{"id":18699,"date":"2025-07-02T00:56:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T17:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inovasi.or.id\/publication\/from-the-valley-to-the-shores-parents-as-education-heroes\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T09:30:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T02:30:52","slug":"from-the-valley-to-the-shores-parents-as-education-heroes","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/www.inovasi.or.id\/en\/publication\/from-the-valley-to-the-shores-parents-as-education-heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Valley to the Shores: Parents as Education Heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Every
<\/div>
Every day, students walk home along a rocky and slippery path through the valleys of Sumedang, West Java. Their journey can take up to eight kilometres. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

As we mark Global Parents Day, we reflect not just as observers, but as sons, daughters, and parents ourselves. Across Indonesia, in the hidden mountainous valleys and along the narrow alleys of fishing villages along the coastlines, remarkable and unique stories unfold daily. In West Java, not far from the nation\u2019s capital, we hear echoes of stories; about parents who turn geographical isolation into collective spirit, who transform economic barriers into resilience, and prove that education knows no boundaries. They are heroes who turn every obstacle into opportunities for their children. <\/p>\n\n

From Plantation Area to Classroom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Several days a week, Suharmat travels by motorcycle along damaged rocky roads to a small rural elementary school. Nestled beneath a mountain, this tiny school serves just 28 students with seven teachers, located 30 kilometers outside of the nearest city of Sumedang, West Java, in the heart of an intact forest. <\/p>\n\n

Decades ago, Suharmat walked the same 8-kilometer path daily as a student. Today, as a chairman of the school\u2019s parent committee, he ensures his daughter had better access to education \u2013 even if it\u2019s just with the help of motorcycle ride instead of that long, lonely walk. Working as a plantation worker near the village and alumnus of the same school, Suryatna understands well the challenges faced. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cBack in my days, my parents didn\u2019t have a vehicle yet. I walked about 8 kilometers round trip every day,\u201d he recalled. \u201cNow I can take the children by motorcycle \u2013 though they still walk home.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

However, Suharmat vision extends beyond transportation and walkable path to school. He dreams of converting an old house next to the school into a proper library, replacing the cramped reading corners with limited books. His leadership represents something profound \u2013 a pivotal era where parents in remote areas organizing themselves to demand not only a better educational access for their communities, but also quality children\u2019s books and learning resources. <\/p>\n\n

Rewriting Traditional Roles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Meanwhile, at a fishing village in the coastal of Cirebon, West Java, fathers are quietly redefining what it means to be a parent in a traditional community. Here, men don\u2019t just catch fish \u2013 they catch precious moments to help with their children\u2019s homework after long days at sea. <\/p>\n\n

Yanti, who spends her mornings peeling crabs and her days managing household duties, describes her family rhythm: \u201cI work as a crab peeler in the morning, wash clothes during the day and then cook for the family \u2013 so I\u2019m exhausted by evening. At night, Alif (my son) studies with his father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Her husband, Raskim, embodies this new model of fatherhood. After returning from sea or selling fish at the market, he sits with their third-grader a few times during a week, helping with homework and lessons. This pattern is also reflected in other households in Ambulu, where another student at sixth grade, Dise, often receives assistance from his father \u2013 a university graduate \u2013 to ensure her excellency academically. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cDisya is always first in her class,\u201d says her mother Nenti . \u201cShe studies with her father every night because he understands the lessons better. Even though I rarely help with studying, we hope Disya can continue her education as high as possible.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Parents as Collective Force<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

What happens in Sumedang and Cirebon is not an anomaly, but rather a representation of hidden strength that moves education, even in remote areas. Despite existing barriers in accessing educational assistance, these parents organize themselves, share responsibilities, and create a sustainable educational ecosystem. <\/p>\n\n

In Sumedang, parents collaborate on everything \u2013 from carpooling children to school \u2013 to converting an empty house into a school kitchen. In Cirebon, fathers exchange strategies for helping their children study after their fishing duties. These grassroots efforts prove that communities\u2019 creativity can move far beyond existing limitations. <\/p>\n\n

The story of Suharmat who now leads the school committee after once struggling as a student, or Raskim and other fishermen fathers who redefine traditional parenting roles for their children\u2019s future, reminds us that educational progress begins with one fundamental decision of refusing to surrender to circumstances. When parents refuse to give up, neither do their children.<\/p>\n\n

On this Global Parents Day, we honor all mothers and fathers\u2014those who rise above hardships and traditions to make education a shared mission. When parents refuse to give up, their children learn to do the same. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all carry memories of our first day at schools \u2013 when our parents were holding our nervous hands, carrying a too-big backpack, and wave as we walked in, and when we eagerly told them stories on how the day went when they picked us up. These silent memories marked our parents love and determination to get us ahead. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":20683,"template":"","publication-category":[179,259],"where-we-works":[165],"resources":[],"class_list":["post-18699","publication","type-publication","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","publication-category-cerita-praktik-baik","publication-category-kisah-inspiratif","where-we-works-jawa-barat"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFrom the Valley to the Shores: Parents as Education Heroes - INOVASI - Untuk Anak Indonesia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On Global Parents Day, inspiring stories from rural West Java show how parents overcome distance, poverty, and tradition to support their children\u2019s education.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inovasi.or.id\/en\/publication\/from-the-valley-to-the-shores-parents-as-education-heroes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From the Valley to the Shores: Parents as Education Heroes - 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