Dozens of young children, barefoot and wearing t-shirts, play in a 42-square meter grass yard. They fight to get to the top of a small slide, play on the swings and chase one another, laughing loudly.

This is the scene at the Lefo early childhood education (PAUD) center in Ampera village, Oba Utara regency, North Maluku. Each weekday, 22 children between the ages of four and six spend time at the center, which was established in 2010.

Not far from