Sixteen university students were very lucky as they were selected to join the 12^th Leadership Conference in Banjarmasin on 11 – 15 November 2013. It exactly took place on Wisma Pelatihan Teknologi Agrobisnis Petani Kecil, located in Pelaihari, South Kalimantan. It took about one and half hour from the airport to the venue. It was quite far from the citizens’ house. Only a few houses were there. Moreover, the store was also far. It took about 2 Km from the venue. Talking about communication, there was only one good signal that was Telkomsel provider. The others could not work properly.

This condition really supported since those 16 participants were asked to struggle, be better, and be good leaders. The participants were Annisa Taqwa Zazi Muslim (Hang Tuah University), Dios Yarona Larosa (Andalas University), Edo Janfien (Padjajaran University), Enggar Nugraheni Putri (Sanata Dharma University), Erma Fatima and Putri Gita Puspita (Insttitut Pertanian Bogor), Filbert (Sam Ratulangi University), Intan Andriani Putri (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember), Jorlens Marlon Palpialy (Christian Indonesia Maluku University), M. Fauzan Triandi (Institut Teknologi Bandung), Noviana Djunaid (Hasanuddin University), Rosida (Ibn Khaldun University), Siska Indah K. (Airlangga University), Yuniar Rahmadini and Annisa R. Amanda (Lambung Mangkurat University) and Veriandhy S. Wijaya (Ma Chung University).

They paid serious attention by showing good effort on every session. On the first day, they got the leadership material given by Bu Jenny Ratna Suminar. They were told many things about leader and leadership. Divided into four groups, each group was given a case and asked to think and find the best solution on each case. The next day, they were ready to come to the local society and did what they have planned. It was unpredictable that one of the groups, who got case 2 finding a family who has problem and help them, told that they were willing to help a selected family because that family is really poor. She is a widower who lives with her son. She just sells coconuts which fall from the trees every day. Nothing else she can do, having meals with rice and salt only. That group then initiated to help her by selling the coconuts more expensive.

She actually sells the coconut Rp. 1000 each and the group at that time could sell it Rp. 5.000 each by persuading the citizens there. The day before they left Pelaihari, they collected some money and asked whether others want to give their money to that family as well. Fortunately they collected Rp 550.000 and then they bought rice, sardines, coffee, milk, sugar, tea, eggs, flour, salt, and any others things for that family and gave the rest Rp. 200.000 to her.

It was a touching and valuable experience and gave them some moral values for them as well as for others who have finished doing their cases well. They got many lessons that day. Moreover, other lessons in team building, managing conflict, trust building, problem solving, and strategic analysis were gotten on the third day on the outbound. They spent their days to work in group and individually. Their leadership characters could be seen here.

Then, on the fourth day, the groups were given their own places for the local exposure. First group went to the palm oil plantation. Diamond group went to the cow barn and waste maintenance place. Wolf group went to the organic vegetables plantation and honey bee farm. Dream Catchers group went to the mushroom cultivation. They planned for their society and think about the Sustainable Society Development. They were very enthusiastic that they asked, tried to do by themselves, and learned from the local exposure. Then, they got material from Bu Ani Fegda about knowing and understanding themselves and others, building future leaders for a sustainable society development, learning the techniques in opening the presentation, and the last they presented their report about “Kepemimpinan Indonesia Masa Depan” and presented what they have got on the local exposure the day before.

Frankly speaking, it can be seen from their faces that they were improving. No more complain about hot weather in Pelaihari, about the water there, network signal, and any others things they told at first they came. On the farewell party, they performed the art performance. It was such a lovely moment to see them together and ready to be great leader by applying what they have got on the 12^th Leadership Conference. Thank you VDMS.

Rizky AmeliaLocal Committee