Gunung Kidul youths get help from GEP<\/p>\n
By Israr Ardiansyah<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): For Indonesian lawmakers, a seat in the
\nlegislature means one step away from fortune and fame. But for
\nelementary students in the parched Ngawen district, Gunung Kidul,
\nsome 50 kilometers east of here, a seat means education.<\/p>\n
The 262 students of the SDN Bendo state elementary school have
\nto share a total of 50 benches, meaning roughly three students to
\nevery bench.<\/p>\n
\"A school bench of that size normally seats two students, but
\nwe use it for three. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to
\naccommodate all the students,\" principal Supangat said.<\/p>\n
These poor conditions have attracted the attention of the
\nrenowned Global Education Partnership (GEP), locally known as
\nMitra Pendidikan Global. It officially signed an agreement with
\nthe school on Aug. 3 for the provision of more benches.<\/p>\n
GEP Indonesia director, Totok S. Wiryasaputra, said all the
\nstudents' parents had thrown their weight behind the idea.<\/p>\n
\"After a series of discussions with the Parents' Association,
\nwe concluded that we must provide the school with new benches,\"
\nhe said, adding that the total budget needed was Rp 12 million
\n(US$1,350).<\/p>\n
Under the agreement, the association will provide 50 percent
\nof the budget while GEP and the United States-based company
\nGeneral Electric's GE Fund will provide the rest.<\/p>\n
This is only one of the programs developed by GEP's
\nEducational Resources Development Program (ERDP) over the last
\ntwo years. The ERDP has worked together with 149 schools to help
\ntheir students.<\/p>\n
\"It's good to see that parents in the low-income districts can
\nprovide 50 percent of the total funds to be used to buy books,
\ndesks and other basic school equipment,\" said the ERDP director
\nWuri Hartono.<\/p>\n
\"The parents determine the goals and budgets, making each
\nproject a true partnership with GEP's donors.\"<\/p>\n
What is surprising is that the parents could collect
\nUS$19,000. \"It's an enormous sacrifice as most farmers only earn
\nless than $20 per month.\"<\/p>\n
One of the parents, 33-year-old Kardi said he contributed Rp
\n30,000 to his son's school.<\/p>\n
\"I'm a teacher myself and I do believe that only educated
\npersons will be able to compete in this modern era. That's why I
\nhave to do my best for my son regardless of the fact that we are
\npoor.\"<\/p>\n
Kardi has been regarded for his hard work. His son Yuli
\nArdhika Prihatama, who studies at SDN Bendo, was recently elected
\na model student for the regency and will soon represent Gunung
\nKidul in a similar contest at the provincial level.<\/p>\n
\"I hope he'll become a great man someday who will be of
\nbenefit to the community.\"<\/p>\n
Totok said that increasing numbers of students were becoming
\nmore and more aware of the importance of education since GEP's
\npresence in the regency started in February 1999, although it
\nonly commenced its operations five months later.<\/p>\n
\"We just want to help improve Gunung Kidul residents'
\ncompetitive advantages, specially those of the youngsters. I'm
\nreally surprised to see their enthusiasm.\"<\/p>\n
Beside the ERDP, GEP also has an Entrepreneurship and
\nEmployment Training Program (EETP) and a Teachers and Students
\nDevelopment Program (TSDP) in the regency.<\/p>\n
The ERDP itself has so far provided educational equipment to
\n15,865 students in rural areas in Gunung Kidul.<\/p>\n
\"The schools that have joined our programs are already showing
\nindications that the programs really improve the students'
\ncompetitive advantages,\" Totok said, adding that a student in
\nPanggang District, whose school joined the ERDP, achieved the
\nhighest marks for the national exams in school year 2000\/2001 in
\nthe district.<\/p>\n
\"It allowed him to study at the best junior high school here.\"<\/p>\n
The EETP is aimed at improving the skills of youths from low-
\nincome families. \"We have 103 youths who have already graduated
\nfrom this program,\" Totok said.<\/p>\n
The EETP's three-month course introduces 17 to 23-year-old
\nstudents to the business world. The course includes practical
\ntraining on writing resumes, job applications and presentation in
\na professional manner.<\/p>\n
The TSDP former director Sri Lestari Yuniarti said most youths
\nin the district have gained advantages from using the GEP
\nfacilities, including the office, classrooms, library and
\ncomputer laboratory.<\/p>\n
\"Our computer laboratory, which opened in October 2000, has
\nbeen a place (to study) for many youngsters who could not to go
\nto university for financial reasons. By mastering computer
\nskills, they need not worry about competing in the job market,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Totok said only Gunung Kidul people themselves could change
\nthe regency's stereotype as a poor area lacking in human
\nresources.<\/p>\n
\"We just want to make them realize that there's so many things
\nto develop. It's time for them to get over the sad stories and
\nmove forward with improving human resources for the future.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gunung-kidul-youths-get-help-from-gep-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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