Pre School Education
Quality early childhood education is one of the most powerful investments a community can make. Evidence consistently shows that children who attend structured pre-school programmes are better prepared for primary school, develop stronger health habits, and have improved long-term outcomes. Yet in rural and low-income parts of Indonesia, affordable early learning remains scarce — and 4.5 million children who should be in school are not.
For over 25 years, FMCH Indonesia — locally known as Yayasan Balita Sehat (YBS) — has worked to close this gap, running community pre-schools and mobile education programmes that reach children in some of Indonesia's most underserved areas.
Our Pre-Schools
FMCH Indonesia currently operates 21 community pre-schools (PAUD) across three regions:
●Bogor, West Java
●South Central Timor (Timor Tengah Selatan)
●Southwest Sumba (Sumba Barat Daya)
In November 2025, more than 700 young children enrolled across these schools received comprehensive health and dental check-ups — for many, the first complete health screening of their lives. Delivered in partnership with local Puskesmas (community health centres) and supported by the Caterpillar Foundation through CAF America, the screenings covered growth, oral health, general wellbeing and referral support, with individual health reports provided to each family.
"For many families in Southwest Sumba and South Central Timor, this was their child's first complete health check. Parents were grateful to learn more about their child's condition and how to take care of them at home." — Syifa Andina, Chairwoman, FMCH Indonesia
FMCH Indonesia's 47 local teachers and field staff deliver an integrated curriculum combining early literacy, numeracy, health education, nutrition and psychosocial stimulation — addressing the whole child, not just academic readiness.
Education for the Whole Family
Health and nutrition education for mothers
While children attend pre-school sessions, their mothers take part in health and nutrition education classes. Through interactive and games-based teaching, mothers learn about infant and toddler nutrition, breastfeeding, feeding practices, immunisations and the management of common childhood illnesses. This parallel programme recognises that a child's development is inseparable from the knowledge and wellbeing of their caregiver.
Skills training and economic empowerment
Mothers of children attending the Early Learning Centre can also access income generation and skills training — including small enterprise workshops in crafts, sewing and other practical skills. Materials are provided by the Foundation, and participants are paid for their work. This approach helps mothers become more economically independent while remaining engaged with their child's education.
The Mobile Library: Reaching Children Beyond the Classroom
Not every child can reach a pre-school. FMCH Indonesia's mobile library programme — which operates under the names Smart Cart, Motor Pustaka Timor and Library House depending on the location — takes books, learning materials and health education directly to children in poor communities who cannot access the schools.
Delivered through puppet shows and interactive activities, the programme makes learning accessible, engaging and culturally resonant. Each visit brings not just books but the message that education matters — to children and families who might otherwise have little exposure to it.
Impact That Lasts a Lifetime
The long-term impact of FMCH Indonesia's early education work is perhaps best illustrated by the story of Sahnur, now 21 and studying at the Jakarta State Polytechnic. He first walked into the YBS Cilandak preschool in 2008.
"What really stuck with me is the habit of eating real food. It has stayed with me until now." — Sahnur, YBS alumnus (2026)
His mother Titik, who enrolled both her sons at YBS, credits the programme not only with giving her children academic readiness — her eldest could already read when he started primary school — but with providing medical support, scholarships and skills training that made a tangible difference to the whole family's trajectory.
Stories like Sahnur's are a reminder that early childhood education is not just about school readiness. It is about building the habits, health and confidence that children carry with them for life.
References
1 FMCH Indonesia (2025). Building Healthier Futures for Indonesia's Youngest Learners. https://fmch-indonesia.org/building-healthier-futures-for-indonesias-youngest-learners
2 FMCH Indonesia (2026). When Early Education Becomes a Lifelong Gift. https://fmch-indonesia.org/when-early-education-becomes-a-lifelong-gift
3 UNICEF Indonesia. Out-of-school children data. https://www.unicef.org/indonesia/education
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