For the past 3 months I’ve been in and out of Indonesia visiting educational institutions in different parts of Indonesia (Java, Sumatra ,and Batam).
Indonesia is one of the emerging economies of the world and there is a new sense of excitement and hope among Indonesians across the different social strata. I am especially impressed with the way that the Indonesians are focusing on education, rather than on merely exploiting their vast natural resources.
Indonesia is a vast nation with 17,000 islands and countless ethnic groups. Though I speak conversational Bahasa Indonesia and am able to converse with most Indonesians. I’ve come to the conclusion that it is very difficult for me, a foreigner, to really understand this amazing but bewildering nation.
I believe that there are many needy Indonesians who will benefit from Goducate’s “Go and Educate” and its “help them to help themselves” philosophy. Though Goducate has been in Indonesia for three to four years (testing out various educational-aid models), I believe that unless we have an Indonesian who understands his/her people and their current educational needs, we will never really be able to make a significant difference in this 4th most populous country in the world.
Goducate is in the process of finding such a key person who will help us to expand its operations in Indonesia. We look forward to the day when even children in the remotest Indonesian island will have the opportunity to reach his/her potential.
Who will give him a chance?
With Sumatran school kids who receive financial assistance from an educational foundation
Earlier this month, Goducate Children’s Home, Cambodia, welcomed 5 new children into the “family”. These children, Nat, Lynn, Kanya, Mon and Nia, come from Battambang, a 12-hour drive away from the Home. They come from very poor homes and have received little education. They came to the Home in hope of a better education and a better life in the future.
The new children were taken for medical check-ups… Continue reading
Since Goducate aims to help needy Asians help themselves, Bangladesh is a country that has attracted its attention.
Recently, Bangladesh was in the news because of a horrific factory collapse that killed over 1100 garment workers. I was in the country when that accident took place.
Bangladesh is the most densely populated large country. It has about 160 million people (half of US population) squeezed into a land… Continue reading
Goducate Training Center (GTC), in Iloilo, Philippines, held its first Recruitment Conference on May 6-8.
Invitations had been sent to new university graduates, to working people, and to those who had expressed interest in being trained as community development workers (CDWs). Over 300 people from all over the Philippines attended the conference.
The topics covered included the history of Goducate, its philosophies, its CDW training program, and the… Continue reading
Recent Comments