A Heartbreaking Story from NTT, Indonesia, That Makes Us Think

Tag : Indonesia, Keseharian - Asep Haryono | A Heartbreaking Story from NTT, Indonesia, That Makes Us Think - Powered by Blogger

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For most of us in Indonesia, 10,000 rupiahs (less than 1 USD) is just small money enough for a parking fee or buying candy. It may seem simple, but for a young elementary school girl in NTT, Indonesia, it was not simple at all. She ended her life because she could not afford a book and a pen that cost less than 10,000 rupiahs.

Today I want to share a very sad story from Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). It is not a light topic, but I feel it is important for us to talk about it. A fourth-grade female elementary school student in Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, with the initials YBS, ended her life on Thursday (29/1) afternoon.

A 10-year-old elementary school student in Ngada, NTT,Indonesia died in a heartbreaking way. She was just a little girl, still in fourth grade, still dreaming, still learning, still hoping for her future. But her life ended too soon.

According to local news reports, this child came from a very poor family. Before the tragedy, she had asked her mother for money to buy simple school supplies notebooks and a pen. These are things many of us take for granted. But for her family, even these basic items were difficult to afford.

Her mother reportedly could not give her the money because they were struggling just to survive. They did not have enough for food, let alone school materials. The little girl felt hopeless, ashamed, and deeply stressed. Sadly, this pressure became too heavy for her young heart.

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Local officials and community leaders later spoke about the case with tears in their eyes. Even the Governor of NTT expressed deep sadness, saying this tragedy showed how serious poverty still is in some parts of Indonesia.

What makes this story even more painful is that this child was described as smart and polite. She was not a problem student. She was a good kid who simply wanted to learn and go to school like other children.

For most of us in Indonesia, 10,000 rupiahs (less than 1 USD) is just small money enough for a parking fee or buying candy. It may seem simple, but for a young elementary school girl in NTT, Indonesia, it was not simple at all. She ended her life because she could not afford a book and a pen that cost less than 10,000 rupiahs.  Photo Asep Haryono

This image is courtesy of Tribun Lampung and shows the girl’s handwritten letter to her mother. Local police confirmed that the letter was prepared by the girl before she decided to end her life by hanging herself under a tree.

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My Opinions
The notebook and pen that the girl asked for cost less than 10,000 IDR, or under 1 USD. She wrote a final letter by her own hand as a farewell message to her mother before she took her life near a tea tree not far from her hut. In the letter, she told her mother not to be sad and to let her go forever. For me, this is an extremely touching and heartbreaking story

This case reminds us that education is not just about schools, teachers, or exams. It is also about access. A child should never feel desperate because of books or pencils. No child should feel that they are a burden just because their family is poor.

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 For me, this story is a wake-up call. It makes me think about how lucky many of us are , we have books, phones, internet, and even the chance to write or read blogs like this. Meanwhile, some children are still fighting just to get a simple pen and a notebook.

By the way, lack of access to school supplies can be caused by many factors. One of the most likely reasons is extreme poverty or living below the poverty line, which can contribute to mental or psychological problems in children. If there is no adult around to listen to a child’s sadness, this can lead them to make a terrible decision such as suicide.

For me personally, this is truly one of the most tragic and heartbreaking stories I will remember for the rest of my life. This young girl should not have died because of a lack of access to school supplies. I also have a daughter, and I am sure many parents who have daughters would feel the same way as I do.

I hope this tragedy will push the government of the Republic of Indonesia, schools, and communities to care more about poor students. Free education should really mean free including notebooks, uniforms, and basic supplies.

Most of all, I hope no other child will ever feel so alone, so ashamed, or so hopeless again. May this little girl rest in peace. And may her story remind us to be kinder, more aware, and more grateful every day.This story is painful, but it should make us think and act. If you feel moved, here’s what you can do: Support Education for Poor Children in your area

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