Updated February 17 2008 |
Sail Indonesia Kupang University Scholarships |
Thanks to the efforts of Rob and Dee Dubin on Ventana in 2006 and their friends Bob and
Kathy Pauly on Briana in 2007 together with the generosity of the rally participants
in the Sail Indonesia 2006 and 2007 rallies the Sail Indonesia Kupang
University Scholarships are now in place and the first recipients are now enrolled at the University of Kupang for their chosen course
of study.
Indonesia is a wonderful country rich in many things but educational opportunities
for those not so well off is not one of them. The three students pictured below would not otherwise have been able to follow their chosen course of study as the cost of university is beyond the reach of their families.
The 2007 Scholarship winners pictured below were awarded their scholarships at the Rally Presentation Dinner in Kupang in front of the 2007 rally partcipants.
This scholarship program gives these bright
young people the opportunity to become a vital part of Indonesia's future.
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Sumiyati
Djamal Assa (18)
Teacher, Chemistry
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 Margaretha N. Beggo (19)
Teacher, Chemistry
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Yuliana Amelia Jehaman (18)
Public Health Administraion
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The Sail Indonesia Scholarship program is a new initiative; one hundred percent of the Scholarship funds are used for education. The Scholarship money is paid directly to the University of Kupang for the relevant course fees and all administration work is done by volunteers.
More students will be introduced into the program in 2008 with the ongoing assistance of rally participants and the progress of all the students will be detailed on this website.
The funds that are held in trust will also detailed here. |
CURRENT FUNDS
At this time the University Scholarship fund has an amount of Rp 14,210,000 ($1800 AUD) in the Kupang branch of Bank Mandiri which is being used to fund these three students for 2007-2008 and an additional amount of $2795 AUD is held in trust in an Australian bank account. |
Scholarship Group
L-R Nita Liwulangi, Rob Dubin, Kupang University
Rektor
Frans Datta, Dee Dubin and Selvey Mbuik |
Kupang Scholarship
Program Administrator
Miss Nita Liwulangi
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The Origins of the Sail Indonesia Kupang University Scholarship
By, Rob and Dee Dubin who joined the rally on board Ventana in 2006
Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the world after China, India and the US and is also one of the poorer countries in the world. It has high unemployment, lack of basic infrastructure and with tourism down from earthquakes and tsunamis.
Like many of the rally boats we have previously sailed to a great many poor countries and we do our best to donate school books, clothes, pens and pencils for the kids and such but in reality these efforts are not even a band aid for what's necessary. At best we help a few kids for a short period of time but I doubt our efforts have any long lasting effect or help to improve the country in any way.
We expected our arrival here in Indonesia to be the same, however when we arrived in Kupang, Indonesia we received an unbelievable welcome from the entire city with dinners held in our honor by the mayor and governor, and nightly entertainments held on our behalf. Also on hand to meet us were a dozen university students who wanted to improve their English by acting as our volunteer guides around this good size city. During the week we were there our guides helped us with everything from organizing engine repairs to translating to explaining how to cook the unfamiliar fruits and vegetables in the markets.
Our guide, Nita Liwulangi, spoke excellent English and was one of the most intelligent and dynamic young women we have ever met, had she been born in the US she would no doubt be on a full ride scholarship to the University of her choice. Her family could not afford the annual $170 USD fee to send her to Kupang's University but fortunately she had been awarded a scholarship there.
When I realized there must be many other students like Nita who would miss out on a university education for the lack of $170 I thought maybe we finally had a chance to really make a difference and fortunately the other cruisers in our rally felt the same way.
As a group we decided to see what was possible- the result was astounding. In less than a week we developed a program to help bright but needy students get to college; met with the University director and received his agreement to hold space open for students we sponsor and to waive the usual government red tape for them; met with the Headmasters of several High Schools and selected 2 schools for our initial program; set up a selection process based upon the criteria we designed and we have already raised enough money to provide a complete 4-5 year university education for 4 students starting next year.
As the rally occurs with new boats every year, we anticipate adding at least 4 more students per year so by year 5 we should be funding a minimum of 20 students, 4 in each year of University.The scholarship selections will be supervised by the headmaster and headmistress of the high schools and will be overseen by a review committee we have put in place to assure impartiality. The scholarships will only go to needy families and in our first year we will be awarding two scholarships for students in the sciences and two for students in language.
Our goal is to see these kids through to graduation in the sciences and languages so as long as the students maintain a 3.0 GPA they can continue through all 4 or 5 years of university. If we fund them for their entire university education they will be urged to stay in Kupang or their local village for at least 2 years after school to give back to their community.
Rally participants for the 2007 rally are already involved in the continuum. Next year's rally will arrive a month before our selected students actually begin university so there will be a dinner and awards ceremony where rally participants will meet the first four selected students and officially make the awards. The University Director will be there to receive the monies and officially welcome the students.
We feel confident that this program can really make a difference in these students lives, their communities and eventually their country. For us and all the rally participants it is good to know that for a change we are leaving more behind us than our boat's wake.
We urge all rally participants in 2007 and beyond to give generously, we are hoping for a minimum of $25 per boat to continue and expand the program. If you want to stay involved in a helping one student through all 4-5 years of school that would be even better.
The program is not yet tax deductible in any country. Dee and I are personally paying all the administrative costs so every cent donated goes to the students.
NEW for 2008
You can donate for 2008 by simply adding this it to your Rally Entry Fee, or when you are in Kupang.
Thanks for your interest,
Sincerely,
Rob and Dee Dubin
Ventana
2006
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