Jember, July 1, 2023 - Imaji Sociopreneur, a community empowerment organization, held a workshop with the theme "Preventing Child Tobacco Workers through the Role of Teachers and Youth in Shaping Inclusive and Participatory Education." The workshop took place at Boss Cafe Lariso Ambulu.

The Generasi Imaji (GENJI) program and Guru Edukasi Stop Pekerja Anak (GERAK) program, implemented by Imaji Sociopreneur in collaboration with Universal PT Tempurejo, aim to provide support and guidance to youth and education activists in each village to enhance their abilities in social and community activities. The GERAK and GENJI workshops aim to provide information and understanding to teachers and students about child labor in Jember, especially in the villages targeted by Imaji Sociopreneur's programs. Some specific objectives of this workshop include raising awareness among teachers and students about the health, social, and educational impacts of child labor, particularly in the tobacco industry, preparing teacher mentors to guide and support students who will become future Anti-Child Labor Ambassadors, and fostering an Anti-Child Labor Generation through the Generasi Imaji program.

The workshop is expected to yield significant outcomes for the participants, including a better understanding of the effects of tobacco on children and child laborers, enhanced mentoring skills for teacher mentors guiding the future Anti-Child Labor Ambassadors, and a strong role for Generasi Imaji in supporting activities in the villages.

During the workshop, Mr. Drs. Joko Sutriswanto, M.Si., from DP3AKB (Office of Women and Child Protection, Population Control, and Family Planning) Jember, served as a guest speaker. In his presentation titled "Child Labor & Child-Friendly Schools in Child-Friendly Cities," Mr. Joko emphasized the importance of the family's role in educating children and explained various regulations related to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) incorporated in Indonesian laws. He also informed about the village children's forum established by DP3AKB.

Another speaker at the workshop was Zaenul Fattah (Cak Fattah), an educational facilitator. In his presentation titled "Always Fun Go to School," Cak Fattah discussed factors that contribute to school dropout rates, such as economic factors, living outside the district, and children with special needs. He stressed the importance of creating a fun and safe school environment for students, as well as addressing the increasingly prevalent issue of bullying. Cak Fattah shared examples of enjoyable learning activities, such as the stacking paper cup game to improve children's motor skills, and the use of multimodal texts to enhance students' literacy.

Imaji Sociopreneur also highlighted the dangers of Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS), a condition caused by the interaction of wet green tobacco leaves with the skin, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, fever, and itching. This occurs when proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as masks and gloves, is not used. The impact of GTS on the growth and development of underage children was also emphasized as a concern, further emphasizing the importance of preventing children from participating in tobacco farming activities.

Imaji Sociopreneur also shared the entire lineup of educational programs in ALP Village for 2023. Alongside the GERAK and GENJI activities, there will be seminars for tobacco farmer children, learning and talent development activities in each school, and the annual ALP League tournament, which will be open to the public and all schools in Jember District. Moch Musta'Anul Khusni, the Director of Imaji Sociopreneur, expressed that the GERAK and GENJI workshops mark the beginning of the ALP Village 2023 program. GERAK, as the Anti-Child Labor Education Facilitator, will serve as an extension of their efforts to disseminate information and raise awareness about child labor prevention in each village. GERAK will be supported in their activities within and outside of schools, alongside the Anti-Child Labor Ambassadors. At the end of the program, appreciation and awards will be given to proactive and innovative GERAK members who contribute to child labor prevention efforts. Through the Genji program, Imaji Sociopreneur provides support to rural youth, especially children of tobacco farmers, to develop themselves and actively engage in social activities with Imaji Sociopreneur. This is done to create a successor generation and ensure the continuity of their activities in each village. Selected GENJI participants will also receive educational scholarships from Imaji Sociopreneur to support their learning activities.

Teachers and school representatives expressed their appreciation for the program and gratitude for being selected as participants in the ALP Village 2023 program. They believe that these activities will serve as motivation to improve education for children in their respective villages. Students also expressed their enthusiasm for the engaging and enjoyable workshop, where they had the opportunity to play and interact with their peers and receive gifts.