Behind the picturesque scenery of Halmahera is poverty. The poverty in this area is made worse by its poor sanitation - leading to increased health risks - and a lack of interest in education. The villagers enjoy their plentiful natural resources but without an education, they do not know how to take care of themselves and often fall prey to illnesses.

Aci* loves to help her mother do her household chores. With a happy heart and a smile on her lips Aci sweeps her small house, boils water and cooks the rice. She also helps her father who is a coconut picker. Now in sixth grade, Aci hopes one day to be a teacher. She enjoys her school lessons but without a steady income her parents

cannot afford to send her to school regularly. Hand of Hope’s Feeding Center in Halmahera provides nutritious food and an education to children just like Aci. At the Feeding Center, Aci and her friends learn new things every day. Their health has also improved from the daily meals they enjoy together at the Feeding Center.

Hand of Hope’s Feeding Center also serves the people of a village in Lampung. Alcoholism is common in this village and children have also been influenced by this destructive habit. But parents have hope that the school lessons and nutrition the children freely receive at Hand of Hope’s Feeding Center will gear their minds toward their education and a more productive future. Agung* is one such child whose parents’ meager income

denied him the opportunity to go to school. He never used to play with the other children and was gloomy most of the time. Agung spent his days by himself, doing nothing. Now regularly attending the Feeding Center, Agung attentively participates in his daily lessons - a platform, he says, for him to build his future career as an engineer.

Nine year old Mita* was taken by surprise. She couldn’t believe what she was looking at. Curious, she compared her pictures prior to and after taking part in Oenif’s Hand of Hope Feeding Center program. She used to be a malnourished, skinny girl with sunken cheeks. Looking at her own pictures today, her eyes are shining and her face looks healthy. Her clothes do not fit her anymore because she is gaining weight. Her hard working parents who are farmers can’t believe it, but Mita is now a healthy little girl. The local government

and families of the villages have given a positive response to Hand of Hope’s projects in Indonesia. They encourage their children, especially those visibly suffering from malnutrition, to attend the Feeding Centers. Upon witnessing the positive impact of Hand of Hope’s feeding programs, the parents wish for the program to continue in their village.

Thank you for your support to Hand of Hope’s Feeding Centers in Indonesia. Through you, hundreds of children are blessed each day with healthy food and an education.

*Names changed for privacy.