Abstract Book of the 11th International Conference on Research in Social Sciences
Year: 2026
[PDF]
Reconstructing Lived Experiences: A Phenomenological Study of Underprivileged Children in Indonesia’s Sekolah Rakyat Program, Bantul, Yogyakarta
Bazlin Fadilah
ABSTRACT:
With 11% of its child population living in poverty, children account for over one-third of Indonesia’s impoverished demographic (Statistics Indonesia – BPS, 2025). This condition creates a reality where children experience limited material resources, hindering their ability to fulfill their rights, develop their full potential, or participate actively and equally in society. Childhood poverty is intrinsically linked to the family ecosystem, forming experiences of deprivation that can harm their growth. Recognizing that deprivative home environments are difficult to transform through sporadic material aid alone, the state has implemented an innovative institutional intervention through the Sekolah Rakyat Program (a government-led community school for underprivileged children in Indonesia). This program aims to comprehensively reconstruct the child’s life ecosystem to break the cycle of extreme poverty through structured education and the fulfillment of basic needs. This study aims to deconstruct the experiences of deprivation among underprivileged children and how the presence of Sekolah Rakyat reshapes their lived experiences differently. Using a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach, the study focuses on the children’s authentic experiences regarding the various deprivations they encounter. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation with 10 children (aged 15–17) categorized as living in extreme poverty and enrolled in the Sekolah Rakyat Program. The results reveal diverse forms of material deprivations (housing, education, health, nutrition, information, and leisure) and psychosocial deprivations at home. Furthermore, the study identifies significant shifts in both material and psychosocial experiences following the intervention of Sekolah Rakyat. This research serves as a valuable reference for a new model in child poverty alleviation initiatives.
Keywords: child; deprivation; institutionalism; state; intervention