Why giving A Drop of Hope is important.

Is the Drop of Hope Campaign by Starbucks a heartfelt  effort to promote education for disadvantaged children, or a cynical attempt by the ubiquitous coffee chain to bring more customers into its store during the holiday season? How much ‘good’ will the donation of  1000 uniforms to 1000 children sponsored by ISCO Foundation do?

In Indonesia, wearing a uniform is compulsory and all public schools  have the same dress codes. A uniform is not just a piece of clothing, it is a symbol of education and learning. If you see a child wearing this uniform you know automatically that this child is attending school and not working on the street.

The accumulated cost of textbooks, pens and pencils as well as the school uniform often prevents children from low income families, such as those sponsored by ISCO Foundation from attending school.  While the cost of an Elementary School Uniform is only 100.000 Rupiah, the average income for a Family of five sponsored by ISCO Foundation is only 1.000.000 a month, or 200.000 per/head. Imagine having to spend 50% of your monthly income per child on a school uniform! 

That is why giving a Drop of Hope it is so important.  So children from marginalized and low income areas do not get left behind because they can't afford a uniform. ISCO Foundation sponsors roughly 2500 children every year. If we can achieve our target of 1000 uniforms, that represents a new uniform for 40% of ISCO Foundation's children. 

The next time you are ordering a Caramel Brulee or Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino from Starbucks, remember to give a Drop of Hope and donate a school uniform too.

To donate a School Uniform, visit this website: http://dropofhope.co/