Educate and Empower 35 East Bali Mountain Children

In this issue: Celebrating Indonesian Independence day, new format online exams, comparative study tour outside Bali and Bali Reef Conservation project. We hope you enjoy! 

Indonesia’s 77^th Independence Day event on 17 August

We’ve celebrated independence day every year from 2002, except the last two years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so all students, staff and the community were more excited than ever to celebrate. After the flag raising ceremony, the celebration began with various art and entertainment performances and sports competitions. Pengalusan students opened the event by performing the  traditional dance "Burat Wangi", followed by a very entertaining performance of "Lawak kolaborasi". Jatituhu students then performed "Merak Angelo"  dance, poetry, modern dance and some songs. At the end of a fun packed day, winners of the various competitions were announced:

• Pengalusan students: 2nd place in the English game competition, 2nd place in the boys and girls’ sack race, 2nd place in the bottle fishing competition, 2nd place in taking coins from fruit with teeth and 3rd place in the marbles run.
• Jatituhu students: 2nd place in the boys’ Sack race, 1st place in the bottle fishing, and 2nd place in the Tug-of-War.

Students’ Exams

In early September, the new online Computer-Based National Assessment exam, designed to map literacy and numeracy skills, was taken by all grade 5 elementary and junior high students.Then, in November all students took the end of semester tests. When we distribution their book reports in early December, we invited their parents so that they had a better understanding of their children’s development in school activities and encourage more support at home.

Comparative Study tours to other schools

To broaden our mountain students’ insight into activities of their peers in other locations, especially in the field of environment and science, our Student Council members from our 6 schools went by bus to the following schools:

a) SMA Negri (senior high) 2 Amlapura, to share student council program activities and discussions and higher quality education,

b) Sanggar Anak Alam (SALAM) foundation in Yogjakarta to learn about the natural potential of the environment related to education and social culture. All the  students had a very good and memorable experience - and  this visit was their first  trip outside of Bali.

Guidance and Counselling Classes

Each class started with aerobics and mini games, followed by key activities focused on sensitivity to others, oneself and the environment, with other activities such as making wall clocks with used items, as the final project of the topic of ‘managing time’, ending with regular meditation after lessons.

Junior high students’ ‘Job visit’

Visited the North Bali Reef Conservation Project (Yayasan Yowana Bakti Segara) to learn about saving coral reef marine biota, as well as part of their youth empowerment Job Options module, to learn about the role of various staff there to help them to make decision when they graduate Senior High School

We would like to thank all the donors who have supported us through GlobalGiving Crowd funding so that we can continue educating and empowering these motivated children.

Finally we wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2023.