Eko Yuli Irawan, Asian Games 2018 weightlifting gold medalist, attended the opening of the library at SDN 011 Sering Barat in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau in Indonesia on September 22, 2018.
On this occasion, Eko Yuli read stories to children at the library, and also shared his experiences in achieving world-level sporting achievement.

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The library opening was part of Tanoto Foundation’s #1Emas1Perpustakaan campaign, which saw the Foundation pledging to develop one library in a partner school, for every gold medal won by an Indonesian athlete during this year’s Asian Games 2018 held in Jakarta and Palembang.

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Following the 31 golds successfully acquired by the Indonesian team during the Games, Tanoto Foundation will now be developing 31 libraries in its partner schools.

Tanoto Foundation was also an official sponsor and supporter of the Indonesian team during the 2018 Asian Games.

“I am very happy to be part of the # 1Emas1Perpustakaan program from Tanoto Foundation. I am even more pleased that I can contribute in supporting the improvement of the quality of education, especially in developing the interests and reading abilities of Indonesian children,” said Eko Yuli.

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Meanwhile, J. Satrijo Tanudjojo, Global CEO of Tanoto Foundation, who also attended the event reaffirmed Tanoto Foundation’s commitment to educational development in Indonesia.

“#1Emas1Library is a manifestation of Tanoto Foundation’s spirit in celebrating the success of Indonesian athletes in the 2018 Asian Games, as well as our commitment to continuously improve the quality of education in the country.

“This is in line with Tanoto Foundation’s philosophy that quality education accelerates equal opportunity,” he said.

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Tanoto Foundation has carried out campaigns to raise Indonesian children’s reading interests and abilities since 2010.

With this, Tanoto foundation has thus far renovated and built libraries in 186 schools, donated more than 32,000 books, and trained more than 1,800 teachers in library management in rural areas in the Riau, Jambi and North Sumatra provinces.

TELADAN, a new leadership development program designed to equip Indonesia’s younger generation to become future leaders, was recently launched by Tanoto Foundation on September 6 in Jakarta.

The TELADAN program is unique. Not only does it provide full tuition coverage to program participants as well as personal and career development training, it also fosters international insight among the participants.

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Unlike Tanoto Foundation’s old leadership development program which focused on university students in their first to third years of university, TELADAN is designed for students in their first year who will receive support from Tanoto Foundation up until graduation or employment.

“The TELADAN program is a form of Tanoto Foundation’s commitment to support community leadership development which will lead to positive impact on communities. Through this program, we provide opportunities for students to develop their potential through scholarships and study abroad programs, and we also encourage them to actively carry out social activities,” said J. Satrijo Tanudjojo, Global CEO of Tanoto Foundation.

“Participants in the TELADAN program, or Tanoto Scholars, received tiered leadership development training from their first year of university until graduation or when they enter the workforce. With this holistic program, we believe that TELADAN participants will not only become leaders within their communities, but caring, global-minded, and responsible leaders at that,” Satrijo added.

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TELADAN aims to produce leaders who are also able to face challenges by involving participants in various soft skills training, internships and apprenticeships, community development programs, as well as activities which develop collaboration and networking skills.

The existence of the TELADAN program is expected to be a contribution to the need for future leaders who are responsible and who are able to positively impact their communities. It is also meant to be a development program which fosters leaders who have character and integrity, and who are entrepreneurial, diligent and compassionate towards others.

The program is also expected to address challenges relevant to the education system in Indonesia, including the country’s still-low university gross enrolment rate, which was 31.5% in 2017. Tanoto Foundation hopes to help increase access to higher education in Indonesia, with 100 per cent tuition fee coverage and monthly allowance for program participants under TELADAN.

Tanoto Foundation has run a leadership development program for students since 2006, supporting a total of more than 7,100 students in collaboration with 35 university partners across Indonesia throughout the years.

Students and parents in the rural area of Tanjung Jabung Barat district in the Jambi province of Indonesia used to view school and education as extremely low on their list of priorities.

If a fellow villager was holding a celebration, it was common practice for children to ditch school in favour of attending the party.

However, with keen enthusiasm and continued perseverance, Elita – who today heads SDN 92/V Gemuruh Elementary School in Tanjung Jabung Barat – has managed to convince them about the real significance of attending school.

“My biggest challenge was how to show parents about the importance of education for their children. I tried various ways in doing so, but it seemed that people were still much more interested in activities with economic value rather than educational value,” said Elita.

Elita faced limitations but she refused to be discouraged. Fortunately, in 2010, Tanoto Foundation stepped in to provide support in the form of various programs to improve teacher quality. During that time, Elita was trained in school-based management which aimed to promote education with the involvement of the community.

Armed with new knowledge following the Tanoto Foundation training, Elita took a different approach with the community. She introduced creative, effective and fun learning methods to the students at the school – methods which were well-received.

She then began to reach out and establish communication with the community in a bid to further improve quality of education at SDN 92/V Gemuruh, to the point where a parents’ group was formed at the school.
With the new harmonious cooperation between the school and the community, things at SDN 92/V Gemuruh began to improve. The school is now more beautiful, shady and green, as a result of running ongoing eco-friendly school programs.

Students have also learnt to carry out clean living habits at the school, which helps maintain the school’s cleanliness.
Meanwhile, teachers’ competencies have also increased as Elita encourages teachers to follow in her footsteps and participate in the various trainings that Tanoto Foundation holds.

In 2015, Elita was honoured with the ‘Favourite Teacher’ award during a well-known competition organized in Jambi. Elita was selected over 1,300 other teachers to win the opportunity to do a comparative teaching study in China.

“There are similarities between the learning process in the schools in China and the schools trained by Tanoto Foundation,” Elita recalled.

“Elementary schools in China are encouraged to be creative and imaginative, largely guided by the teachers. During teaching and learning activities, children do not have to sit individually at their desks. Sometimes it is better when they are standing, sitting in a group or even going around the class,” she noted.

Elita expressed her gratitude to Tanoto Foundation for its support in developing SDN 92 / V Gemuruh.

However, she maintained that complacency at the school should not take place, adding that she and the other teachers will continue to improve their competency and capability in fostering improved education in their village.