Promoting equality of opportunity

Trihartanto lives in a remote village of Sumatra in Indonesia. At the age of one, he was diagnosed with hepatitis. His family struggled to bring up a sick child on a single income, so they sent him to YBL (Yayasan Bhakti Luhur) for care and education.

Later, it was discovered that Trihartanto had significant learning difficulties. With YBL’s help, he managed to complete his Junior High School education and go on to learn printing skills at the center’s workshop. It was a great challenge, but his determination and the support of the teachers led to success.

“I am very happy that even with my disability, I am productive and I will be able to be independent in the future,” he says. “Thanks to YBL, I have achieved my dream of being like other children.”

Kath Cates, Chief Operating Officer for UBS Investment Bank in Asia Pacific and the senior manager responsible for Community Affairs strategy in the region, takes up the story: “YBL is a core partner here in Indonesia. It is a highly valuable organization because it aims to help disadvantaged young people to integrate into conventional education,” she says. “It then opens up a whole new spectrum of possibilities for them.”