Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM successfully held the SEA Chat program in CESASS Library (28/08). Interestingly, this event was especially attended by students and teachers of SMP Tumbuh, Yogyakarta. SMP Tumbuh is the first high school that is famous for carrying inclusivity in its learning process. The inclusive junior is intended to receive all kinds of diversity from religion, belief, ethnicity, economic background, to mental ability.
The event that lasted from 13:00 to 15:00 pm began with a speech from Dr.phil.Vissia Ita Yulianto as a representative of CESASS, then it was continued with a welcome from Sri, M.A. as representative of SMP Tumbuh. The event was connected with a brief introduction about CESASS from Aditya Indra Nugraha, S.Ant. and a discussion entitled ” Knowing Southeast Asia and its Dynamics” with Gharin Putra Yanotama, S.IP. as moderator.
The discussion was interesting. Using Indonesian and English, students from SMP Tumbuh looked enthusiastic to ask questions ranging from history to cases of forest fires in ASEAN. SMP Tumbuh’s visit itself has been designed since the beginning by teachers of Social Sciences (IPS) subject. According to Sri, M.A. who is an eighth grade social sciences teacher, SMP Tumbuh’s students’ visit to CESASS is to give a more of understanding about ASEAN, “With this visit, I hope the children not only memorize the material on ASEAN but also understand ASEAN,” Sri told the CESASS Team .
After the discussion finished at 14.30, the students continued the activities by interviewing CESASS staff. Interview activities were conducted in the lobby and inside the CESASS office. In the process of question and answer, the students often asked questions about ASEAN or related to the world of lectures. Post-interview session, the students, teachers, and staff from SMP Tumbuh and CESASS ended the event by taking pictures together in front of the CESASS office. (Venda)