The 'Imaji Academy' interest and
talent education program that we are working on has been running for 2 years.
In 2021, in collaboration with the DIMPI Indonesia Foundation and PT. Universal
Tempu Rejo in the Agricultural Labor Practice Village (ALP Village) program, we
have penetrated 5 villages in the southern part of Jember Regency.
So that the total location points for
Imaji Academy KBM are in 7 villages, namely Lembengan Village (Imaji Academy
with Character) and Slateng (Imaji Academy Cahaya), Ledokombo District;
Andongsari Village (Imaji Academy Maju Berkarya) and Sabrang (Imaji Academy
Al-Ihsan), Ambulu District; Bagon Village (Imaji Academy Darussalam 02), Puger
District; Balung Lor Village (Imaji Academy Berkah), Balung District; and
Kesilir Village (Imaji Academy Terate), Wuluhan District.
Until now, Imaji Academy has 323
students who are divided into two classes, namely the feature class and the
reading-writing-counting class (Calistung). We mapped the categorization of the
two classes before the KBM started through a series of psycho-tests.
Technically, after the children take the test, those who are members of the
feature class can choose one of the features, namely agriculture, literacy,
sociopreneur, art and culture features and the sport of pencak silat.
Each feature that we present at Imaji
Academy has its own purpose and orientation. The agriculture feature, for
example, applies environmental-based educational applications, especially
introducing students to the diversity of flora and fauna in the surrounding
environment. The literacy feature focuses on the habit of reading and writing
and their application in making works.
The sociopreneur feature seeks to
introduce students to the concept and practice of entrepreneurship with social
concepts. The arts and culture feature focuses on introducing and teaching
traditional arts and culture around the students' environment. And the pencak
silat feature of Terate Silat Academi focuses on accommodating interests as
well as shaping the character of students through the traditional martial arts
of pencak silat.
In addition to the teaching and
learning process, at each Imaji Academy there are at least KBM supporting
facilities in the form of a Community Reading Park (TBM), an Educational Park
which contains a mini garden and mini zoo as well as supporting KBM features
agriculture, and a Learning Center as a center for teaching and learning
activities.
The implementation of Imaji Academy
in all villages also involves community groups as 'study friends'. Until 2021,
there are 23 study friends from various backgrounds who work together with us.
In general, community involvement is indeed our vision in every program. We
believe, in social work, the community is the subject of change itself and we
are only present as a facilitator for that. We believe that this is one of the
steps towards realizing self-reliance in the village in the future.
Apart from that, Imaji Academy is our
endeavor to contribute to overcoming the challenges of education in Indonesia.
Mainly, ensuring that children have the right and access to learn and explore
their interests and talents. We believe that every child is born with their own
potential. This potential is what we want to appreciate, explore, assist, and
develop together through the concept of playing and learning.
Even though Imaji Academy has been
running for two years, we are aware that we still have a lot to improve in the
future. Experience always teaches us to always learn and be sensitive to
challenges. Because at Imaji Academy we don't just teach children, but also
learn from them. *