Starting Small: A Grassroots CSR Initiative Supporting Children’s Education

JurnalPost.com - In many parts of Indonesia, access to education and learning opportunities remains uneven, particularly for young people living in rural areas and underserved communities. While larger institutions continue working toward long-term educational reform, small grassroots initiatives are also beginning to play an important role in creating meaningful social impact at the community level.

One emerging initiative focuses on providing free Japanese language education for young Indonesians who hope to expand their opportunities through education, skills, and international exposure. What started as a simple online learning effort has gradually evolved into a growing community driven not only by language education, but also by social responsibility and humanitarian values.

The initiative was first established in late 2024 and became actively operated in April 2025. Since then, the classes have been independently managed by its founder without a volunteer team, reflecting a personal commitment to making educational access more inclusive for young learners interested in Japan, language learning, and overseas opportunities.

Founded by Indonesian model and social entrepreneur Royyuda Agusto Ompusunggu, also known as Sansan, the initiative was inspired by his personal experiences before and after moving to Japan. Born in Simodong on August 2, 2001, Royyuda experienced firsthand how difficult it was to access reliable information about studying, working, and adapting to life in Japan while living in Indonesia.

After arriving in Japan, he began to see a significant difference in educational accessibility and employment opportunities. This experience motivated him to create a free learning platform that could help others gain access to language education and practical knowledge that may open pathways for future careers and international experiences.

“Before coming to Japan, I realized how limited access to educational information and opportunities still was for many young Indonesians,” the founder shared. “When I experienced life and work culture in Japan, I saw how education and skill development are strongly supported. That became one of the reasons I wanted to start free Japanese language classes for people who may want to follow similar opportunities in the future.”

The founder also emphasized that language plays an important role in creating confidence and communication skills within professional environments. Through free educational access, the initiative hopes to support students who may not have the financial resources to join paid learning programs.

Although still operating on a small scale, the community has already begun carrying out social contribution activities through CSR and donation programs. On December 23, 2025, the initiative conducted a donation program for Yayasan Panti Asuhan Ora et Labora in Medan. The second CSR activity was carried out in March 2026 in collaboration with Smiling Kids Foundation, a foundation supporting children battling cancer.

While modest in scale, these initiatives reflect the organization’s belief that social impact should begin as early as possible, even before becoming a large institution or formally established NGO.

“Our mission is not only to teach language skills, but also to create a positive social impact through education and empathy,” the founder explained. “We hope this small initiative can continue growing and collaborate with more communities, foundations, and educational partners in the future.”

Looking ahead, the initiative aims to expand its focus beyond language learning by supporting educational access, community partnerships, and social programs for children and underserved communities. The long-term vision is to eventually develop into a sustainable NGO-driven movement that combines education, empowerment, and humanitarian action.

By starting with small but consistent steps, the community hopes to inspire more young people and grassroots organizations to contribute to society in meaningful ways — regardless of how small the beginning may be.