THE INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG VOLUNTEERS “AKU BELAJAR”: MARGINALIZED CHILDREN MOTIVATION AND AWARENESS BACK TO SCHOOL

Abstract

This article examines the involvement of young volunteers in "Aku Belajar" to regain marginalized children's motivation and awareness. The marginal life of scavenger children has made the children’s interest and motivation to study decline. Thus, they need support from young volunteers like "Aku Belajar." In this research context, the data was gathered by interviewing and observing the volunteers and the scavenger children. The results indicated that the young volunteers successfully motivated the scavenger children after using three main strategies: guiding, facilitating, and motivating them to regain their study passion. The research focused on the "Aku Belajar" program, initiated by the young volunteers. This program is entirely free of charge and offers the children's time flexibility. It positively affects parents and children who join the program. This research believes that such a volunteer program can serve as a benchmark for other communities to conduct similar strategies to improve and assist low-income and marginalized children. This article contributes to solving discrimination issues in education through youth empowerment efforts in the volunteering program. In addition, it encourages practitioners and academia to play a more significant role in improving education for the low-income community

Keywords: Volunteers, Social Work, Civic Engagement, Aku Belajar.