Page updated January 3 2012 |
Sail Indonesia University of Kupang Scholarship Program |
This program was initiated by Rob and Dee Dubin on the yacht Ventana in 2006. Thanks to the generosity of Sail Indonesia rally participants since that time, the Kupang University Scholarship has now been running since that time and at this time a total of ten students are enrolled in this program. They are studying at the University of Kupang, Nusa Cendana or Undana, in their chosen field of study. All money received by Sail Indonesia for the purposes of the scholarship goes to directly the students in Kupang.
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Indonesia is a wonderful country but educational opportunities for many people are limited, due to financial hardship and constraints. The students pictured below would not otherwise have been able to follow their chosen course of study without help from this scholarship program, as the cost of university study is beyond the reach of their families.
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Each year, the scholarship recipients pictured below are awarded their scholarship and given ongoing funds once their semester reports are ckecked by the scholarship organisers. There is also a Presentation Dinner in Kupang, where all rally participants are able to meet the students. This scholarship program gives these bright young people the opportunity to become a vital part of Indonesia's future.
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All the students are progressing well in their chosen courses of study. In 2011, there was a significant milestone, as the first three students selected in 2007 were eligible to graduate and other students were selected to enter the program to take their place.
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Yuliana Amelia Jehaman
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Congratulations to Yuliana Amelia Jehaman on her graduation on 6 September 2011 in her chosen course of study, Public Health Administration. She will be followed soon by the other two 2007 recipients, Yuliana Amelia Jehama and Sumiyati Djamal Assa. We trust that this is the beginning of our mission of a continuing program of education and support to students in Kupang. |
2007 Scholarship Recipients |
Sumiyati (Yati) Djamal Assa (20)
Teacher, Chemistry |
Margaretha N. Beggo (21)
Teacher, Chemistry |
Yuliana Amelia Jehaman (20)
Public Health Administration |
2008 Scholarship Recipients |
Yolvina Elizabeth Bimusu (21)
Teacher English
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Merryanti (Merry) Rihileo (21)
Electro Technology
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Not Awarded
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2010 Scholarship Recipients |
Apri (Yatri) Bisslissin (20)
Civics |
Kornelis (Umbul) Koda (21)
Teacher, English |
Not Awarded |
2011 Scholarship Recipients |
Yandri Ade Tuka Rohi
Veterinary Science
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Maydiani Kurniasih
Computer Science |
Marthin Yohanes Ialay
Business Studies
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July 2011
The Sail Indonesia Scholarship program was changed slightly in July of 2011 and is now operated in the following way. An amount of Rp1,000,000 around $120 US is paid directly to each student twice a year at the beginning of each semester, covering registration and an allowance for books, stationary and transport. At the conclusion of each semester each student receives their grade (Transcripsi Nilai) and when they pass they are paid for the following semester. This decision to change the finacial arrangements was based on the advice of several University lecturers and the Vice Rector, Mr Maxamillian Kapa and this has simplified and streamlined the administration work involved in managing the program. |
March 2011
The program was running well and all students are progressing well in their chosen fields of study. New students will be inducted into the program in July to replace the first three students who will graduate later this year. |
November 2010
There were some administrative problems in Kupang. The person managing the program in Kupang was not able to continue to offere their services, and as a result, the bank account in Kupang was closed. The decision was made to manage the program from Australia and the selection of students would be based on the advice of University lecturers.
This year, Geoff Wilson donated $400, the amount of $454 was raised from donations from the fleet of yachts that went to Kupang and $196 was raised from a raffle drawn on the farewell Barbeque with prizes generously donated by JR Duty Free, making a total income of $1050 for 2010.
Three more students were added to the program.
A total of $630 was paid to the five students in the program and the three new students entering the program were paid a total $337 to begin their first semester of study. |
February 2010
Sail Indonesia did not visit Kupang in 2009. However, 13 yachts chose to donate $25 to the fund anyway. This added a total of $325 to the fund.
In August 2009, the fund received an anonymous donation of $715. This amount was sent direct to the bank account in Kupang to cover the student's costs for the second part of 2009.
late in 2009, Geoff Wilson the author of 101 Anchorages again donated $500.
At that time the University Scholarship fund had an amount of Rp 4,200,000 (around $500 AUD) in the Kupang branch of the Bank Mandiri which is used to cover incidental student expenses. |
February 2009
All transactions and a balance sheet are shown on this web page, all dollar amounts are shown in Australian dollars.
At the beginning of 2008 $2795 was held in trust in an Australian Bank account that had been collected in 2007, in July of 2008 $1248 was sent to Kupang to pay for the students coming into the program in 2008, 39 of the yachts in Sail Indonesia chose to add $25 to their entry fee making a total of $975, Dave and Judy Howel on the Grainger Cat Freebird took on the job of raising funds from the fleet in Darwin and due to their efforts a total of $635 was raised at the pre-rally Technical Meeting in Darwin, and a further $304 was raised in Kupang. In 2008 the author of 101 Anchorages Geoff Wilson donated a further $800 making the total funds held in trust in Australia of $4267 at September 2008. |
Scholarship Group 2006
L-R Nita Liwulangi, Rob Dubin, Kupang University
Rektor
Frans Datta, Dee Dubin and Selvey Mbuik. |
Miss Nita Liwulangi.
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| The Origins of the Sail Indonesia Kupang University Scholarship,
Rob and Dee Dubin sailing on Ventana in 2006 |
Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the world after China, India and the US, it has high levels of unemployment, lack of basic infrastructure and often effected by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.
Like many of the rally boats we had previously sailed to a great many countries and did our best to donate school books, clothes, pens and pencils for the kids and such but7 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 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 in Kupang.
We realized there must be many other students like Nita who would miss out on a university education for the lack of $170 per term I thought maybe we finally had a chance to really make a difference and fortunately some of the other cruisers in the 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 began a program to help bright but needy students get to university; 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, We 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 visits Kupang with new boats every year, it is our plan was that 4 more students would be added each 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.
The 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.
The Sail Indonesia rally usually arrive arrive one month before the selected students actually begin university and at the Welcome Dinner and Awards Ceremony the rally participants can meet the selected students and officially present the Scholarships to each new recipient. The University Director would be at the dinner 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 donate to the Scholarship Program, we are hoping for a minimum of $25 per boat to continue and expand the program. You may wish to stay involved in a helping one student through all 4-5 years of university that would be even better.
For 2012
The rally will again visit Kupang in 2012 and we ask that you donate to the Scholarship Fund for 2012 by simply adding your donation it to your Rally Entry Fee, or if you prefer when you arrive in Darwin or Kupang.
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