Encouraging Papuan Children to Have a Dream

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

An instructor leads children aged 4 to 5 at the Kitong Bisa Learning Center, which encourages active participation, in Jayapura, Papua.

Improving the quality of human resources in Papua is not just the responsibility of the government. In Jayapura, a group of people at the Kitong Bisa Learning Center social movement teach children English and entrepreneurial skills for free.

"Sons, don\'t be afraid to speak English. You have to be confident to get to know and learn a foreign language gradually," Roberto Monim, 27, a teacher at Kitong Bisa Learning Center (KBLC), told six teenagers in a house at Dok VIII, Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday (13/4/2019).

Roberto is one of 12 teaching staff of the KBLC movement. The activity, which began in 2017, focuses on providing education services, especially English and entrepreneurial skills, for free to children aged 5 to high school adolescents.

The house used by Roberto to teach belongs to a married couple, Yosias Aronggear and Vanelda Imbiri. There are 79 children registered as KBLC members in Doc VIII.

In addition to Dok VIII, the KBLC service is also provided in the house of Meyrlin Anggai, who is also one of the teachers, in Entrop village, South Jayapura district. There are 20 children registered at KBLC Entrop.

The schedule for KBLC learning is on Friday at 3 p.m.-5 p.m. local time and Saturday at 2 p.m.-4 p.m. There are four classes at KBLC, namely Baby Shark for children aged 4-5 years, White House for children in grades 1-3 in elementary school, Evangelion for children in grades 3-6 in elementary school, and Cenderawasih for children in junior and senior high school.

At around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Roberto and a number of instructors painstakingly teach English pronunciation and English grammar.

Six teenagers, junior-senior high school students, followed Roberto\'s instructions enthusiastically. They did not hesitate to raise questions. Every day, Roberto works as an administrative officer in a private education institution in Sentani, Jayapura regency. He has been a KBLC volunteer since 2018.

"I usually teach at KBLC for about two hours on Friday and Saturday. If there is a very busy schedule, I only teach on Saturday. I want many Papuan children to master the foreign language," Roberto said.

The man from Sentani is committed to sharing English language skills to children for several hours a day. After that, then he hang outs at a shopping center or recreation area.

Besides Roberto, there is Erwin Hutagaol, who works as a lawyer and also helps guide children at KBLC. This man from North Sumatra teaches elementary school children.

Improving self-confidence

"Many children do not have the courage to have ideals for the future. Hopefully with KBLC, they will get the knowledge to pursue their dreams," said Erwin.

KBLC teaching staff come from various circles, such as lawyers, teachers, students, housewives and those who have just graduated college. Together with Meyrlin, the volunteers work together to provide English language material and entrepreneurship skills to children for free.

The skills taught include how to read the alphabet, sing songs, properly use grammar and correct pronunciation.

"Children aged 4-6 years have not received full English materials. We must first teach them how to read," said Meyrlin, an initiator of the KBLC Jayapura.

For entrepreneurial materials, kindergarten-elementary school age children are taught games related to entrepreneurship such as monopoly. Meanwhile, junior- senior high school age students receive training to explore ideas about creating products that have economic value and how to make them, such as recycling plastic bags and wooden sago spoons.

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

Instructors guide students at the Kitong Bisa Learning Center in Jayapura, Papua.

Eight locations

Kitong Bisa founder and CEO Billy Mambrasar said the presence of KBLC since 2009 was triggered by the lack of children\'s creativity to develop their talents in the workforce.

Many young people or even undergraduate graduates are still unemployed because they do not have adequate skills. They only hope to join the selection of civil servants or work in private companies.

"KBLC focuses on providing the skills for Papuan children to start entrepreneurship as early as possible and the ability to master foreign languages," Billy said.

The man from Serui, Yapen Islands regency, said KBLC operates in eight locations, including Yapen Islands, Waropen, Jayapura city, Merauke, Sorong, Raja Ampat, and Fakfak.

Up to 1,100 children have joined the KBLC in Papua and West Papua. Products made by the children, such as T-shirts and drinking bottles, are marketed by Kitong Bisa volunteers, who are based in Jakarta.

"According to the plan, we will expand KBLC locations in Papua and West Papua, namely in Mimika and Manokwari. The goal is to train more children," said the graduate of mining engineering of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

Quality human resources

Yustina Marsoyoi, 13, one of the KBLC participants, claimed to have actively participated in activities in Dok VIII for five months. She wants to be a diplomat.

"KBLC is very effective. I can now understand the explanations and assignments, as well as English tests given by the teacher," said the seventh grader.

Jayapura Education and Culture Agency head Fahrudin Pasolo appreciated the presence of KBLC. These activities help improve the quality of human resources in Papua.

The human development index in Papua in 2017 was still low at 59.9. The national standard for moderate status is 60-70.

Based on data from the Papua Education Agency, the illiteracy rate in Papua is 24 percent, considerably high compared to the national standard of 2.07 percent. About 600,000 Papuans are unable to read, write and count.

"What the local government is able to do is limited in providing educational services in Papua. We hope other movements like KBLC are initiated in Papua," Fahrudin said.