Forest volunteer teacher inspires city kids

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The recent visit from a prominent social worker, Butet Manurung, to a school in North Jakarta may have been brief, but it made a lasting impression, students said.

Lidya Lau, a 10th grader at the Mahatma Gading school, said she was amazed by Butet's stories of her experience as a volunteer, teaching forest children in Jambi province for eight years.

Butet, who was named one of 20 Asian Heroes by TIME magazine in 2004, earned international recognition for her commitment to education for indigenous children.

She was invited to the school to share her stories and to promote her newly published book titled Sokola Rimba (A Forest School).

"My sister and I had long planned to teach kids in a nearby slum, but hadn't followed through for various reasons ... Now after hearing Mbak Butet's stories, I am determined to go ahead," 12-year-old Lidya said.

"I think I will start by teaching English," she added.

During Butet's one-hour presentation, children listened attentively and raised many questions to the 35-year-old speaker.

"Is it difficult to live there?"

"Do the children also learn mathematics and everything like we do here?"

Sporting a striped shirt and blue jeans, Butet patiently answered the questions.

"What they learn is of course not the same as what you might have here. They need knowledge not to look for a job, but as a means of survival," she said.

She said education for the indigenous children was aimed at making them aware of their changing surroundings, and the increased demands placed on forests by people from nearby villages and cities.

"People are selling their plots of land cheaply because they have no idea how much it is worth ... they are easily tricked because they are not educated."

Butet said she hoped more children would be inspired to follow her, to use their time to do something for society.

"There are 26 volunteers now working together with me. They are spread across several other provinces where I have developed similar schools for indigenous tribes. They are all volunteers, and get no payment," she said.

A school committee board member, V. Ram, said the school hoped students would learn about life outside their schools and be inspired to make great contributions to society like Butet.

Gaurav, another 10th grader, said he was wanted to stay with Butet to help her with volunteer work.

"A one-week live-in program sounds great ... we would learn many things interacting with the children," he said, adding that he believed his parents would not mind.

Butet said opposition from parents was one of many hurdles a volunteer may face when deciding to immerse themselves.

"Initially my parents did not agree with what I am doing, but eventually they accepted it. They saw that I was serious about what I am doing and persevered with it," she said.

Butet, who holds degrees in anthropology and Indonesian literature from Padjadjaran University, Bandung, and is now applying for a master's degree scholarship in Australia, said studying was important but children should not forget to take time out for playing.

"Forest children are all very cheerful and happy, probably because they play so much. I think children here (in Jakarta) should spend more time playing... studying should be fun and not a burden."