Over half of Indonesia's population lives below the poverty line and many people are vulnerable to natural disaster. Since December 2004, Indonesia has lost 179,000 people to the Tsunami and has seen thousands lose their lives and homes in two major earthquakes.
 
The YMCA has been present in Indonesia since 1928. Medan YMCA is the only YMCA on the country's largest island, Sumatra. With support from Y Care International, they responded to the Tsunami in the island's capital, Aceh, and on the tiny island of Nias. Y Care International continued supporting work in Nias from January 2009 on a project to improve the health, education and livelihoods of young people.