Geng Gemes: Educating Street Children and Orphans in Surabaya

Casal dels Infants – The Surabaya-based movement Gerakan Mengajak Sedekah (Geng Gemes) has helped hundreds of out-of-school children resume their education. What began as a noble intention has now become a beacon of hope for many children in need of access to education.

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The Beginning of Geng Gemes

Hadi Prayitno, the chairman of the Geng Gemes Foundation, shared that the community was formed in 2016. A group of people came together for a discussion via an application, which led to its creation. “The number of people kept changing, so it was never fixed. We shared the same hobby, visiting orphanages and foster homes,” Hadi said, in an interview on Sunday, January 26, 2025.

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However, as time passed, Hadi and his friends grew bored with the same routine. They decided to start an initiative to distribute free milk and books to children living near railway tracks. “Afterward, we gathered, and about seven people agreed to focus on education, funding orphaned children so they could go to school,” Hadi continued.

Overcoming Challenges in Supporting Education

Despite many people doubting their idea, Hadi and his friends remained determined to help children return to school. Many thought the cost of education was too high and impossible to achieve. “People said education is expensive, and there were many fears, but we kept moving forward even with many objections,” he said.

Initially, Hadi found 20 street children, orphans, and school dropouts to register for school. However, the real challenge came when they had to find funds to pay for the high education fees. “In the first year, our target was IDR 30 million, but fortunately, we received donations. The following year, it was IDR 50 million, then IDR 100 million, and eventually IDR 180 million,” Hadi explained.

Turning Educational Dreams into Reality for Children

Now, Geng Gemes has successfully helped 243 children from various backgrounds continue their education, ranging from elementary school to university. “One university even provided a quota for our underprivileged children, and to this day, 18 children have successfully enrolled in higher education,” Hadi stated.

Hadi also mentioned that street children often do not have a place to reintegrate into society. He hopes that by obtaining a diploma, these children will have better job opportunities. This will also give them the chance to socialize more effectively. “Street children want to return to society, but they don’t know how. Our hope is that when they grow tired of life on the streets, they have a weapon—an education,” he concluded.

With unwavering passion, Geng Gemes continues to be a source of hope for children who have lost the opportunity to receive an education. This community movement proves that with sincere intentions and support from many, great dreams can be achieved.