West Borneo: Building a Residence for Underprivileged Students

In West Borneo, Indonesia, distance is one of the main obstacles to education. Many young people from indigenous communities live in remote areas and cannot afford either daily transport or rent near schools. The result is often just one: school dropout.

The Balai Berkuak project was created to address this reality with a concrete solution: the construction and furnishing of a student residence for underprivileged students, allowing young people to live near schools during the academic year.

The project

The intervention is funded by CEI through the 8×1000 funds for an amount of 312,567 euros (approval no. 435/2024). The local partner is the Brothers of the Holy Family Institute, which manages educational facilities in the area. The planned duration is two years.

The video inauguration of the construction site took place in February 2025, and the work is proceeding regularly: the first installment accounting report has already been approved and the second installment was authorized in November 2025. Solid progress, in a context that requires careful planning and remote coordination.

Investing in education means investing in the future

In our over 180 experiences in the socio-educational field, this certainty has consolidated over time: the most effective and lasting way to support the development of a community is to ensure its younger generations have access to education. Not as a privilege, but as a right.

The Balai Berkuak residence is a piece of a broader commitment in Indonesia, alongside projects already active in the country. Every structure we build is designed not just for today, but to last: to become a stable point of reference that local communities can continue to manage and develop over time.