BIS students 'teach' young inmates

BIS students 'teach' young inmates

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

While teaching prisoners how to sing a song, Nicole, 16, looked
at each of the teenagers, who gazed at her eagerly, before
telling them to try to sing together along with the guitars.

She then advised when the first guitar should begin and when
the second should follow, as well as commanding vocals to stop or
start.

"I feel great and I think they are all great. They definitely
have talent. I think we should give them a chance to develop
their talent. Although it is very tiring to teach, I am very
satisfied to have the opportunity," Nicole told The Jakarta Post
after the class.

Nicole, a twelfth grade student of the British International
School (BIS) in Bintaro, Tangerang, was one of around 40 students
from the school who visited the Children's and Juvenile Prison on
Jl. Da'an Mogot, Tangerang, on Friday, to help teenagers there
learn music, English and painting.

All of the 40 students, who were split into five classes, had
a good time and were grateful for the opportunity to share their
knowledge with the young prisoners.

In an English class, Janice and several of her friends were
all smiles even though they struggled to explain several English
words to the young prisoners, while the inmates tried hard to
memorize new words.

To help convey the lesson, the students presented pictures of
the human body and explained vocabulary for various body parts.

CAS coordinator of BIS Adrian Thirkell said he and his
students have been visiting the prison every two weeks over the
last several months to share knowledge with the prisoners.

"We know that none of the teenage prisoners passed the SMP or
SMU English exams. We hope by helping them, they can pass. We are
also here to help them with the process of rehabilitation.
Hopefully, they will see that they are valued and that they can
prepare themselves to have a second start once they leave the
prison," he told the Post.

He said that along with the activities, BIS also brought the
prisoners packages containing food and toiletries, writing
implements, instant noodles and snacks.

One of the young prisoners, Hendi, 18, said that he and his
friends were grateful that people still paid some attention to
them.

"Besides improving our English and other skills, this kind of
activity makes us feel appreciated as human beings," he told the
Post.