Tackling Taboos & Changing Lives

For someone who doesn’t consider herself to have a “heart of gold”, Faye Simanjuntak (Class of 2019) is transforming and saving lives through her non-profit foundation, Rumah Faye. 

It all started in 2011, when she was just 11 years old. After learning about human and child trafficking, especially child sexual abuse, she was shocked by the level of stigma surrounding the important issue. So, she began volunteering at anti-trafficking organizations, and what began as weekend efforts has grown into a movement providing safe houses, counseling, and hope for survivors of child trafficking and sexual violence.

“I didn’t start Rumah Faye because I felt like I was going to save the world or save every child. The reason why this issue resonated wasn’t that it called to me; it was more like the solution called to me,” Faye says, explaining that her time volunteering with international NGOs made her realize that most of their measures drew from “foreign SOPs [standard operational procedures] without taking into account the Indonesian culture.”

“Another issue was that most of their workshops to raise awareness about child exploitation focused on adults — teachers, parents, and local community leaders. None of them focused on children because the topics of child sexual exploitation and child trafficking were considered too sensitive.”

In its early days, Rumah Faye began with small discussion groups in rural communities, where Faye and her team spent months simply getting to know the people they aimed to help. 

“We didn’t go in saying we were going to talk about reproductive health or child abuse,” Faye recalls. “We just hung out with them, learned what they needed, and approached the issue from their perspective.” 

She emphasizes that different communities require tailored strategies to address their individual needs. Slowly, she and her team introduced discussions on children’s rights, teaching children how to identify inappropriate behavior and empowering them to recognize and report abuse.

“We focus on being user-driven and try to approach the topic without fear-mongering. I’m intentional about Rumah Faye’s messaging, ensuring it is child-friendly. What we do is not about striking fear into people; it’s about empowering them to protect themselves.”

By 2016, Rumah Faye had grown into a fully-fledged organization with the establishment of a safe house in Batam, Riau Islands, providing counseling, mental health support, medical aid, “and most importantly, safety”.

Nor did Faye’s achievements go unnoticed. In 2019, she was named one of “50 Asians to Watch” by The Straits Times. Just a year later, Forbes Indonesia included her in its “30 Under 30” list in recognition of her impactful work.

Today, Rumah Faye operates with a dedicated team of 11 at the Batam safe house, two staff members in its Jakarta headquarters, and a group of committed volunteers. Together, they have stayed unwavering in their mission to help victims become survivors.

Rumah Faye’s safe house in Batam alone has assisted more than 190 children, infants, and women, providing them a haven as they recover and rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.  

Faye credits her parents for shaping her passion for raising awareness about the harrowing reality of child trafficking and sexual violence while also helping survivors.

“I’m very thankful to my parents, who always taught me that service is a big part of who we are as people and humans. I’ll be honest: When I was younger, I don’t think I was born with a big heart — someone like Mother Teresa, now that’s someone with a heart of gold,” she says.

When a teacher informed her parents of Faye’s growing interest, they made a concerted effort to educate themselves on the serious subject, and “they would sit with me as I did my research at home”.

Their involvement helped her navigate the challenges of starting Rumah Faye at just 11 years old, from organizing logistics to providing the guidance she needed.

“I didn’t know anything about setting up a foundation — I just felt like I needed to talk to kids about this. All the logistics came from my parents.”

As the years passed, Faye’s commitment to the organization remained steadfast, even inspiring her to earn a degree in international politics from Georgetown University. Now pursuing a master’s degree in Beijing, she continues to stay closely connected with her team in Indonesia. 

“I’m in contact with all of them; they are a wonderful team of people,” she says, highlighting her appreciation for the dedication of her staff and volunteers. 

“It’s not easy work, but it’s important, and I’m very privileged to be part of this movement in Indonesia.”

Find out more and consider supporting Rumah Faye by visiting their website.