Bintang Timur School, Bali
Development of the School
The school started with three children and two teachers. It consisted of one class, whereby the children were given different material for their work and different tasks based on their age and performance level. The teachers get their materials from friends and acquaintances, who work for schools too. The parents are allowed to pay as much tuition as they are able to afford. The collected amount of tuition is used to buy crayons, paper, etc.
After being founded in August 2007, new children came every month. The school grew to 12 children in the first year. Today there are over fifty, most of them come from poor conditions.
The luck of these children and their parents is that responsible people have attitudes towards life, that inspire many other people. They know that children are the future and that children have a right to education even though the government shows no responsibility. Only with the help of appropriate education these children have a chance to change their lives.
Education paves the way for a better future.
Background Information
Few people in Indonesia know the meaning of Education. Those who want to send their children to school often do not have the possibility. Education is very expansive for Indonesian conditions. To send a child to school cost €5 per month. The Gembala Baik School was established for children coming from poor conditions not able to afford schooling. In August 2007, Gembala Baik School was founded with the help of Reverend I Gede Eka Santosa. He is the tenant of both the rooms and the inner yard, which act as a learning environment and as playground at the same time for 40 children. Concerning it to be a matter of a Christian Preschool, it is noteworthy that religion plays a very important role in the lives of the Balinese. About 92% of the Balinese are Hindu and only 1.4% are ChristianS. Observing everyday school life shows that the Balinese are commonly very religious. There are several prayers a day, which are neither rigor nor has everybody to learn them by heart but rather thanksgiving prayers. They appreciate for the food, the family, and the possibility to go to school regularly. The fascinating thing about this school is that even though it is a Christian school, children of other beliefs are welcomed, too. The teachers emphasize that the children’s background does not matter. It is irrelevant where they come from, what profession their parents practice or which religion they belong to. The teachers treat every child equally: with lots of love and understanding. How outstanding they put this into practice shows the structure of the classes. 80% are Hindu and the remaining 20% consists of Christians and Moslems. The teachers impart values, which contribute to a peaceful togetherness of many religions. They teach the children how to live a healthy and happy life, how to share, how to forgive, and how to treat others with respect. This makes it possible for children, belonging to other religions, to go to this school even though it is a Christian one. Like this it is compatible with their own religion.
