Realia untuk Sekolah

RuS (literally translated as Realia for School) is a relief-program established in April 2006 by Realia Language Training Center. The program is aimed at assisting the elementary education recovery process in Bantul regency severely damaged by the May 2006 earthquake.

Developed from the originally Realia’s Social Program, RuS strives to provide contributions in the form of books and stationary for heavily damaged schools and scholarship for students in Bantul area.

As RuS only receives ‘limited’ fund from Realia and several donors (mostly from Realia’s students and ex-students living in Indonesia and overseas) and due to the countless number of earthquake torn schools in Bantul area that are in need of assistance, RuS team decides to focus the relief program upon a number of schools only. RuS team employs data from UNICEF, OCHA and The Ministry of Education to determine the entitled beneficiaries of the program.

Up until January 2007, RuS has completed six aid-projects in Bantul and Yogyakarta areas and expects that the program can be continuously put into action, notwithstanding the limited fund received, since several schools in Bantul area are still in need of aid and assistance.

Project 1: Charity Sale

At the beginning of the project, RuS received donations in the form of clothing. Since the form of donation is abundant in quantity and the earthquake victims were no longer in need of clothing, RuS decided to make a better use of the donated clothing. Instead of delivering the clothing directly to Bantul, RuS held a charity sale where the donated clothing is sold to public. The first charity sale was held in August 2006 in the vicinity of Gadjah Mada University Yogyakarta. RuS used the money collected from the sale to purchase school utensils (books, stationary, etc) as a form of aid for the earthquake victim students in Bantul.

Project 2: SD Gondosuli

SD Gondosuli (Gondosuli Elementary School) in Imogiri, Bantul was selected as the first beneficiary due to the severity of the destruction. It has 212 students, ranging from Grade 1 to Grade 6. The school building was severely damaged by the earthquake. A temporary school is run in tarpaulin tents with anything that comes handy. The school had received notebooks, stationery, uniforms, and shoes from other donors, but textbooks were in complete shortage. The teachers admitted that it was hard to go on without textbooks.
Upon learning the situation, RuS decided to provide aid in the form os textbooks (Indonesian, Maths, Civics, and Science), along with scholarship funds for 40 very poor students. On Saturday, August 27, 2006, RuS team members, including several Realia’s students, delivered the textbooks and scholarship funds. The donation was received by the head of the village to be passed on later. he aid was received by the headmistress, Ms. Alfiah.

Project 3: Wonocatur

In August 2006, RuS received a letter of request from one of the earthquake devastated villages in Banguntapan, Bantul, to provide assistance for the children in the village. As RuS appreciates local initiative, and despite the fact that it was not a school, RuS decided to act accordingly in respond to the requested assistance. Based on the discussion with the head of Wonocatur village, RuS learned that the children needed stationery to work on their school tasks. On Sunday, September 3, 2006, RuS team members accompanied by several Realia’s students delivered 27 packages of stationery and notebooks to the children of Wonocatur. The donation was received by the head of the village to be passed on later.

Project 4: ABA Kindergarten

Rus received various donation from donors. Some sent story books for kindergarten, while others sent appelaing stationery only suitable for children and toddlers. Determined to make every single donation useful, RuS team member surveyed several kindergartens that would make better use of the donation. TK ABA in Kotagede immediately drew attention. Most of its 91 pupils are earthquake victims and in need of something to heal the trauma. To this end, as a means of education and entertainment, RuS donated children books and stationery. The books and goods were delivered at the beginning of October 2006.

Project 5: SD Giriwungu

Giriwungu Elementary School is one of the elementary schools in Imogiri that suffered from the earthquake. Ninety percent of the school building was destroyed as well as the facilities. They have received many donations, such as textbooks, stationary, school uniforms, and funds to rebuild the school building. However, the book donation did not completely cover the needs of each grade. Grade 6 students had not yet received Civic and Math Books. In respond to the situation, RuS decided to donate Civic and Math Books (25 books each) for Grade 6 students. The books is very much needed since the Grade 6 students would sit on final exams in May. We also donated 20 other books on Popular Science. The books were handed over on December 23, 2006.

Project 6: SD Pundung 2

The school building of SD Pundung 2 was damaged by the earthquake and regarded as unsafe. Therefore, the students studied in tents. Yet, later, some (Grade 3 and 4) went to a residential building nearby, an old chapel (Grade 5 and 6), and two renovated classrooms. Many organizations had given donations ranging from school apparels to books and rebuilding funds. Yet again, textbooks were lacking, while on the other hand the students (6 graders in particular) needed them to prepare for the upcoming final exams. RuS handed over 70 books (Indonesian, Science, and popular science) to help the situation. The books were handed over on December 23, 2006.

As RuS is in the process of implementing more projects the team members welcome any contribution aimed to help improve the situation in post-quake Yogyakarta. Should you have any feedback, questions, or suggestions concerning this charity programme, do not hesitate to contact us:

realia_untuk_sekolah@yahoo.co.id (Our weblog is currently under construction) Contact Person: Elok: +62 815 7871 4858 elok.fajarini@gmail.com

REALIA Language Training Centre Jl. Pandega Marta V/6 Pogung Utara, Yogyakarta 55281 Ph: +62 274 583 229 Fax: +62 274 581 053