When you create excitement, education happened!
That’s what I learn from watching one of TED videos about a professor who put PCs in slum areas in India and just let it there without doing any mentoring to the kids around. In days, even hours, a lot of them could create things using the computer. No one telling them what to do. It’s amazing!
One day I got a chance to visit a mosque at one of slum areas in South Jakarta. I didn’t teach the kids how to read Quran, because they already have good teachers for that, but I told them my stories. About pursuing my dreams.
They are kids who glad enough to survive day after day. Living side by side with the garbage their parents collect everyday to make a living. All of them didn’t have a dream at all. Or passion. Or anything. I can only see blank stare in their eyes. No burning desire to get whatsoever ahead in their life. They’re afraid to speak their mind. And reluctant to even speak it through writing. I’m very concerned. These are Indonesia’s next generation!
I have a dream for them. That someday they could turn their life around, brought their family with them, out of the slums. Starting with writing and reading. More knowledge, more insights, more sharing, more creativities, would grow these kids.
I started series of public speaking in universities and schools to encourage more young people to write and eventually read. I challenge them to write in several days. Create a book together at Nulisbuku.com. Just be a creator, not only a follower. This project somehow excite them. One of the students at St. Ursula even said that she’s the one who’s going to make the cover of their class book. Awesome!
I love the young. I love children. They are my source of happiness, my teacher. I want to see them grow & shine!
If you think I can help you in any way for my concern in children education, or if you think you have the same concern, just leave a message in this comment box 
12 comments
Pipi says:
Jan 27, 2011
I almost cried reading the part that those children had no hope whatsoever with their lives. They’re kids, they have their life far ahead of them, and they didn’t even know how to dream? It’s pretty sad!
This is the time when I want to criticize the government for have abandoned those children, but then I remember that critics without contributions is the same as a big nonsense. And I have no contributions but to start creating a different culture for my family and friends, that no matter how poor you are, having a dream is FREE.
I don’t know what else to say, but to hope that someday our government make education as our priority. Kinda like the “no kids left behind” program by Barack Obama, perhaps.
[Reply]
Mita says:
Jan 28, 2011
ditunggu kisah lainnya mbak Ollie
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Fia says:
Feb 3, 2011
Yaaaa anak2 adl generasi penerus bangsa. Ditangan&pundak merekalah keberlangsungan indonesia tercinta. Pendidikan, salah 2nya mmg mlalui membaca&mnulis, mrupakn investasi mutlak utk mjd pribadi yg tangguh berkarakter. Scr aku ngeri jg mlihat bhw bnyk ortu/skolah yg lbh mngedepankn nilai/angka yg tertera bukan value atas kmampuan&perkembangan tiap2 individu peserta didik. Tetap&terus berjuanglah wahai generasi bangsa garuda di dadaku
[Reply]
fachmy casofa says:
Feb 10, 2011
wuah! keren. gue juga baru mau bikin kegiatan-kegiatan sosial bareng komunitas reading en writing yang gue gagas bareng temen-temen. duh, kapan-kapan bisa kolaborasi bikin proyek keren nih mbak Ollie ;)
[Reply]
Shelbyra Fitri says:
Feb 21, 2011
sy senang baca blog mba ollie ^^
disamping nambah pengetahuan jg menambah pengalaman saya.
Saat ini pun sy juga volunteer di SA (Sahabat Anak) area Gambir. Saya mengajar bimbel bagi anak-anak di daerah stasiun gambir dan taman monas.
Senang rasanya mengajar mereka. Masyarakat (sebagian, yg saya tahu) hanya menaruh stigma negatif kpd mereka sprt cap “anak jalanan” pdhl mrk juga adalah anugerah dari Tuhan. Mereka hanya perlu diperhatikan sbg anak dan dihargai pendapatnya sebagai manusia.
Mereka adalah kebahagiaan saya, guru hidup bagi saya juga sbg sahabat saya.
Jika ada yang mau membantu mengajar mereka, silahkan datang ke taman monas minggu jam 3 sore (maaf, tdk bermaksud iklan…hehehe ^^)
[Reply]
Ollie Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 2:44 pm
[Reply]
Shelbyra Fitri Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 9:01 am
@Ollie, Mba Ollie, aq udah email yah, cb cek di inbox atau di spam…hehehehe ^^
[Reply]
Rudy Hermawan says:
Mar 2, 2011
nice post, mbak. aku tertarik dengan gagasan membaca dan menulis sebagai langkah awal. semoga bisa kutiru.
salam.
[Reply]
Writing Workshop at #PerpusKreatif | Ollie's Blog says:
May 16, 2011
[...] have a concern about children education in Indonesia and been wondering if there’s anything I could do about it. After my blog post, @inandatiaka [...]
bayu says:
Aug 25, 2011
That’s what I learn from watching one of TED videos about a professor who put PCs in slum areas in India and just let it there without doing any mentoring to the kids around. In days, even hours, a lot of them could create things using the computer. No one telling them what to do. It’s amazing!
One day I got a chance to visit a mosque at one of slum areas in South Jakarta. I didn’t teach the kids how to read Quran, because they already have good teachers for that, but I told them my stories. About pursuing my dreams.
They are kids who glad enough to survive day after day. Living side by side with the garbage their parents collect everyday to make a living. All of them didn’t have a dream at all. Or passion. Or anything. I can only see blank stare in their eyes. No burning desire to get whatsoever ahead in their life. They’re afraid to speak their mind. And reluctant to even speak it through writing. I’m very concerned. These are Indonesia’s next generation!
I have a dream for them. That someday they could turn their life around, brought their family with them, out of the slums. Starting with writing and reading. More knowledge, more insights, more sharing, more creativities, would grow these kids.
I started series of public speaking in universities and schools to encourage more young people to write and eventually read. I challenge them to write in several days. Create a book together at Nulisbuku.com. Just be a creator, not only a follower. This project somehow excite them. One of the students at St. Ursula even said that she’s the one who’s going to make the cover of their class book. Awesome!
I love the young. I love children. They are my source of happiness, my teacher. I want to see them grow & shine!
If you think I can help you in any way for my concern in children education, or if you think you have the same concern, just leave a message in this comment box
[Reply]
Bang Fani says:
Oct 2, 2011
hidup pendidikan anak2
[Reply]
Abdi says:
Nov 24, 2011
I am very touched reading this article. There are so many children have a bad fate. But I believe there is a way to help them
[Reply]