Singapore and Indonesia Celebrate Six Years of Impact in Special Needs Education

On 25 February 2025, the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) marked yet another milestone in education – the successful conclusion of the Occupational Therapy for Children with Special Needs (OTSPED) project in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Launched in 2019, the six-year collaboration between SIF, YPAC Jakarta, and Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) set out to enhance support for children with special needs by equipping Indonesian special education (SPED) practitioners with practical occupational therapy (OT) skills.

What began as a cross-border effort to build local capacity gradually grew into a meaningful programme that reached and benefitted more than 12,000 children, parents, and caregivers across Jakarta.  

With support from 25 Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs) – occupational therapists from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) – the project trained 103 Indonesian practitioners, more than double the original target. A core group of 13 Master Trainers from seven organisations in Jakarta received advanced training and mentoring, enabling them to continue cascading knowledge across the local SPED sector.

The initiative concluded with a closing ceremony and symposium held at YPAC Jakarta. Partners, volunteers, and stakeholders came together to celebrate the project’s outcomes and reflect on the friendships forged along the way. Highlights included:

1. Presentations on the project’s impact and the integration of OT into classroom settings
2. Reflections from SIVs and Master Trainers on shared learnings and growth
3. Certificate presentations honouring the commitment of Master Trainers

One of the project’s key achievements was the introduction of Individualised Education Plans (IEPs), co-developed by Singaporean and Indonesian practitioners to support more holistic, tailored interventions. These plans encouraged regular collaboration between educators and therapists, as well as greater involvement from families in their children’s learning and development.

Ibu Kumala Suryo, Chairperson, YPAC Jakarta, shared during the ceremony: “For YPAC Jakarta, we never expected that this cross-border collaboration would be so smooth or provide such an extraordinary experience. Our Singaporean partners and their volunteers showed us warmth and openness, allowing us to consult, discuss, and have conversations that fostered strong mutual understanding. Our teachers and therapists have grown tremendously and are now better equipped to collaborate and support children with special needs.”

The ceremony was graced by Mr Terrence Teo, Deputy Chief of Mission and Acting Minister-Counsellor, Singapore Embassy in Jakarta, and Bapak Saryadi, S.T., M.B.A., Director of Special Education and Special Service Education at Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology.  

During his closing remarks, Bapak Saryadi acknowledged the programme’s significance:  

“The OTSPED project has had an extraordinary impact on the development of children with special needs. I conveyed to Ibu Kumala that this six-year journey of partnership and collaboration reflects the strong commitment and dedication of all parties involved in ensuring that children with special needs receive quality education.

Over the past six years, the partner organisations have collaborated very well, and I believe the achievements made will serve as a strong foundation for the continued advancement of special education for children with special needs.”

As SIF continues its work to catalyse change for a better world, we are excited to announce that a new initiative focused on advancing global health in Southeast Asia will launch later this year. Stay tuned for more updates.

Did you know?

1. Since 1992, SIF has partnered with Indonesian organisations to deliver more than 100 programmes in healthcare and education – thanks to the passion and dedication of our volunteers and partners.
2. In 2020, former Singapore President and SIF Patron Halimah Yacob visited the OTSPED project during her first state visit to Indonesia. She engaged with the students from YPAC Jakarta, our team of SIVs, and their Indonesian counterparts.