Yayasan Hidung Merah is an arts and education outreach program based in Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta. Our mission is to empower Indonesia’s underprivileged youth through the use of circus and other arts, as well as to support the kids’ traditional and non-traditional educations. Hidung Merah currently runs two arts and education programs in various areas of Jakarta, offering educational suppo
rt to over 100 at-risk youth and young adults. Our main program, in Cilincing, offers training in circus arts and support for educational development. Children are counseled and mentored based on their needs and assisted to the greatest extent possible with their formal education, ie.) enrollment, full or partial payment of fees, private tutoring, homework help and intervention when there are problems at school and home. Moreover, Hidung Merah offers basic literacy, English language, math and guitar lessons. In Cilincing, this support is offered from a purpose built Arts and Education center. Hidung Merah was founded in 2008 by Dan Roberts, who was travelling to Indonesia as part of a comedy expedition with Clowns without Borders. Since this initial expedition, HM has reached over 50,000 children across Indonesia (Aceh, Padang, Jakarta, Jogjakarta, and Bali) through the arts in less than four years and continues to mentor and support its group of 100 core students as they advance in their formal education, as well as in their personal lives. In 2010, Hidung was awarded and successfully implemented a USAID grant for young adults and children in Aceh called “Clowns: Joy and Empowerment in Aceh”. This project empowered twelve young adults to become community mobilizers and then outreach towards their communities. Along with Hidung Merah staff, this project reached over 12,000 children in two months through circus and clown performances with social messages of peace building, personal hygiene and public health. Hidung Merah reached a total of 30,000 children in 2010 through performances across the nation. This number is excluding the number of children reached through television, radio and printed media performances and reports. Hidung Merah currently gives 25 full scholarships to children in elementary, middle, high school and university. HM’s goal for 2012, is to double the number of scholarships awarded. With the help of SSEK, Hidung Merah is a registered Yayasan (foundation) in Indonesia. Red Nose Foundation is also a registered non-profit organization in America with 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Status
