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Role models in Jakarta

Countries
Indonesia
Sources
CWS
Publication date
Origin
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About 100 unaccompanied and separated refugee children in Jakarta just started new classes. These kids live in CWS-supported group homes. They had just had a two-week break and were excited to get back to learning. It was also an exciting time for their 13 teachers, all of whom refugees themselves. On that first day of classes, five of the teachers were new.

Three of these teachers were new to teaching, but not to the group home. In fact, they had been living in these homes themselves until a few months ago! Now they had reached 18 and are no longer considered children by international standards. Like other new adults before them, they left the homes to face the challenges of living independently outside the protection of a strongly-supported group home.

We needed to find more teachers, and this was an opportunity to help these young men ease their transition away from the homes. CWS recruited the volunteer teachers, who will now receive a small stipend and still be in contact with social workers as well as all their friends in their homes.

After the first full week of teaching, the three new teachers shared news of their experience. “I think some of the students are very keen to learn,” said one teacher, while another noted that his students are very polite as he gets to know them better – but from a different perspective.

“My students are very enthusiastic,” says the third teacher, “and they are very happy to have one of their friends teaching them and sharing their knowledge with them.” Having lived in group homes themselves has definitely helped these young men in their new roles. Says the one who teaches English, “I was a mentor for a year, and five times each week I would mentor other children in our home as part of the mentor-mentee program. That experience helped me get a lot of practice and it built my confidence as I became familiar with teaching. But honestly, all of the experiences I had in my group-living days helped to prepare me for my new role as teacher. I have always thought about becoming a teacher; to me, it is a great way to give back.”

Echoing his friend, the young man who now teaches computer classes says he feels fortunate to have been a part of the group home as it is helping him teach. “Going back to the group home after a few months reminded me of how grateful I am to have had the chance of learning a lot of valuable skills. A year ago, I could not have imagined that I would be a computer teacher one day. But, thanks to the group home setup, I had access to computers and was helped by my teacher, too.”

Our team is proud that these three new volunteer teacher are making the best of what is a very difficult situation for them. Becoming a volunteer teacher in Jakarta is not what they dreamed of for themselves when they left their homelands for safety, security and a better future. Nevertheless, they realize that teaching is the start for them to reshape their futures. They are proof that with a little support, trust and motivation young refugees will strive to succeed.

These young men inspire us to always do better to help young refugees – the hope, and the teachers, of the future.