Refuge offers different approach to education

Fabio Scarpello, Contributor, Jakarta

Thinking of theater and of a "supportive environment" as the main tools to educate children is quite a departure from conventional education methods, and quite a task for the teachers who decide to follow such a visionary approach.

And if the children are slum dwellers, orphans and street children, the task becomes an epic one.

With this in mind, Ivone Terik's pride in declaring, "10 of our children have been accepted as assistant teachers in conventional schools" is justified. Ivone is responsible for data and sponsorship at Sanggar Anak Akar, a refuge for street children and a center for alternative education.

Sanggar teaching priorities and methods mean that it cannot issue conventional certificates or diplomas, but as Ivone is quick to add, "the fact that our students are now teaching validates our vision."

The Sanggar concept was developed in 1994, following the experience of volunteers who had previously organized study groups in Jakarta's slums. The same volunteers are still at the core of the organization.

During the first six years, Sanggar operated as part of the Jakarta Social Institute, but in 2000 it went its own way by becoming an independent organization, solely devoted to accommodating the needs of children. These are the children that an overstretched government does not have the time, means or will to help. They have no educational background and are often burdened with a backlog of unresolved psychological traumas.

Sanggar's home base in Cipinang Melayu, East Jakarta, was built in 1999 by Ibe Karyanto, the center rector and founder, with the help of 70 children. The center is at present a permanent home for 50 children, and the main support for 350 more residing in Jakarta's slum areas. These are only some of the over 500 children who have been connected with Sanggar since it started.

In Sanggar, Ibe puts his philosophy degree to use, and highlights values and priorities that are often neglected in a mainstream education.

"We instill in our children the value of social solidarity and the value of caring for one another. We are trying to develop a model of education that respects children and their needs."

Those worried that Sanggar Anak Akar provides an airy-fairy education need not be. The center's focus on art does not exclude basic skills that are taught to children from an elementary school age, both in the center and in various areas of Jakarta. Art, and theater in particular, is used to develop children's creativity. As Ibe spells out in the center's objectives, "we aim to develop children into solid human beings, with free will and the ability to think critically and creatively, act independently and enjoy a solidarity with the environment."

"Sanggar is one of a kind," Ibe added. "What makes us unique is not the alternative education, which is also provided by other organizations, but the community spirit that we have built. This is the backbone of our project. We believe in solidarity among ourselves and with the world out there.

"We want our children to stretch out and reach to other children and other people."

This is what in the center is defined as "networking", and is achieved by the children launching public campaigns, or organizing cultural events. The center is also designed to welcome individuals and for groups of the community to get involved.

Sanggar can already count on a group of "Friends of Akar." These are a mixture of artist-lecturers and members of the community, who share the workload and a concern for Jakarta's marginalized children with the volunteers.

Among them is Dolorosa Sinaga, the main contemporary sculptor, who for the past three years has been putting work, time and enthusiasm into teaching Sanggar's children.

Recently, Yanto, 17, one of Dolorosa's most promising students at Sanggar, sold two of his own art pieces in a fund-raising event for the refuge.

"That was a proud moment for everybody," Dolorosa said. Yanto has since then made the grade, and moved to Dolorosa's professional workshop as a full time apprentice.

Fund raising and donations are Sanggar's lifeblood.

"We are independent from the government," Debby Maitimu, Sanggar's finance manager, says. "To pursue central funding would mean to follow the national curriculum and we would rather not do that."

Sanggar's fund-raising, self-sustainable economic activities and donations have to this date been enough, but it is always a struggle.

"We need about Rp 35 million a month. Children make handicrafts, print T-shirts, put on theater performances and through that bring in some money, but we need more support from the public," Debby said.

"People have to realize that -- as Sanggar's motto states -- "children are the owners of the future and education cannot be postponed."

Sanggar Anak Akar

Tel/Fax 021 9193050-021 8574923

sangarakar@yahoo.com

For donations: Account 2731208630, a/n Debby Maitimu

BCA Cabang Dewi Sartika.