The long awaited outdoor activity for this batch in river school program has finally concluded. Last Sunday, on 9th December the Code river school site went for a field trip in Desa Wisata Pulesari, Turi. The trip was something we had been planned since the beginning of this batch. As a community based NGO, it is one of our mission to bring an alternate form of education for children in order to implement our belief of a learning environment to be more fluid, flexible and fun. We have learned from our past, that formal education has been involving a lot in a facility that does not relate to recreational activities. In addition, field trip study is proved to be a prominent necessity in order to truly establish and adopt the idea of alternative education. Stones and earth are such adequate substitution of both pen and paper, and where being soaked, getting dirty and wet are regarded as a form of education. However, the main purpose of field trip is to give a form of a reward for the children for their outstanding performance, participation, and their immense passion shown through the project activities.
There were total of 30 children and 17 volunteer and staff joining the field trip. It was an enthralling and exciting experience as the students learned how to make a traditional snack called Nogosari. The dish which comes from Java, was made from the snake fruits which are the most common plantation in the area. At the beginning, the mothers from Desa Wisata Pulesari explained the steps on how to make the traditional snack, including the main ingredients. The students were attracted to learn something they rarely or even never seen before. Furthermore, they let the students help peeling the snake fruits, making the dough, and even wrap the dough using banana leaves. It was a good experience as students can get involved in the process of cooking and got chances to ask questions.
After the cooking class, the children were enthusiastically waiting for the main activity that day, which is to go down to the river and explore the river track. There were few obstacles prepared to entertain the students as they enjoy to cross the hanging bridge, climbing through the nets, and being in the water. As safety become our main concern during the river tracking, our volunteers were always ready to assist the children. In addition, some facts about river, plantation, vegetation, and animals that lives in the river were prepared to give the children some insight about the open river. The children were also asked to differentiate the river in their community with the river they went for tracking. The activity is to make children aware on how river could be a safe environment when it is clean and well-managed.
Lastly, the children were very delighted to know they have been granted with a field trip donation to Desa Wisata Pulesari from The Goods for Good. For the generous donation, on behalf of the children and Project Child Indonesia, we express our deepest gratitude for the continuous support and especially for the field trip surprise. An act of help or assistance, big or small, does not matter. The intention to do so, makes the difference.
