Our Story

During the pandemic, Karimunjawa's tourism sector collapsed almost overnight. A group of islanders responded with Gotong Royong, a community-led drive that delivered care packages to families who had lost their income. The trust and momentum built through that effort became the seed of Kejora Karimunjawa. Neighbours, teachers and long-term friends of the island gathered to write a first strategic plan focused on education and community empowerment, raised initial funds, and registered Kejora as an official Indonesian yayasan, marking the start of a long-term commitment to nurture both people and the planet.

Kejora launched its first educational programs and began to build community trust. English for Tourism supported hospitality workers and young people looking for a foothold in Karimunjawa's growing visitor economy, while weekly play-based drop-in sessions on the beach introduced preschool-aged children and their families to child-centered, experiential learning, gentle proof that a different kind of school was possible on the island.

An eight-week pilot for our bilingual, nature-based preschool confirmed strong community interest. In September, SPS Kejora officially opened its first full year with one classroom, one teacher and two assistants, welcoming 23 students. Scholarships were built into the school from day one, with full and partial places for children from low-income and single-parent families, children with disabilities and orphans; six full and eight half scholarships have been awarded so far. Kejora also launched its first fundraising initiative, a weekly evening play space at the night market with a bouncy castle and simple games, which is now a beloved community event and a steady source of income for the school.

A defining year for Kejora's institutional growth. On 15 January SPS Kejora was formally legalised under Jepara Regency, with its curriculum becoming the first in the region to meet all national requirements. On 8 March, Stichting Kejora Karimunjawa was registered as a Dutch charitable foundation, opening the door to international donors and NGOs. That year Kejora also built a children's library, funded by the AFAS Foundation and stocked with nearly 1,000 multilingual books, while support from the Wilde Ganzen Foundation enabled a second preschool classroom.

A hugely expansive year for Kejora, in student numbers and in the professionalisation of internal teams. The foundation is now supported by 35 paid staff and volunteers. SPS Kejora entered its third academic year with three learning groups, three teachers, three assistants and a nanny serving 59 students, and completed its accreditation process on 6 August 2025. A second AFAS grant funded a new classroom block with two classrooms, two playgrounds and a sports field, the physical foundation of SD Alam Kejora. Meanwhile a long-term five-year partnership with Olijslager Impactfonds began, with its first phase used to buy the previously rented Basecamp Kejora land, securing our home for the decades to come.

SD Alam Kejora, our bilingual, nature-based primary school, opens Year 1 in July 2026, extending Kejora's learning path from preschool into primary. Alongside it, the Beyond the Classroom program grows into a full offer of environmental education, cultural nights, dance, music, sports and creative workshops, expanding learning across the archipelago and inviting the whole community into the school.