AFTER working as a migrant worker in Singapore and Hong Kona for six years, Suprapti, 43, finally returned to Masaran village, Banjarnegara, Central Java. She later shared her experience and knowledge by teaching English to children around her home for free. Life experience overseas also encouraged her to accompany migrant workers in terms of advocacy.
On Tuesday (2/5) afternoon, 11 elementary and junior high school children flocked to the house of Suprapti at RT 001 RW 001, Masaran village, Bawang district, or about 9 kilometers from the Banjarnegara Square. Equipped with books and stationery, the children sat cross-legged in an English course held at the living room of Suprapti\'s house.
In the room measuring 4 meters x 3 meters, the children sat on carpet and used banners. With a chalkboard set up on a chair, Suprapti started an English lesson.
A welcome greeting and introduction was carried out in English.
To find out to what extent the children understand the materials, Suprapti gave opportunities to several students to raise their hands. At that time she asked the students to individually name the days and months. If there was less appropriate pronunciation, she directly corrected it. After mentioning the names of days and months, Suprapti invited all children to applaud. A sign of support and congratulations to those who have been fluent and managed to memorize.
"Rather than just playing games in the afternoon, it is better for the children to learn together. Moreover the courses are located the city, far away from the village," said Suprapti.
The wife of Torik Husein went to migrate to Singapore to become a migrant worker in 1994. Armed with limited English language skills, the graduate of state vocational school SMEA Negeri Banjarnegara wanted to find jobs in the neighboring country as a household assistant.
After two years in Singapore, Suprapti returned to Indonesia and stayed in Yogyakarta together with her family. She attended an English course for a few months, before working in a number of hotels as a secretary. She also used to teach in one of the English courses in Yogyakarta.
Defending migrant workers
Then in 2005, her husband\'s business in wood processing was shaky. Suprapti then decided to go overseas again to work as a migrant worker in Hong Kong for four years. With an income of about Rp 4.5 million per month, Suprapti could regularly sent money to her children.
There, she also actively joined a migrant worker organization named Amanah and had the chance to work in advocacy in the Coalition of the Indonesian Labor Organization in Hong Kong.
Suprapti was actively defending fellow workers, among others, by fighting for the issues of underpayment, overpriced expenses, and cases of violence. To fellow workers, she was also keen to provide English language training, especially on Sundays when they were off.
Working away from family, especially from her two children, namely Muhammad Husein, who is now 19 years old and Zulaihah Husein, 16, made her to feel homesick. Moreover, the opportunity to return to the country was only once in two years.
While on vacation for three weeks in the country, her two children who were still small at that time always protested and complained why the mother had to take care of children of people overseas and did not take of her own children at home. Her two children asked her to be home to accompany them.
In 2009, when her husband\'s business was improving, Suprapti returned to Banjarnegara. "My son used to never get ranks in the class and was very naughty. However, after I came home and accompanied the children, they became champions of the class. Their teachers were astonished," said Suprapti.
Upon her return to Indonesia, Suprapti used to work at the Advocacy Division of Migrant Institute in Surabaya and now becomes a coordinator of Indonesian Migrant Workers\' Families of Banjarnegara regency with total membership reaching 120 people. Aside from that Suprapti is also active to become a volunteer of Dompet Duafa and paralegal at the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI).
In Masaran village with a population 2,000 inhabitants, most of its people work as agricultural laborers. About 25 of the residents are migrant workers in a number of countries, such as Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
In Banjarnegara Suprapti pioneered a number of entrepreneurial training for migrant workers who had returned to Indonesia, such as cultivation of eels, and cassava chips and cooperatives. "I instill the view that working in the country or close to the family, the heart is more calm and especially there are those who take care of the children," she said.
On the sidelines of her busyness, Suprapti started to open an English course for children in her village in 2014 up to the present free of charge. All children from various ages and classes are invited to join to learn together, especially to practice to speak in English. "Children want to come and learn, I\'m happy about that, so why should I charge for them," said Suprapti, who is now teaching up to 35 children.
The afternoon activities of the children were usually playing with friends or learning Islamic teachings. Suprapti used the time from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., one to twice a week to teach English before they return to learn the Islamic teachings.
"It is fund to learn with friends here…the materials are also clear and more understandable," said Devi Puspita Arum, 12, one of the participants who now sits in Class VI of state elementary school SDN 1 Masaran.
To the local administration, Suprapti hoped that more attention be given to the life of the migrant workers through a bylaw which takes sides and protect them and the provision of decent works in the region.
Working overseas has more risks and the families, especially children, can lack affection from their parents.
SUPRAPTI
* Born: Banjarnegara,
14 Februari 1974
* Husband: Torik Husein
* Children:
- Muhammad Husein, 19
- Zulaihah Husein, 16
* Education:
- state elementary school SDN Serang, Banjarnegara
- state junior high school SMPN 2 Bawang, Banjarnegara
- state vocational high school SMEAN Banjarnegara (graduated in 1992)
* Activities:
- Participant of Community Development Training at the Dompet Dhuafa Human Resource Development Institution, Kemang-Bogor, Mei 2015
- Participant of Technical Advocacy Upgrading for Paralegal, held by the Protection Division of BNP2TKI di Yogyakarta, May 2016
