Masterstudents on projects in Indonesia

June 25th, 2008. Caroline van der Roest and Maaike van Althuis, two students from the Master of International Leisure and Tourism Studies, will go to Indonesia for a month (July) to participate in two development projects: Panta Ashi and Talenta.

Together with 20 students from Leeuwarden they hope to be able to contribute to the Indonesian society. The students will stay in Yogjakarta in Java.

Panta Ashi is a home for people with limited intellectual faculties. The students will coach sporty and creative activities (see www.stichting-camelia.nl). Talenta is an organisation focussing on projects in small villages, called Dessa’s. The students will assist in the general development of these dessa’s, for instance by helping the residents how to get on with their cattle, and the establishment of houses and schools.

During their stay, several meetings with NGO’s (non governmental organisations) will be arranged, such as the NGO that is trying to improve the understanding between the religions in Java, and the NGO working on the recovery of the damage after the earthquake in 2006.

Besides, Caroline and Maaike will attend a youth conference in Yogyakarta, where Dutch and Indonesian students will meet and discuss social and societal issues in Indonesia.

Caroline will write about her experiences in her blog. A special website is under construction and not ready yet. The address will be posted in her log.

For the projects Panta Ashi and Talenta money is required to finance the materials that are needed. You could express your support by paying a small financial contribution to the Dutch bankaccount 32.99.95.200 in the name of C. van der Roest and stating ‘Development work Indonesia’.

The staff of the School of Graduate Studies is very proud that two of her students participate in such important work. It means a perfect illustration of the aims of the Master programme in International Leisure and Tourism Studies which deals with the way leisure and tourism can be used for the (sustainable) development of communities, both in de developed and the developing world.