Innovation

Busy metropolitan life where both parents work while they have small children who need more attention becomes the background of the mission. On the other hand, the large number of elderly people who need to be taking care of at home, while the family is busy with all their activities, it is deemed necessary to establish training and distribution activities for babysitters and elderly assistants.

With the noble goal of providing opportunities for children who drop out of school but do not yet have work skills, Mutiara Kasih is open to accepting those who have passed the selection from junior high school to high school graduates. However, to be able to attend the training in Mutiara Kasih is not easy. Prospective students are required to take strict written tests and interviews. If they pass, then they will get a ticket to be able to attend training in Jakarta. All transportation and education costs are provided free of charge.

The training will last for 2 full months. The material taught is 20% theory and 80% practice. After the training, a test will be held where the testing team is brought in from an external party. After being declared passed, they will be immediately assigned to the user who has placed an order.

Inspiration

The goal of the founders is to provide certain skills in the field of basic care (sick people, elderly people, and babies) to communities who are forced to be unemployed without a job. Those who are forced to be unemployed are actually highly educated (graduated from junior high or senior high school) but are unable to continue their education due to their economic inadequacies. This unpreparedness in the world of work is the reason they cannot be accepted in the world of work because of the absence of job skills.

With a special basic education in the field of care and care, it is hoped that the graduates will gain job skills so that they can meet the needs of a productive workforce in society, especially in the field of basic care. "Discipline is also trained since the dormitory to foster a sense of responsibility towards oneself," said Ibu Agustin, Principal of Mutiara Kasih School.

Overall impact

This institution has received several awards from regional to international levels. Starting from the award as an outstanding training institution, the best baby sitter instructor, to getting an invitation from UNESCO to take part in a Community Learning Center that focuses on the care of the elderly in Thailand.

Apart from that, this institution has also contributed to improving the standard of living of alumni. Providing decent work, helping families improve housing in their hometowns, sending their younger siblings to school, until increasing their education level to the undergraduate degree. The mission set by the founder of Mutiara Kasih is fulfilled, is to bring disadvantaged people out of poverty.

"Like a tree, the tree was watered 10 years ago, nurtured and cultivated with tireless struggle. The tree has now grown and developed, until now the tree has been fruitful. " Those are the impressions written by Pastor Christophorus Oferus Lamen Sani in the book commemorating the 10th anniversary of Mutiara Kasih's mission in 2016.

Business benefit

Good financial governance provides benefits for baby sitters and caregivers. All monthly income is managed by the Foundation, and given in full (after deducting administrative costs) after the contract with the user is completed.

With a total of 923 alumni (2016), 48% have worked independently at home and abroad. 31% of them work in Jakarta and surrounding areas with a salary range of 2 million to 3 million rupiahs. 15% of alumni have continued their studies to a diploma or bachelor degree. Meanwhile, only 6% cannot work properly or have problems.

The recruitment of the Foundation's students was carried out by visiting several poor and rural areas in collaboration with local religious leaders and related agencies. Visits to the areas of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, West Sumatra, Lampung, Yogyakarta, and disadvantaged areas in Jakarta were carried out by bringing in alumni to provide testimonials to prospective students.

In this 14-year journey, Mutiara Kasih has won the trust of the community to entrust her children to join the Foundation. Mrs. Agustin told that there was once a mother on the island of Timor who only gave her son permission to go to Jakarta only to go to Mutiara Kasih. "I'd better send money to return my child to hometown, rather than working outside but not working with Mutiara Kasih," said Mrs. Agustin imitating.

Social and environmental benefit

This foundation feels important to prevent trafficking that is rife in poor and rural areas. Where one of the causes is low awareness when looking for work. With guarantees from all stakeholders such as schools, religious leaders, and village officials, Mutiara Kasih has won the trust to be able to take their children to migrate far from their hometown.

With the distribution of students were 82% come from the East Nusa Tenggara area, Mutiara Kasih has succeeded in contributing to economic improvement in the alumni's hometown. They can help renovate their parents' houses, help with school fees for their younger siblings and provide knowledge transfers to young people in their hometown.

Interview

Agustin M. Hidayati, SKM.,MM, Headmaster