Good news came from the Jambi Children's Tribe (SAD), in the village of Dwi Karya Bhakti, Pelepat District, Bungo Regency. Juliana managed to continue her education at one of the Jambi universities. This young virgin born in 2002 is the first woman from the SAD group to go to college.

Since 2012 Pundi Sumatra has run an inclusion program for the SAD community, especially groups living along the central Sumatra route. Dewi Yunita Widiarti (CEO of Pundi Sumatra) tells how they first entered the community.

"In 2012 we joined Juliana's group. At that time, because their Tumenggung was named At that time, Pak Salim, they were called Rombong Salim," he said. Tumenggung is the name for the leader of the SAD group. When he was first met, most of Rombong Salim still lived in the corner. sudungThey still rely on the forest to live. Hunting activities are still carried out by every head of the family.

Closed with strangers

It's not easy to get SAD to trust outsiders.

"At first they didn't respond much when we got involved," explained Dewi.

The difficulty of approaching adults made Pundi Sumatra's team of facilitators rack their brains. However, children were a group that was more easily approached by field assistants at that time. So that in the first mentoring program, what was carried out was an educational service program. The target is children both pre-school age and school age.

The learning method used is to combine calistung material with play activities. The open environment has always been used as a place for children's learning. Learning can take place around the corner, around the oil palm plantations and even on the banks of the river which are effective learning locations.

When they first met, Juliana was still in elementary school. Like the character of a traditional woman who doesn't have much contact with outsiders, Juliana is shy and quiet. However, this second child of four siblings is always diligent in attending classes.

Born as a girl in the SAD community did not limit Juliana's passion for learning. Juliana's parents, who live from hunting, gathering and gardening, actually really encouraged Juliana to get formal education. Since entering school age, Juliana was sent to school at SDN 198 Pasir Putih. This school is quite close to residential areas. However, when she was in vocational high school, Juliana had to travel quite a distance because there were no educational facilities at her level around the village.

In the final stage before completing vocational high school education, Juliana and four of her colleagues were taken on a tour of one of the campuses in Jambi City. This visit actually wanted to motivate these children, so they would be interested in continuing their education to the university level. at that time, University of Muhammadiyah (UM) Jambi (UM) Jambi became the location of choice for the visit. Apart from being invited to tour the campus facilities, Juliana and her colleagues attended one of the ongoing classes. They were also invited to the campus library, and then had a dialogue with the Chancellor and his staff.

"The hope is to motivate Juliana and her friends to continue their education," said Dewi. Seeing the enthusiasm of the SAD children during the visit, the Chancellor of UM Jambi, Dr. Nurdin, SE, ME spontaneously offered educational scholarships to them if they wanted to continue studying there. This seriousness was then followed up jointly by Pundi Sumatra and the University of Muhammadiyah Jambi by signing the MoU, where at the point all the UM Jambi academic community was committed to supporting the progress of SAD children and providing full scholarships until graduation.

 College decision

In the middle of 2020, Dewi Surya Armayani, as one of the assistants from Pundi Sumatra, received a phone call from Juliana's father. Unexpectedly, it turned out that he asked for help from the companion team to facilitate Juliana so she could continue studying in Jambi.

This request was greeted with joy by the institution which was established in 2006. Pundi Sumatra immediately helped Juliana take care of all the administrative files needed, until finally Juliana officially became a student of the Forestry Study Program at UM Jambi in 2020.

"I want to know the ins and outs of the forest, Sis," he concluded. For Juliana, even though she has lived quite far from the forest, she cannot forget what nature has given to her ancestors.

Being in the SAD community doesn't make Juliana limit herself in adapting. Entering her second year of college, this sweet girl shares her campus life with enthusiasm. During college, he was able to meet new friends and develop many skills.

"I have seven best friends. The lecturers are all good," said Juliana, smiling shyly.

Juliana in the eyes of the lecturers is an active child. His friendly demeanor makes him easily accepted by his classmates.

