DBS Foundation Partners with UNICEF to Strengthen Early Childhood Education and Nutrition in NTT
DBS Foundation Partners with UNICEF to Strengthen Early Childhood Education and Nutrition in NTT
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - DBS Foundation has partnered with UNICEF Indonesia to improve the well-being of children, including education and nutrition, in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). This partnership will last for the next two years.
It is worth noting that DBS Foundation is committed to supporting an integrated program worth SGD 3.51 million (approximately US$2.7 million) for children aged 4-12 in several Early Childhood Education (PAUD) centers and primary schools in NTT.
This program aims to reach at least 5,270 direct beneficiaries through concrete support and system strengthening during the partnership period. The program targets children in PAUD and primary schools, as well as parents, caregivers, teachers, and school principals.
Currently, NTT is facing challenges that affect the nutrition and education of children. Therefore, this program takes a holistic approach, recognizing that children learn more effectively when early childhood learning is strengthened and nutritional needs are met simultaneously.
Through this approach, the program aims to lay a strong foundation in terms of nutrition and education for children so that they can grow and develop well into adulthood and old age in the future.
Implemented through partnerships with the central government and key local authorities in NTT, the partnership between DBS Foundation and UNICEF will also contribute to strengthening national and sub-national systems.
Head of Group Marketing & Communications at PT Bank DBS Indonesia, Mona Monika, said that through DBS Foundation, they continue to strive to improve the quality of life of vulnerable communities by providing basic needs and promoting financial inclusion.
This is because building a good foundation early on is key to helping children develop as they grow and go through various stages of life.
Ultimately, the collaboration between DBS Foundation and UNICEF aims to improve the nutritional status and education of children in NTT. This program to improve nutrition and education also reflects DBS Foundation’s commitment to creating an impact beyond banking and catalyzing sustainable and measurable change.
Together with UNICEF, DBS’s mission is not only to support thousands of children today but also to help create a system that can break the cycle of disadvantage and have a lasting impact on future generations.
“The short-term change is, of course, how we can provide vulnerable communities in Indonesia with better nutrition and, secondly, how we in Indonesia can provide access to education and useful educational materials,” she said at the DBS Foundation and UNICEF Indonesia Collaboration to Drive Future Change for Children in Nusa Tenggara Timur event on Wednesday (February 25, 2026).
With this program, DBS Foundation hopes that the health indicators of children in NTT will improve, so that their enthusiasm for learning will continue to grow. In addition, DBS Foundation also hopes that parents will become more aware of the importance of nutritious food for their children, which will stimulate them to learn more diligently both at school and at home.
In the long term, DBS Foundation hopes that this program can bring about progress in improving the quality of health, education, including overall mental health in Indonesia.
“So, I hope that we as DBS Foundation, which works in Indonesia, hope that in the next 10 years, because this investment is for the next 10 years, DBS Foundation can actually shift towards providing progress in these areas,” she explained.
On the other hand, Chief of Education at UNICEF Indonesia, Katheryn Bennett, explained that basically every child deserves to have the best start in life. Given that early childhood is a crucial period for a child’s growth and development.
She said that when children get enough nutrition, quality learning opportunities, and a safe and protected environment, they have the foundation to grow optimally and reach their full potential.
UNICEF continues to be committed to supporting the Indonesian Government’s efforts to improve the quality of nutrition and education for every child. In this regard, UNICEF emphasizes the importance of greater involvement of parents or caregivers in the learning process of their children.
These parents are expected to help ensure healthy eating habits for children and early education practices at home. Later, the practice of providing nutritious food and education can be further strengthened when these children are at school.
Regarding the education aspect, UNICEF also said that stronger planning and budgeting are key to improving the quality of education. Therefore, UNICEF seeks to involve key partners in improving the local education ecosystem. UNICEF strives to strengthen the quality of teachers and school administrators so that they better understand what is important regarding children’s education.
“And really try to strengthen their own capacity to understand what is important. What should be prioritized in terms of funding and how they should provide quality services that parents, communities, and children actually deserve. So there will be efforts in that area as well,” she explained.
In this program, UNICEF together with DBS Foundation will train and equip teachers and school principals with early childhood learning packages to improve literacy and numeracy skills. Later, children will be invited to use local reading materials and participate in gardening activities at school to cultivate healthy habits. This program also supports children’s nutrition through growth monitoring, deworming, and increased nutrition awareness.
Furthermore, the or