Dejavato Indonesia Newsletter (5)

DJ-19 Kemudo International Work Camp: 16 – 27 December 2007
The Kemudo International Work Camp was held from 16th to 27th December 2008 in Kemudo Village, Prambanan District, Magelang Regency – Central Java. The type of this camp was Construction and Education. There were 7 participants in this camp from: CADIP Canada, IWO Korea and Indonesia.

Kemudo village is situated in Prambanan district where there is a famous world heritage lies, The Prambanan Temple. This village was struck by massive earthquake in May 2006. Almost 90% houses were collapsed and damaged. Since then, the villagers lived in plastic tent or temporary house made from bamboos. While the time being, the local people started to build their home step by step. Dejavato also has been doing several projects in this village including conduct free medical check up, sending relief goods, and donated stationary for local students.

The daily activities of the volunteers were mainly building concrete permanent gate of the local grave yard which was destroyed by the earthquake, and teaching English for local students. They also planted trees along the road to the village. The volunteers also did school visit to the local elementary school and did some sport competition with local youngsters. During the camp they also joined the Moslem Sacrifice Day by cutting goats and cows with the local people in the mosque, visited world heritage site, Prambanan Temple., and learning how to paint traditional cloth, Batik.


Sidorejo Bilateral Work Camp - IWO - DEJAVATO: 17 – 29 December 2007
The Sidorejo Bilateral Work Camp was held from 17 – 29 December 2007 in Sidorejo Village, Kajoran District, Magelang Regency – Central Java. The type of this camp was Renovation. There were 21 participants: 17 Korean students with teachers and 4 Indonesian

Sidorejo Village is located about 15 kilometers on the west part of Magelang city, on the slope of Sumbing Mountain. The village is quite isolated and should pass the macadam (the road made from the stones) and surrounded by the rice fields. The volunteers stayed at one of the local family with traditional Javanese house, called “Joglo”.

The daily activities of the volunteer were cleaning and painting the classrooms. They also involved the students in their activities. As mostly the participants were junior high school students, they got working instruction from the teachers and leaders.

During the volunteers stay, they also did some environment activities like hiking and trekking, cultural exchange and performance with local people and students, visiting local interesting places like waterfall in the village as well as visiting Borobudur Temple and Yogyakarta city.


Sokawera Bilateral Work Camp - IWO - DEJAVATO: 15 – 27 January 2008
The Sokawera Bialteral Work Camp was held from 15 to 27 January 2008 in Sokawera Village, Karangtengah District, Banyumas Regency – Central Java. The type of this camp was Education – Construction. This workcamp was followed by 17 participants from IWO Korea and Indonesia, whom mostly university students.

This worcamp was held by Dejavato Foundation cooperated local partner Argowilis Non Formal Education Center. The center was funded by local people to response the needs of non formal education for the poor children in the village. It conducts and provides free school for local children with the teachers are volunteers of the youth and parents itself. They don’t have formal school building, but the teaching activities are conducted at villagers houses and the center. The students not only learn formal subjects, but they also taught with other skills such as making coconut sugar, sewing, making handicrafts, agriculture, organizing outdoor activities etc.

The daily activities of the volunteers were making rabbits cages where the volunteers donated 20 rabbits to the local people. They also taught English and some Korean for students.

During the project, the participants stay at local villager houses, and it gives experience about Indonesian daily life. They also have very good opportunity in learning how to play traditional musical instruments called “Calung”, making handicrafts, discussion, traditional games and cultural exchange, and do some sport competition. The volunteers stay, they also did some environment activities like hiking and trekking to Cipendok waterfall and forest.


DJ-01 Semarang International Work Camp : 19 – 31 January 2008
In the Panjangan neighborhood, where its office is, the Foundation is member of a community of local volunteers whom together take care of the common spaces, the security of the inhabitants and, more important, the harmony between neighbors. As all the land belongs to individuals or to the management of the residential area, there is a lack of public green space and playgrounds for children. In order to improve the situation and to give a good example to the locals, Dejavato decided to beautify a little green space in front of its office/staff house and to create some geographic panels in order to increase the children’s skills and to stimulate learning. The workcamp was also an occasion to promote intercultural encounter and exchange as well as environmental preservation.

The volunteers from Japan, Korea and Indonesia had beautified a green space and created a small public garden for the local community. Volunteers also made and installed panels, showing the names and direction of foreign countries and help the local children to learn about international geography. Besides, the volunteers also held children drawing competition with the theme “My Nature”.

The competition was held for the neighbor children, and their parents were also welcomed to join and draw on the piece of stone, where the result of the stone drawing were put on the wall of the garden. This competition had aim to raise awareness of the children to keep their environment clean, respect to the nature and to keep the garden as theirs.

During the free time, the volunteers played football, taught songs and games for the kids. They also had excursion visited Semarang downtown, Sam Poo Kong Chinese temple, traditional market, Baturaden, Borobudur Temple and Yogyakarta city.