Connecting Melbourne with Jakarta

Image courtesy of Marlborough P.S.

Since participating in the March 2011 program, Marlborough Primary School teachers Mel Douglas and Kathy McVeigh have incorporated a range of learning and teaching activities to engage their students with learning about Indonesia and their partner school, MIN Cempaka Putih.

An initial unit of work titled Visa to Indonesia provided the opportunity for Year 3 and 4 students to explore areas such as politics, food, animals, transportation, culture and religion in preparation for the arrival of Indonesian teachers, Siti and Feti.

According to Mel and Kathy the children were amazed at meeting Siti and Feti: 'They were so open about their religion, educational views and being Muslim. They spoke openly about the hijab and cultural beliefs - our students responded with bewilderment - this was true cultural learning. They taught our students traditional games and showed some traditional clothing.' 

Siti and Feti also attended year 11 and 12 Indonesian classes at Heathmont Secondary College. An opportunity for Year 10 students to visit our primary school was also provided to engage in Indonesian cultural activities.'

Fostering mutual understanding

Since then, Siti and Feti returned to Indonesia, the teachers have engaged their classrooms in synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. These include a series of student-to-student and teacher-to-student Skype sessions, reflections on educational similarities and differences between the two schools, art activities, creation of persuasive travel brochures and the exchange of letters and e-cards 'the children were so excited to read them and discover how Indonesian children like similar things to them.'

Australian students at Marlborough learned about the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. As part of the activity they made Ramadan cards for students at MIN Cempaka Putih and decorated their classroom with Ramadan lanterns to acknowledge the Islamic holiday in their sister-school country.

As a result of participation in the BRIDGE Project, Marlborough Primary has been engaged with the Indonesian Consulate in Melbourne. Mel and Kathy accompanied a group of students to the Consulate as invited guests to participate in the Indonesian Independence Day celebrations. The festivities included traditional dancing, music, singing, marching and a national flag raising ceremony. According to Mel and Kathy 'a highlight was how respectful our students were. And, of course, the fact that two of our students won return airfares to Jakarta, Indonesia, courtesy of the Consulate! How exciting!'

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