Flores
The island Flores is part of the island group NTT, the most Eastern and poorest region of Indonesia. During the Portuguese colonial period it was named Flores, the island of flowers.
Up to now Portuguese missions dominate the society, especially the educational system. More than 50% of the High Schools (50) and Colleges (30) are catholic, concentrated around the Capital Maumere (half a million inhabitants). They are said to be qualitative better then the state run schools. Unfortunately they cannot pay the teachers more then the usual 200 € per month. Cleanliness and disziplin are important in this schools.
Private schools finance themselfs on base of school fees. In High Schools and Colleges these fees are about 20-30 € monthly. For professional (e.g. nursing) or technical schools the fees are usually twice as high.
About half of the 15.000 students are said to be poor, 10% extremly poor/indigent. Assuming a quote of gifted students of 30% the number of students in the target group adds up to 1.000. A huge amount of wasted intellectual potential.
What we can do thanks to your help is only a small contribution. However, hopefully one or the other of our students becomes a doctor, teacher or nurse, not only professionally succesful for himself but also helpful for others.