trenddjakarta.com, Kupang – NTT. October 18, 2024 — Cakap, an Indonesian education platform, under the Catalytic Fund program of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH), has launched a collaborative program that provides essential skills for students in Kupang. This program, which began in May 2024 and has lasted for six months, provides English language classes and hydroponic technology training as part of an educational initiative to empower the younger generation in areas facing significant challenges.
According to the 2023 Year-End data from the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil), Kupang has a population of 444,660 people. Of that number, only 14.97% pursue higher education. This is supported by data from the Kupang City Department of Labor and Transmigration, which reported that by the end of 2023, there were 8,608 unemployed individuals spread across 6 districts and 51 villages in Kupang. The low participation in higher education has led to limited absorption of skilled labor, largely due to a shortage of human resources proficient in soft skills such as foreign language abilities.
This initiative is fully supported by the Indonesian government through BPDLH under the Ministry of Finance, which has long advocated for sustainable development practices in regions in need. It is also seen as crucial by international representatives within the context of global community empowerment through education. The program involves over 700 students from 30 schools in 12 cities, with a primary focus on areas categorized as 3T (frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged). Kupang was selected as the implementation site due to pressing challenges such as low education levels, high rates of stunting, and the tangible effects of climate change impacting the local agricultural sector. According to research conducted by the Faculty of Agriculture at Undana University in Kupang, crop failures have been predicted since early 2024 due to erratic rainfall and extreme climate conditions.
English language skills are considered crucial for the people of Kupang because the area has great potential in the tourism sector, with prominent destinations such as Tablolong Beach and the Crystal Cave. English training is expected to help students engage with the tourism industry, enabling them to contribute more effectively to the sector. By contributing to this industry, participants are projected to help boost the local economy.
In addition to English education, students also receive training in hydroponic techniques as an innovative solution to environmental challenges in Kupang, particularly concerning water scarcity and land degradation. The training is aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices in vulnerable areas, strengthening food security, and supporting local livelihoods in the agricultural sector.
Through this program, Tomy Yunus, CEO & Co-founder of Cakap, believe that the positive synergy from this initiative can continue to spread and contribute to improving the quality of the nation’s human resources. Enthusiasm was shown not only by the international representatives who attended the program, but also by the training participants. “In line with Cakap’s vision of ‘Elevating People’s Lives,’ it is an honor for us to continue contributing directly, as what we do in schools in Kupang, to improve their quality of life. Seeing the younger generation excited to learn and proficient in expressing in English what they’ve learned in class is an achievement to be proud of,” said Tomy.
The collaboration between Cakap and the Catalytic Fund is believed to have a significant long-term impact, not only for the students but also for the wider community in Kupang. By developing skills relevant to future workforce needs and taking a sustainable approach in the agricultural sector, this program has the potential to become a model of empowerment that can be applied to other remote areas.
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