School Built by Save the Children and Partners Helps Children to Continue Learning as Indonesia's Lewotobi Laki-laki Erupts Again

JAKARTA, Indonesia (March 21, 2025)– Indonesia's Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano erupted again overnight, further disrupting education for thousands of children already learning in tents and temporary learning centers, while Save the Children's emergency school continues to support children in areas affected by the last major eruption.

Authorities in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province, where the volcano is located, raised the alert status to the highest level, and several flights to the nearby tourist island of Bali were cancelled on Friday.

Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted last November and filled schools with ash and debris. Falling rocks also caused extensive damage to several schools, including large holes, and some classrooms caught on fire. That eruption displaced more than 15,000 people and disrupted education for more than 5,300 children, forcing some to learn in tents or online.

Since then, Save the Children, together with its local partners CIS Timor, the Larantuka Development Study Foundation (YPPS), and the NTT Disaster Management Community Association, built a temporary emergency school for primary school children in Years 1 to 6 who were forced to learn in tents because of evacuation orders following the last major eruption in November 2024.

The emergency school building is made of iron and plywood and was designed with good air circulation in mind. Tables and chairs sourced locally and made by a vocational school in East Flores were also supplied to the emergency school, which has not been affected by the latest eruption.

"Education is the right of every child. We hope that with this school, children affected by the disaster can return to learning comfortably and safely," said Mahyuddin Hatma, a program manager at Save the Children in Indonesia.

"Children found it very uncomfortable and hot to learn in temporary tents, so we hope this school building will continue to provide some respite for them."

Save the Children and its partners are still working in the post-disaster recovery period. Teams have also carried out a number of activities to support children's learning, including the distribution of back-to-school kits and shelter and hygiene kits.

The Indonesian archipelago sits on the seismically active "Ring of Fire" and is no stranger to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Data from the country's Disaster-Safe Education Unit shows 66 schools are still affected, and more than 5,000 students have experienced disruptions to their learning since December.

The Children's Heroes Community also supported the construction of the emergency school. The Children's Heroes Community is a platform for individuals who care about children's rights to contribute financially to Save the Children's programs. The temporary learning space was named the Children's Heroes Community School and is the first emergency school built with the community's support.

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Indonesia and around the world, we do whatever it takes so children can fulfil their rights to a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.