Community Volunteer Crucial Role in Fulfilling Children’s Rights

Cindy (21), a community volunteer in a village in Palu City, Central Sulawesi, was formerly a sponsored child supported by Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI). "When I was a child, I was very active in activities, and now I am involved in various social activities, especially those related to children in my neighbourhood. I increasingly understand that every child has equal rights. One of these is the right to live, grow, and obtain a personal identity in the form of a name, citizenship, and birth certificate," she stated. 

In August 2025, Cindy had the opportunity to support a child named Putia (13 years old). Putia is a child with a disability. This girl lives daily only with her mother, who is also often unwell. Despite this, Putia's mother still works as a farmer to meet their living needs. 

One crucial right that Putia lacked was recognition as a citizen. The tangible proof of this is having a birth certificate. Up until her pre-teen years, Putia did not have one. Putia's mother has to work in the field every day, making it difficult for her to find time to deal with this paperwork. Furthermore, administrative matters are not easy for her. 

"This situation motivated me. I realised that without a birth certificate, Putia would face many difficulties in the future, ranging from access to education, healthcare, to legal protection. Therefore, I tried to be a bridge between Putia's family and the sub-district office. I accompanied them through every administrative process, helped complete the documents, and provided understanding about the importance of legal identity for a child," Cindy remarked. 

During the administrative process of obtaining the birth certificate, Cindy faced many challenges. The biggest one was that the family was momentarily hesitant to continue the process. However, thanks to cooperation, patience, and support from a social volunteer like Cindy, along with WVI's assistance, Putia officially received her birth certificate. 

"That day was a moment of great joy, not only for Putia and her family but also for me. A real change had occurred. With the birth certificate, Putia now has official recognition from the state, which means her rights as a child are better protected," she said. 

This experience made Cindy even more certain that every small effort can bring about significant change. For her, supporting Putia was not just about processing documents but also ensuring that she has a more secure future. "Thank you to Putia and her family for teaching me the meaning of determination and hope," Cindy concluded emotionally. 

Author: Ivon Podala (Individual Freelancer for WVI’s area programme in Sigi, Palu, and Donggala) 
Editor: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)