in similar activities. It is therefore very important for parents to at least understand the activities that their children participate in.

This can start with activities such as children’s events, which are activities that Plan regularly conducts with children at the village level. In these events, children are involved and perform in activities of interest such as poetry recitation, dance, singing and also drawing and coloring. Everything is exciting and fun and appropriate for the age of the child. Children’s events are always awaited not only by the children but also their families. One of the goals of this activity is to foster and develop children’s self-confidence and creativity according to their talents. On the other hand, parents will also be very proud if their children can perform with enthusiasm, joy and confidence.

Since last August, MAPAN classes with Plan’s support have been running in 3 villages and 13 schools. In addition, there are also 3 other villages, still within the Plan assisted area that are replicating with funding from the local village government. This is something to be grateful for because in this way, Plan’s advocacy efforts are bearing fruit and village governments are beginning to realize the importance of activities that target children, adolescents and young people to be supported. Building human resources is no less important than infrastructure development.

If from an early age they are equipped not only in formal education at school, but also in out-of-school activities that add insight, skills and confidence, then one day the villagers will feel the benefits through the many young people who have potential. It is possible that their work will not only take place within the village, but also in a broader scope. They will become future leaders who have concern for social and environmental issues. Replication by village governments also addresses the Plan’s limitations to reach as many children, youth and young people as possible. In addition, it is expected to ensure the sustainability of these activities. If this year there are 3 villages that replicate with funds from the village, it is not impossible that in the coming year support for similar training training will also be carried out by other village governments. With 25 – 30 children and 69 sessions (6 – 8 months duration) and some children and adolescents with the support of parents and teachers can continue to persevere to follow all sessions to completion, we must have high hopes that one day we will read letters from other Marshanda Marshanda who have different stories but with the same determination and dreams. Time will tell…

Writer: Micella Siahaya – PIA Nagekeo