Devy S.

Since elementary school, Devy observed that there were children in her neighborhood who could not go to school. They had to earn money for survival through selling newspapers, busking, or begging. She used to share copies of books or school notes  so they could have access to some knowledge. In high school, she became more aware of the gap between children on the streets, children living in orphanages, and children with disabilities, who did not have the same opportunities as herself. Devy decided to develop a better solution – she launched Happy Place Indonesia with 21 other friends as a support group for marginalized children to develop their skills and passions. They conduct inspiring talkshows, art classes, capacity building workshops, mental health councelings, and create a podcast series. As of now, more than 1,000 children in Bengkulu and 300 young people across Indonesia have been impacted by their programs. The community has collaborated with various stakeholders, such as Government Tourism Office, Bengkulu Provincial Children's Forum, and Plan International Indonesia. 

Devy believed that we need to put a positive mindset to see what we have, what we can do, and that we can start now in taking action when we see a problem. She planned to invite changemakers throughout Indonesia to collaborate in activities both online and offline, such as conducting community services to teach students in rural areas and mentoring other young people to initiate a change in their communities.