Yayasan Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun (YIIM), supported generously by its primary corporate partner PT Insight Investments Management, held an insightful Parenting Seminar in the town of Balige on March 14, 2020. For operational and technical field execution, YIIM established a tactical partnership with the local community group Horas Halak Hita (H3).

Hosted at Hotel Nabasa, Balige, the seminar gathered 70 participants comprising formal and informal educators, church community leaders, and parents of kindergarten and elementary school children.

The seminar adopted the theme “How to Parent Children to Ensure Good Emotional Health,” purposefully designed to cultivate deep awareness on the critical importance of nurturing healthy emotional bonding and open communication between parents and their children.

With strong emotional connection within the household, children are expected to communicate more transparently with their parents, building natural resilience against substance abuse, negative peer pressure, juvenile delinquency, and dangerous environmental temptations from an early age.

Throughout the program, participants demonstrated high engagement, posing insightful questions rooted in real-life dilemmas to the keynote speaker, Jonson Sibuea. Jonson Sibuea is a certified facilitator from Louis Counseling and Training Services Pte. Ltd., having completed extensive domestic and international training in disciplines including Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Schema Therapy, Movie Therapy, the Ministry Training Program, and various advanced counseling methodologies.

Invited attendees expressed deep appreciation for this parenting seminar. Through active discussions, organizers recognized a profound yearning among educators and parents for continuing parental education. Of all attendees present, 54 participants immediately enrolled for the subsequent follow-up session scheduled for June 2020.

Organizers mobilized participants through official collaboration with the Education Office and Social Affairs Office of Toba Regency, as well as digital outreach via social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. The initial attendance target was 60 participants, combining formal and informal educators (including faith-based groups) and parents.

According to the official attendance registry, educator attendance (both formal and non-formal)—encompassing elementary school teachers, early childhood education (PAUD) teachers, and Sunday school instructors—represented approximately 67% of total attendees. This statistic underscores the intense enthusiasm among educators who play pivotal developmental roles outside the family home. The presence of church leadership and educators highlighted the localized urgency and relevance of positive parenting guidance across Toba Regency and Balige in particular.

During the nearly two-hour interactive seminar, participants engaged in rich discussions with the speaker, examining critical issues such as safeguarding children from the surge in narcotics abuse, establishing healthy parenting routines, and vigilant protection against child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Salam Inspirasi!