Connecting Youth and Children Through Sekolah Nusantara

Sekolah Nusantara is a program held by one of the volunteer communities scattered in various cities, one of which is Tulungagung Regency. This community tries to take on the role of liaison between youth and children as a forum for them to develop their empathy by moving and acting together to inspire, motivate and educate children, especially in the 3T area. This forum is a form to train Indonesian youth to be more concerned about the surrounding environment, especially in the field of education. 

Our journey in organizing Sekolah Nusantara began around the middle of 2022. There are approximately 30 people from Tulungagung who are members of this community who on average are still studying in college. We surveyed several areas to find a suitable place before deciding to hold the Sekolah Nusantara at the State Elementary School 4 Nyawangan, Sendang District, Tulungagung Regency. The distance which was quite far from the city center was also a consideration at that time until we finally agreed to carry out the Sekolah Nusantara there. It took about an hour from the city center to get there by winding roads. I usually leave at 6.30 a.m and get there around 7.30 a.m. I don't know how to put it, I don't think it's appropriate to complain if the average teacher there is also from the same area as us. From the end of the regional border to the border again they pass every day, some even have different districts but they still go to share knowledge with their students.

We hold Sekolah Nusantara every two weeks or twice a month on Saturdays. Luckily, on average, schools there start at 8 a.m, so we have time to prepare and travel longer. Of the 30 volunteers, not all of them went directly on the same day. We have divided into several teams and at every meeting, there is only one team that will go there. Before going into the field, we usually gather to prepare teaching materials. Maybe the readers here are wondering why we hold the same activities as schools in general, what is the difference? Yes, now I will answer it. If at school we usually learn material that is in accordance with the curriculum provided by the school, at Sekolah Nusantara, we focus on non-formal education activities or do not use the school curriculum in general. We will prioritize character education, skills to soft skills. Before carrying out the Sekolah Nusantara, the team from the center had already formed a curriculum that was tailored to the objectives of implementing this program so that we were not confused in carrying out the learning process.           

We have been carrying out the Sekolah Nusantara for four months, which means that in two months our program will end. Yes, this program only lasts for one semester or six months. December is the last month we carry out this activity. Of course, so far, I have learned a lot of course in teaching children. In each region, each child has a different character, and in my opinion, that is one of the challenges that must be faced. We as teachers cannot rely on only one way to deal with them. There are children who do have their own awareness to learn so it makes it easier for us as teachers to learn with them. There are also children who tend to be quiet and need to be nudged so that they can be active in the learning process or even children who are too active, they tend to run here and there so that is also a challenge for teachers. That is why a teacher should not only rely on one method that we have prepared, everything can change depending on the situation. For that, we must be able to adjust and better be ready in all things if at any time what we have prepared is not in accordance with our wishes.