Jakarta, Indonesia - After the joint celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week at Wijayakusuma School last month, the school authorities requested UPF to conduct a training program on character education for their teachers. On March 10, 40 teachers from different schools teaching children from kindergarten to Class 12 attentively listened to Mr. David McLackland, Education Director of UPF-Indonesia, explain about the “Need to Educate for Character” in today’s society. His presentation stimulated intensive discussion among the teachers in small groups, and each group later presented their views to everyone.
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Mrs. Ursula McLackland, Regional Secretary General of UPF-Asia, then explained “The Impact of the Family on the Student’s Life.” The teachers understood the importance of their role as ‘second parents,’ especially when children come from broken homes and do not receive the necessary care and attention in their families. They also raised questions about how to deal with a situation where the student experiences violence at home. Everyone agreed that the school, family, and community need to join hands in order to support the children's development into happy and mature adults who are capable of building loving families and making a positive contribution to society.
At the end of the program, UPF appointed three new Ambassadors for Peace: Mr. Fajar Batubara, the Founder of the school; Mrs. Siti Hadija Batubara, his daughter and currently chairperson of the Foundation running the school as well as the organizer of the Teachers Training; and Mr. Sandy Saptari, an English teacher at the school. In his closing remarks, Mr. Ronih, the Principal of the elementary classes, expressed his gratitude to the UPF team as well as his hope for more such programs.