In early April 2012, Kevin went to Ternate. Kevin has been in Indonesia a long time and he had always wanted to go to Ternate. His wish has finally come true. Kevin went to Ternate to join with the Australian Ambassador, Mr. Greg Moriarty, and to help Radio Gema Hikmah to present a live English-language talkback program interview. Every year in ternate there is a special month of celebrations called Legu Gam. It is held to commemorate the Sultan of Ternate’s birthday. People from all over the island and beyond gather at the Kedaton or the Palace of the Sultan of Ternate and participate in various traditional art and cultural performances.
The Australian Ambassador had been invited to Legu Gam. While in Ternate the Ambassador met with Australian Alumni, visited several projects funded by the Australian Embassy’s Direct Aid Program, DAP for short, AND joined KGI in the live broadcast from the pameran site in the center of Ternate. The Ambassador answered questions from students gathered at the site, questions sent in by SMS and even some internet Facebook postings. He talked about Australia supporting education through AusAID with programs such as KGI, AIBEP and the new Education Partnership. In fact Australia and Indonesia have joined together to do a lot for education in Indonesia and this support will continue.
Many, many thanks to those who helped the Radio HIKMAH KGI Live Show to happen. A special hi to Mbak Krishna, the English-language presenter on HIKMAH who is very keen and enthusiastic about English, KGI and radio. Also thanks to Pak Izmit, a recent Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange participant, who joined in the events. And special thanks to Radio Gema HIKMAH Ternate, the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia and his team and to all those who asked questions on the broadcast. Well done everyone.
On the day the Ambassador arrived in Ternate, the he attended the annual Legu Gam festival, where he addressed approximately 7000 guests. The Ambassador had been invited to this event and it was the first time an Australian Embassy delegation had visited the province since its separation from Maluku.
The following day the Ambassador was presented with the honorary royal title of Jogugu of Ternate (literally the Prime Minister) during a royal ceremony at the residence of the Sultan of Ternate.
During this day he also met with faculty staff from the University of Khairul, and presented a cheque to a Yayasan managed by the Sultan of Ternate, for use to support local projects of nutmeg syrup production and smoked fish. These funds were awarded to the Yayasan through the Australian Embassy’s Direct Assistance Program (DAP).
The delegation also attended the largely-Australian owned gold mine in Gosowong. The visit there, by small plane, included a tour of the underground and above-ground mines, and the opportunity to meet with Australian miners and management.
In Morotai, the Ambssador visited Nurul Hayat school in Tokoduku Village. The school already has three classrooms funded by the PNPM Rural project, and they are currently building three additional classrooms. He had a chance to view the new classrooms, which look great, and should be ready for use in July. The Ambassador gave a short speech at the school, and was were treated to a cultural dance performance by some of the 63 students that attend the school. Also present during the Ambassador’s visit were women from the revolving loan funds group ‘Mawar’, funded under the PNPM Rural project. The Ambassador also visited the Kota Daruba war museum, and viewed a collection of WWII remnants, as well as a cemetery containing the graves of foreign soldiers, before returning to Ternate.
On the final day of the visit, the Ambassador met with some of the 16 Australian Development Scholarship award recipients from North Maluku. He was also able to view some of the local projects supported through funding by the DAP.
Kang Guru Indonesia's Ternate (YouTube Video)
Australia’s aid program in North Maluku
The Australian aid program is working to support sustainable poverty reduction in Indonesia, and achieve a more prosperous, democratic and safe nation. In North Maluku, Australia is working with all levels of government to reduce poverty and achieve lasting development. Australia’s development programs in the province focus on improving access and quality in basic education, alleviating poverty, and supporting better water and sanitation.
Education
Australia supports Indonesia's commitment to give access to quality education for all of its children. We are building schools with local communities, using local labour, equipment and materials. Together we have built 61 schools across North Maluku, creating an additional 7,040 school places and significantly increasing access to education.
Australia is supporting the Indonesian Government to establish a national professional development program to build the skills of province and district education officials, school principals and supervisors.
Australia provides scholarships to current and emerging leaders from North Maluku to undertake postgraduate study at Australia’s world class universities or to participate in short-term training. Since 1998, 16 people from North Maluku have received Australian Development Scholarships for postgraduate study in Australia, including two people in this year’s intake. These scholarships help to build the Indonesian workforce and create strong people to people links between Australia and Indonesia.
Kang Guru Indonesia
Australia supports a weekly English language radio program, Kang Guru Indonesia, that is broadcast in over 165 radio stations across Indonesia. Kang Guru Indonesia helps students, teachers and communities across Indonesia develop their English language skills.
Approximately 610,000 magazines and 60,000 bulletins are printed and distributed quarterly to listeners of the radio program and educational institutions. The Kang Guru Indonesia program also reaches students and teachers through an interactive website and Facebook page; English language teacher training workshops and distribution of English language teaching materials.
Poverty Reduction
Through the National Program for Community Empowerment (PNPM) Australia supports the Indonesian Government to improve the lives of poor people in around 80,000 villages across Indonesia. PNPM empowers communities to make decisions and implement activities that are funded through grants for infrastructure, social and economic activities. It also provides microfinance for women’s groups.
Australia is helping the Indonesian Government to expand the program to reach more provinces and to improve its overall effectiveness and management. In 2011, PNPM funds reached communities in 112 sub-districts across North Maluku to build infrastructure and improve education and health outcomes.
Water & Sanitation
Australia supports the Indonesia Government’s national program to provide better water and sanitation to low income communities (PAMSIMAS) in North Maluku. The program increases community access to safe water supply, improved sanitation facilities and enhanced hygiene practice.
Australia is supporting communities and local governments to improve water and sanitation facilities in villages through both physical infrastructure and technical support. The program works with communities to plan, finance, manage and maintain their own water supply and sanitation systems and improve hygiene behaviours.