"His son is always active. Especially during the question session in class," said Citra as the Academic Advisor (PA) lecturer. Not only active in class, during practicum sessions Juliana was always enthusiastic. All assignments given by the lecturers were carried out by Juliana to the fullest. As a result, Juliana managed to get a 3.55 GPA in her first year.

Challenges From The Closest People

Juliana told the team that the path she had taken to get to university was not an easy matter. Juliana often hears talk that undermines her enthusiasm for studying.

"It's useless to go to college, I'm surprised to bein the kitchen bae," said Juliana, imitating what people said. For the parents there, filial children are those who can catch fish and help their parents to the fields.

Not only in July, gossip also had to be received by Juliana's parents. There are still many residents who think that it is pointless to send girls to school. In this community, the opportunities for boys to go to school are far greater than for girls. Not baseless, this assumption comes because of the tradition of arranged marriages that has been passed down from generation to generation. Every baligh girl will be married off.

"There will definitely be men who propose. If the dowry has been received by the uncle and we refuse, then there is a fine that must be paid by the woman," explained Juliana. At that time he had told his parents that he did not want to get married before working. Some of his playmates were forced to drop out of school after getting married.

Pundi Sumatra continues to provide understanding to parents about the importance of education for their children's future. Even since 2014 until this year, Pundi Sumatra is still distributing education scholarship programs to children who attend formal schools, the assistance is in the form of complete school supplies.

"Not in the form of money, but school uniforms, bags, shoes, stationery. The goal is for parents not to think about the costs incurred for school needs," said Dewi. Currently, many children from SAD are attending school. However, efforts to raise awareness about the importance of the role of parents are simultaneously being built. Gradually Pundi Sumatra began to encourage parents to participate in providing some of their children's school supplies independently.

"The hope is that they realize that providing for school children's needs is the responsibility of parents, and this process is successful. Pundi no longer provides a complete aid package, because parents are willing to bear part of it," added Dewi.

Want to be a nature guard

Juliana's ability shows that SAD women can also take part in the wider community. According to Juliana, women have the right to develop their own abilities. Women and men are equal in terms of health, education or employment rights. Not just a matter of kitchen affairs. When asked about his goals, he smiled shyly again.

"I want to work in the field of conservation, sis, taking care of the forest," he said. If there is an opportunity, Juliana hopes that she can continue her master's education. He has a unanimous determination. For him, education is an investment for a better life. Juliana just wants to be a good example for her younger siblings. If she could be an inspiration for SAD girls in other locations, Juliana would be even more grateful.

Currently, there are 24 pre-school aged children and 39 school aged children recorded at Juliana's residence.

Continue to advance the SAD civilization

The SAD community now lives closer to the community. Since 2014, the Ministry of Social Affairs has provided housing for SAD. There are 60 housing units built on an area of 6.18 hectares. Apart from Rombong Hari, the settlement is also inhabited by Rombong storm, a group brought in from the Singkut area to be given access to the housing assistance. There are a total of 40 families living in this settlement.

It doesn't feel like it's been more than 10 years, Pundi Sumatra has conducted a mentoring program for SAD. Efforts to encourage social change do require a lot of time. Working on the issue of social inclusion, Pundi seeks adminduk ownership to open SAD access to basic services from the government. Other programs are also related to health services, inclusive policy advocacy and the most prominent is the program for developing productive economic resources in the community.

“We teach gardening, farming, animal husbandry and fish rearing. Equip them with the skills to be independent, “said Dewi. Because the forest can no longer be relied on, and instead they must be equipped with skills so they can survive and adapt to the changes that are happening around them. Even with SAD who raise goats, routinely receive orders for livestock for the needs of qurban animals or Aqikah. Even Juli and her colleagues have made processed smoked fish products.

"SAD empowerment will not be able to be carried out by Pundi Sumatra alone, therefore the principle of collaborative work is actually the strategy we choose in implementing the program. The current condition is not only about Pundi's success, but in fact this is our success together," concluded Dewi.