On 21 July 2022, the INKLUSI Secretariat together with INKLUSI Partner the Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI) visited the Kupang Juvenile Correctional Centre (LPKA) in NTT Province to commemorate National Children’s Day which falls on 23 July. Currently, Kupang LPKA has 24 children in their care. The centre provides children the opportunity to engage in physical activity, handicraft activities, and training to build their vocational skills. To celebrate Children’s Day, they held performances and camped in tents in the LPKA field.
Through INKLUSI, PKBI works with Undana to provide psychological support to children at the centre and facilitates access to other essential government services and programs including legal identity. Together with PKBI, the Office of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection has assisted Kupang LPKA in establishing a Children’s Forum and Family Forum and is assisting a 15-year-old girl with her case review. A child from LPKA Kupang Children’s Forum has been selected as the ambassador for the Kupang District Children’s Forum. With INKLUSI support, PKBI will continue to collaborate with the Kupang centre, the private sector, and the community to assist children after they leave the facility through appropriate training and skills development, building a peer support system, and reconnecting with families.
National Children’s Day is a reminder that many children are still in need of protection and that we still have a great deal of work to do together for children’s protection.