Building Sustainable Futures: How Our Goals Transformed an Indonesian Village School

When the school in the Indonesian village of Batu Rakit was damaged in the 2018 tsunami, the community faced a crisis. Children had no place to learn, and their parents worried about their futures.

Our Goals stepped in to help. We partnered with a local NGO, and with the funding from our client, Burdett House in London, we secured the rebuilding of the school.

Together with local residents and our NGO partners, Our Goals developed plans to rebuild the temporary classroom made of metal and had no facilities whatsoever.

The village and local experts came together to construct the school, which was rebuilt with sturdy recycled plastic blocks. The blocks, conceived in Finland by the company Block Solutions are made in Lombok which reduces the carbon footprint of the building.

Batu Rakit school damaged by the 2018 earthquake, before rebuilding

Our Goals Founder, Ana Ponea at the Block Solutions Factory, Lombok

The school was equipped with a handwashing station, toilet, 2 classrooms, furniture and play equipment. Locals helped to decorate the building.

A bright, refurbished school soon took shape. But the building was just the first step. Our Goals brought in a devoted teacher from the neighbouring village. As her husband was unemployed, her income helped feed their family.

The teacher provides the Indonesian curriculum and basic English skills at the new school, alongside education in sustainability. Parents were thrilled to see their children mastering a valuable language for future jobs.

Our Goals continues to work with the community to find employment for those connected with the school. We want to plant seeds for generations of growth and help uplift the entire community.

All the schools built by Our Goals demonstrate the power of partnership. When people unite towards a common goal, change becomes possible. Our Goals wants to replicate this model and build more schools in partnership with communities in Indonesia and beyond.

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Teacher and students at the newly reopened school made from recycled plastic blocks

Watch the opening ceremony of Paud Mulia Hati School

Project 1

Involved a collaboration between Our Goals’ client, a commercial property, 11 Strand London, managed by Anglo Fortune Capital Group. Working together Our Goals and local partners, together they constructed the Paud Mulia Hati school, completed in December 2021. Due to COVID restrictions, the project was coordinated via Zoom, with no in-person meetings or travel possible. Despite these challenges, the partners maintained a strong commitment to contributing positively to the community. The school was made of concrete. It wasn’t until August 2022, when travel restrictions eased, that the team could visit the school and meet the community in person.

Projects 2 and 3

Collaboration of Our Goals’ client, commercial properties Burdett House London and 77 Gracechurch London. Initially planned for May 2023, these projects aimed to rebuild two schools, TK IT Bina Insani and Ra Batu Rakit, with concrete bricks. However, a shift towards using Recycled Plastic Blocks—a new technology—was proposed just as construction was about to begin. Despite the need for a last-minute change and additional funding, both clients readily agreed, emphasizing their commitment to sustainability and positive community impact. This decision led to the creation of two new, sustainably-built schools for the Lombok community.

Watch the opening ceremony of TK IT Bina Insani School

Watch the opening ceremony of RA Batu Rakit School

Project 4

Initiated by the commercial property managers of 77 Victoria Street London, completed in October 2023, focusing on the construction of the Paud Cempaka Putih school. This project highlights the commitment of the management team at 77 Victoria Street, a major office development in London. The team there is dedicated to working to address social challenges such as inequality, education quality, and poverty. Their decision to rebuild the Paud Cempaka Putih as a sustainable school built from recycled plastic blocks underscores their belief in quality education for early development and their desire to contribute positively.

Watch the opening ceremony of Paud Cempaka Putih School