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.
