Out of Weakness

Out of Darkness

(Fatlabata Christian Primary School study group)

Last July to August 2018, I took part in local exposure program of Stube HEMAT, a program that facilitates college students to return to their hometown. This activity was usually held for a month or tailoring the participant’s vacation time that was mentioned on the aforementioned proposal or the situations of the local site. This activity was held to help college students use their vacation with activities that would give benefit to their family, village, or society. Various activities were held by exposure participants, corresponding to their study background and local demand. The program that I’ve done was “Introduction of Mangrove Forests and its Benefits, and tutoring the students of Fatlabata Christian Primary School, Central Aru Sub-district, Aru Islands District, Moluccas.

The activity was held on my house and was participated by around 20-25 children ranging from 1^st grade to 6^th grade, it was held all week long except on Sunday. I made this class in a purpose to give tutoring for my younger brothers and sisters because I saw them very eager to study and seek knowledge, while there were many teachers that went home for vacation and had not returned yet, though the vacation time ended. Other than mathematics and reading lessons, I also took them to understand the importance to protect the environment around them by visiting a mangrove forest.

When I returned to Jogja, the eagerness to learn and to gain knowledge was clearly visible at the children. They constantly returned to my home and asked to be taught anything by my sister. After six months, the class is back in full steam, continued by my sister, Nathalia E. Kailey. Previously, the class was only held at noon, considering the absent of teacher and interruptions of electricity.

But now, the class was held at night from 7-8 PM Central Indonesian Time, with simple and limited facility utilizing the local electric lamp, HVS papers, and pencil as a media to teach the children, but the class goes on smoothly. This study group also received responses and compliments not only from the village chief, but also the local teacher council. Hopefully, the class could continue under everyone’s support especially the village chief and its staffs. Actually, the children of Fatlabata village deserved a proper and quality education.

I’ve done one step ahead by participating this program. For other fellow of Stube-HEMAT activists that haven’t taken their part on this program, there are many more chances to give a new touch to local youth via similar activities, especially friends from islands of Aru district studying in Yogyakarta. This is the time to educate your generation. (MMK)

 Education 

is the only way to out of the weakness

and the way out of the darkness

(The Greatest Debaters Movie)