Sitting on the floor in a cramped room, they had to share the holy book with others. It, however, didn’t weaken their enthusiasm to learn.

These children live with their families in a red-light area of Kebon Kacang in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. Aini Kanita Sari, 10, was one of them.

“I love learning here [in the center]. It helps me learn Koran recital faster. Now, I can recite the Koran,” she told The Jakarta Post during a recent joint visit to the area by a team from the European Union (EU) and the Community Empowerment National Program (PNPM) Peduli.

Students in the neighborhood spend their afternoons at the Hurin ‘In Study Center after school. They learn how to recite the Koran and develop their potential in music, drawing and performing arts.

The center serves a second home for marginalized young people, including the children of sex workers.

Ramli Izhaque, 49, an ustaz (Islamic teacher) and coordinator at the center, said Hurin ‘In used to be a traditional Koran recitation community initiated by his grandfather. After taking over the center, he included social training activities to develop the children’s skills.

Ramli said the neighborhood and Tanah Abang in general, had developed a notorious reputation as a place of street thugs. Combined with cheap prostitution, the notoriety of that area was even broader.

Not too far from Kebon Kacang is the headquarters of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), which is famous for its use of violence. Read more