Written by Rizky Amelia , VDMS Alumna from Lambung Mangkurat University (UNLAM), Banjarmasin

1.  Banjarmasin Bungas, Environmental Care Days

            This event was aimed at encouraging people to keep the environment clean and to be aware that trash is going to be serious problem if we do not care to it. Moreover, we would like to give them a good example so that they might be inspired by what e had done. At first, when we conducted it at the Car Free Day area, we were not really satisfied because we did not feel or see any significant different; we knew that it was not that easy and fast. Then, we reviewed the first three activities and decided to move to other areas (school and orphanage) where many children stay. The results were satisfying. We were able to influence them to care to the environment. It was proved by what the teachers told us that they always remind their students to have the students clean the school environment, one of the schools also decided to have Friday for cleaning the school environment.

 

2. Fun Play with Poetry

This event was under the umbrella of educational field. The background of this event is that literary works can actually be used for teaching language because they have a complementary relationship. Forty five students from elementary school to senior high school students in American Language Training joined this event. It began from presentation of materials on poetry (Acrostic, cinquain, shape, couplets, diamonte, limericks, and haiku), and practice writing poetry especially acrostic in group. During the practice, they were assisted by the volunteers from both VDMS alumni or grantee and ALT tutors. All poetry were decorated and placed on a wall magazine. The students whose poetry were the best got a certificate of appreciation from ALT manager. The idea of publishing is that their writing can be seen by others. Hopefully this would motivate them more because it is fun and memorable.

 

3. English Corner

English corner is a small and open English club for all alumni and grantees VDMS in Banjarmasin. It was planned for once a week. We successfully conducted for two meetings. There is a big hope that this activity will be continued later on. The activities that we did on this corner is sharing and discussing the difficulties that we found while learning English. The participants who were most of the grantees were enthusiastic to join and enhance their English.

 

4. VDMS Peduli Pendidikan

By involving the Person in Charge (PIC) of Lambung Mangkurat University, the alumni and grantees chose one of the prior places of the Environment Care Days: Banjarmasin Bungas activity as the place of this VDMS Peduli Pendidikan. It is Siti Armah orphanage, located on Jalan Sungai Miai. It was held once a week (on Sunday) at took about 60 minutes a meeting. The concept of this activity is that the alumni and grantees teach the students at Siti Armah orphanage based on their majors at university. To name it, they are mathematics, English, civics education, history and geography with a hope that they share knowledge to the students there as well as enhance the teachers to be ability.

 

5. Online Sharing

We are currently thinking of further activities. Unfortunately, some of us have a hard time to see each other. As a result, we are now arranging a sharing and discussion to strengthen the circle of RR Banjarmasin. It is in the form of chatting in a group of social media (Whatsapp) and we invited a speaker who has expertise or experience on the field that we are discussing. April 21, 2016 was the first sharing and discussion on How to Get Master Degree Scholarship Abroad involving 45 participants from RR Banjarmasin and other RRs who registered themselves. The speaker was one of the awardees of a scholarship in which this person is also an alumna of VDMS. Her name is Sisca Indah K. We hope we can have Online Sharing part II, part III, and so forth.