Two students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) were selected to join the Pemuda Mendunia programme from 10-12 February in Kelang, Malaysia. Irvandias Sanjaya (Psychology) and Mohammad Khotibul Umam (Social and Political Sciences) became tutors in the programme that was organised by Studec International.
Irvandias said the Pemuda Mendunia programme was joined by 30 young people from different backgrounds in Indonesia. They competed with more than 2,000 applicants in a series of selections which comprised essays, motivation letters, and interviews.
“I was happy and proud to get selected for the Pemuda Mendunia programme,” he said on Tuesday (14/2).
Irvandias said while in the programme they all had the opportunity to conduct discussions and teaching, helping primary and junior high school students in Kelang.
“In Kelang we taught up to 70 Indonesian children who have nationality problems that restrict their rights to security and education,” he said.
The tutors made donations of books to the children to show their concern for their education, hoping that these donations would be able to help the children in their informal schooling.
Irvandias added that quite a lot of children in the area had to receive informal education; sometimes they were even raided by the Malaysian authorities, which would obviously affect their mental condition.
“These children have yet to receive education, but it’s difficult to get a decent education due to nationality problems.”
The experiences of the tutors whilst joining the Pemuda Mendunia progamme in Malaysia will be written about in a book to inspire Indonesia’s young generation on education issues, especially children that encounter barriers to education due to nationality problems.