Seeing The Bigger Picture

I’ve been living in paradise (aka Bali) for six months now. In this time, I’ve been fortunate to enjoy some of the breathtaking scenery and man-made attractions that make Bali a world famous tourist destination. But when you take a look closer at the everyday life of the Balinese, especially the education sector, a different picture emerges.

My job allows me to explore parts of Bali that few tourists see. This includes Songan village, at the foot of Mount Batur in the Kintamani district of central Bali, where Kopernik is working to connect educational toys with students through our Make Science Fun projects.

A SNAPSHOT OF SONGAN
My first visit to Songan was at the end of August 2013 with our local partner, Yayasan Cempaka Putih. We went to introduce the technology to primary schools in the area, and to select two schools which would benefit the most from access to educational toys. I instantly fell in love with the village life, the cool weather, the endless farm fields, and the views of Mount Batur from many different angles. However, there was much more to the picture than just the scenery.

That day, we decided that we would distribute simple microscope technology to Songan 5 Primary School. The school was modest, housing six grades and up to 60 students per class. Many parts of the school building were in poor condition. Interactive educational tools? They were nowhere to be seen. The school had hardly any books to fill the small room they called the library. We promised that we would come back with the microscopes in early 2014.

RETURN TO KINTAMANI
In January, we fulfilled our promise. After months of fundraising, we returned to Kintamani bringing a box full of Benesse Microscopes for the fourth grade students.

Just reaching the school was a challenge. On the steep and slippery roads we dodged huge trucks transporting sand. Students often have to walk four or five kilometres from home to school, and the road can be very hot and dusty in the dry season. It always impresses me that students are still eager to go to school and learn in such difficult conditions.

PUTTING SCIENCE IN FOCUS
When we showed up in their classroom, it was the first time that any of the students had ever seen a microscope in real life. While some students had seen microscopes on TV, most weren’t quite sure what a microscope was used for. Following the lesson plan I had prepared, we divided the class into eight groups of seven or eight students, with each group accompanied by a Kopernik or Cempaka Putih staff member as a tutor.

Teaching the students how to use the microscope was simple. They paid close attention to what we had to say and were very cooperative in working with the lesson plan. They followed every instruction, from assembling each part of the microscope to adjusting the objective lenses to focus on a chosen object.

That day, our lesson plan invited them to take a look closer at a leaf surface, using different magnification levels. They drew what they saw through the lens, and figured out the purpose of the microscope. By the end of the class, the students had learned what a microscope is for and how to operate one. They excitedly told me how much they had enjoyed the class. They may not have realised that the experience was not only fun and inspiring for them, but also for me, as the project officer in charge.

SPARKING A LOVE OF LEARNING
Just as the kids could see a bigger picture of a leaf for the first time using the microscope, I saw a bigger picture of the island that people call ‘paradise’. I saw that the island is not only filled with hard-working people servicing the industry that has transformed their beautiful homeland, but also with bright, talented kids with an unquenchable thirst for learning. Their spirit is not easily dimmed by limited educational facilities. And when you spark it with the right tools, their love of learning blazes brightly. Educational toys are just part of the solution. I just wish that more people could see this bigger picture, and be inspired to enhance the quality of education for these kids wherever possible.