Vacation apprenticeship programs for students

JAKARTA (JP): A non-governmental organization is offering vacation apprenticeship programs to secondary school students.

The second annual program aims to give students from low and middle-income groups four days work experience at social organizations.

They would be paid Rp 5,000 (US$ 2.04) a day, Indonesian Child Welfare Foundation director Widya Samsudin said yesterday.

Widya said that her foundation could place 300 students in this year's program.

"Unlike their more affluent counterparts who can afford trips abroad or pursue leisure activities with their friends and families, the apprenticeship programs exposes these youths to social welfare issues while they use their time productively," she said at the foundation's seminar on youth AIDS.

The foundation runs seminars for secondary school students on HIV/AIDS, talent development, youth skills and problems and other issues.

She said that her foundation was receiving applications for the program through the Ministry of Education and Culture.

The foundation runs other youth programs in cooperation with other non-governmental organizations and government agencies, including programs on drug abuse information, entrepreneurship, and the effects of globalization and industrialization.

These programs were unavailable at schools and some included visits to factories and offices, Widya said.

She said that apprenticeships helped develop youths' initiative and widen their horizons.

"They do not come from top schools and wealthy families, but that should not stop them from developing their potential," she said.

Felicia, 16, a second-year student at Taman Siswa senior high school, who was at the seminar, said: "Apart from getting more information about AIDS, I would like to work at the foundation for more experience."

A third-year student from the same school, Dani Gunardi, 17, said that he wanted to use his time productively and earn money through the vacation apprenticeship program.

"It's better than hanging around the house with nothing to do," Dani said.

The youths discussed safe dating and development of talent and interests at the seminar, held in cooperation with the Kayu Manis radio station.

They also had discussed science and technology, social science, art, sport and emotional intelligence to develop an overall social awareness, foundation counselor Marike said. (01)