Brilio.net/en - Faiz Fachrudin (35) is a member TABAH (Tim Advokasi Arus Bawah or Undercurrent Advocate Team) whose law firm helps marginalized people in Yogyakarta. One of their most well-known activity is creating the Gajah Wong School in Ledhok Timoho and area of Yogyakarta city.
Gajah Wong School was established 5 years ago and it came as a fresh breeze that improved the quality of life for many that lives in Ledhok Timoho. To break the chains of poverty, a good quality education system should exist. It is with this education that future generations will be better than we are now, said Fariz when he was met by brilio.net, Saturday (22/8).
The school for now only focuses pre-school and kindergarten for children at the age of 3-7 years old. Currently, it has 38 students and 5 teachers. The students study from Monday to Saturday starting from 8.00 to 11.00 a.m.
Gajah Wong is a community-based school and does not burden the students parents for tuition fees. To cover operational costs, the school has a garbage program and also goat breeding for the students. Half of the garbage gathered by the students is sold and the other half will be used as a media for learning, said Faiz.
Even though its a free school, Faiz attempts to involve both students and their parents in the daily activities. For the mothers of the students, weve created a picket schedule for them to clean the school in turns, said Faiz. Parents who are willing can also get a class on Saturdays on second and fourth weeks of each month. The materials given is about parenting.
Reporter: Aprilia Nurohmah
Many social and mutual cooperation values can be learned from Faizs experience establishing a school for the underprivileged. In the end Faiz himself hopes that the Gajah Wong School can last for the long time and show the world that schooling is no longer a matter of profits.