What began as a short community development trip to Bintan, Indonesia evolved into a meaningful learning journey, highlighting the power of education, cross-cultural engagement, and sustained partnerships.
Led by KLCII CEO Dr Chua, staff volunteers from different KLCII departments travelled to Bintan as part of the Institute’s ongoing CSR commitment, in collaboration with 5miles and Yayasan Towdah to support children, youths, and families in vulnerable communities.
KLCII staff volunteers from the Operations, Registrar’s Office, Business Development, Technology, Corporate, and Consultancy departments at Bintan Community Engagement in collaboration with 5miles
During the visit, staff learned directly from Ms Charlotte Lim of 5miles, whose long-term work in the region demonstrates how resilience, consistency, and strong local partnerships can create lasting change.
Education as a Pathway to Opportunity
Since 2020, the programme has expanded its support for children without parental care from 11 to 30 children, focusing not only on meeting daily needs but also on education, skills development, and long-term livelihoods.
The team visited several education initiatives, including a preschool that has become one of the most well-regarded early childhood centres in the area. Adjacent to the orphanage, a vocational school and adult training centre equips youths and adults with practical, industry-relevant skills. Several beneficiaries are now employed at a community café, gaining valuable workplace experience, while one former beneficiary—now a university graduate—has returned to teach at the vocational school.
Children attending classes at the preschool
Beyond formal classrooms, the team also visited a modest learning shed located within a red-light district. Here, children of different ages gather regularly to learn in a safe and structured environment, supported by trained educators from both the preschool and vocational school. Weekly food distribution efforts, prepared at the community café and shared after classes, further support families in the surrounding area.
KLCII staff volunteers preparing for food distribution
“Seeing children of different ages learning together in such as basic setting was a powerful reminder of the realities they face. While we cannot change their past circumstances, we can certainly contribute to a better future.”
— KLCII Staff Participant
Sustainability Through Community Care
In addition to education, the team learned about farming initiatives developed under 5miles’ Feed in Love programme. The produce harvested is distributed to less privileged families, contributing to food security while strengthening community ties and mutual support.
From Exposure to Ongoing Engagement
The impact of the visit extended well beyond the initial trip. Moved by the experience, one staff with a scheduled holiday to Bintan the following fortnight, brought additional learning supplies from KLCII, visited and engaged the youths and educators during their holiday trip. These continued interactions deepened relationships and reinforced the importance of presence and consistency in community development work.
Looking Ahead
Following the visit, there has been a request for KLCII to support the professional development of teachers at the two educational institutions partnered with 5miles—the preschool and the vocational school. This presents a natural extension of the partnership, allowing KLCII to contribute its expertise in education and training to strengthen local capacity and long-term sustainability.
Through initiatives such as these, KLCII continues to live out its vision of Transforming Work, Enhancing Lives—by turning shared learning into meaningful action, empowering individuals through education, and building partnerships that support communities to grow with dignity and resilience.
