Kang GURU Travels
to Jakarta and Bandung in April 2008
On Monday the 14th Kevin flew to Jakarta for just one day then on Tuesday morning he traveled by train to Bandung.
Kevin had intended to visit the English Language Conference at ITB but got caught up with school visits and
a visit to Universitas Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung. After just one night in Bandung Kevin returned to Jakarta
for a series of interviews with Indonesian athletes – weightlifters Sandow and Sinta and champion diver,
Shenny. Kevin also interviewed Laela and Ida, champion wheelchair tennis players and Eva Kasim from the Directorate
General for Social Services and Rehabilitation in Jakarta (Bagian Organisasi, Hukum dan Humas, Direktorat Jenderal
Pelayanan dan Rehabilitasi Sosial, Departemen Sosial).
Indonesian athletes preparing for PON and the Beijing Olympics
I met these athletes at the Hotel Century Atlet in Jakarta for interview about their careers, the English
language skills and the their plans for both PON and the Olympics. Sandow is from Medan and Sinta is from
Bali, and both are weightlifters and already champions in their respective fields. Sandow for example, he
won a gold medal in the SEA Games in Thailand in 2007. Sinta won gold at PON 2005, a silver medal at the
Junior World Championship in China in 2006 and a gold medal at the SEA Games in Thailand in 2007. Shenny
competes in the 10 meter platform event in diving. She won a gold medal at the SEA Games in 2007, 1 gold
and 1 bronze in PON 2000 and at PON 2004, 2 gold and 2 silver.
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Sinta - champion weightlifter for Indonesia
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Shenny - champion diver for Indonesia
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Sandow - champion weightlifter for Indonesia
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Disabled Champions
Ida Yany and Laeli Yuntari are champion sportswomen. Their sport is tennis but tennis with a difference. Both
play tennis from wheelchairs as they are both disabled and confined to wheelchairs.
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Ida, for example, has won many tennis titles including Singles Runner Up in Taipei in 2005 and Singles Winner
in Sri Lanka in 2007. Although not a sports champions, Eva Kasim is a champion in the Directorate General
for Social Services and Rehabilitation in Jakarta (Bagian Organisasi, Hukum dan Humas, Direktorat Jenderal
Pelayanan dan Rehabilitasi Sosial, Departemen Sosial). Eva’s main responsibilities are to coordinate
the services of her department and the 5300 social service organizations around Indonesia. Eva has also held
numerous advisory and executive roles including with the Indonesian Association of Disabled Persons, the
Indonesian Association of Women with Disabilities and the Indonesian Federation of the Physically Handicapped.
Eva is an Australian Alumni and her work was recognized recently in the 2008 Australian Awards held in Jakarta.
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Kang Guru to Bandung - a theatrical prodcution with support from AII
Kevin attended a dress rehearsal at Universitas Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung where fifty students have been
working together on a theatrical production called ‘Maksudnya Apa?’.
This unique theatre production involves students from UIN Sunan Gunung Djati and is co-directed by Australian
actor and teacher Kerensa Dewantoro and well-known Bandung-based playwright and director Yunis Kartika.
The production is attracting praise and interest from local university and school students, as well as the
artistic community in Bandung.
The Australia Indonesia
Institute (AII) and the Cultural Section at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta have been happy to lend support
to the activity. Read the Press Release for yourself!
The team will perform their 45 minute prodcution at the university on April 19th and at several other Bandung
universities later in the month.
Find out more by listening to Kang Guru during June for interviews with Waldi, Syalwa, Muamar, Yanti, Kerensa
and Yunis.
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Waldi and Syalwa
Muamar and Yanti
Kerensa and Yunis
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While in Bandung, Kevin visited SMPN 1 Cimahi to chat with students and teachers. The visit was only a few
hours but in that time Kevin saw traditional dance and a performance by 40 students playing angklung
angklung. Then for the chat where students asked amazing questions using their wonderful English language
skills. Their dedicated teacher is Agus Suganda who has been a great supporter of Kang Guru for many years
and who is currently leading some of his students inn the Kang Guru e-learning activity which Ayu
is looking after from Bali. The last 40 minutes of the visit was taken up with Kevin chatting with teachers
from SMPN 2 Cimahi plus nearby schools – all these teachers are members of the local MGMP.
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An angklung performance by students at
SMPN 1 Cimahi for Kang Guru
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Students and teachers at SMPN 1 Cimahi
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Teachers attending the Kang Guru Chat
at SMPN 1 Cimahi
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Members of the RRI Bandung English Conversation Club met Kevin at his hotel for a chat about their club and
Kang Guru. Kevin was surprised at how active and enthusiastic these members were when talking about their
club. The club meets regularly and conduct a series of interactive radio programs on RRI Bandung. Their outdoor
programs are also extensive and they brought so many wonderful photographs for Kevin to see. Good Luck to
all of them and their fellow members.
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Kevin returned to Bali on Friday morning after a very busy week including a lot of time in taxis, aeroplanes
and trains.
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