(Adshit Al Qusayr, 23/11) Tallusah, is a quiet village in the hills of South Lebanon with about one thousand inhabitants. A hot summer day, with the men mostly away at work and the women and the children indoors sheltering from the heat. The silence is broken by the hum of white UN vehicles approaching the village.
It is a group of peacekeepers from the UNIFIL Indonesian Battalion (Indobatt), as known as “Garuda XXIII-B” Contingent, that the villagers are so familiar with. As the visitor make their way to the village meeting place and quietly go about converting it into an improvised playground, a sudden flurry of activity is generated with children know precisely what to expect : a fun learning experience with lots of toys, books and multimedia games that come in a blue coloured “mystery” van named the “Smart Car” (Mobil Pintar).
“Hooray….. It’s coming!”, shouts six year old Sabrina, clapping her hands. She and her friends enjoy playing with the Indonesian soldiers who have interesting educational games for them. “We are very pleased and thankful for the presence of the Smart Car”, says Mrs. Tourmos, as she escort her daughter to play area. She hopes for an internet connection in the “Smart Car” that would greatly enhance the learning experience for the children. “The Internet connection will provide up-to-date information that would broaden their thoughts”.
Nine year old Fatima enjoys reading, the joy evident in her beautiful blue eyes as they scan through the wide range of history and documentary books the car offers. “My friends and I wait for the Blue Car every week,” she says,”We like to spend time here after school”.
The Smart Car has been designed to support a range of activities that are carried out by UNIFIL’s Indonesian Battalion in conjunction with other initiatives like First Aid lessons, Medical and other assistance to the local communities. “The Smart Car was initiated by The First Lady of Indonesia, Madam Ani Yudhoyono, in order to motivate and facilitate the Lebanese children to study outside their school,” said Lt. Col A M Putranto, The Indobatt Commander, “It’s helps alleviate the trauma these children have suffered from during the recent war”.
A Unique medium of interaction with local children, The Smart Car has a variety of games and toys combined with educational material and multi media equipment such as television, DVD player, computer, Play Station, etc. The Car covers 11 villages that fall within the Indobatt Area of Responsibility (AOR), periodically visiting Ghandouriyah, Al Qantarah, Adchit Al Qusayr, Et Taibe, Deir Sirriane, El Aadaisse, Markabe, Bani Hayyan, Rabbat Tallame, Al Qusayr and Tallusah.
The Smart Car provides a unique learning and recreational opportunity in a child friendly environment. To date, the programme has reached more than 2000 children and youth.
Surely this experience will stay in the memories of those kids forever.. till some of us hear back the impression years to come that I was proficient using the internet by the kind support of the Indonesian contingent’s smart car program :-)
or perhaps some will say; “I really enjoyed being around and near the Indonesian Contingent as they are a group of fun and loving people”
..and so forth.. Keep up the great work and we are all proud of you!
Welcome to indonesia Garuda-XXIII-B congratulation of success team Garuda-XXIII-B to Lebanon.
Garuda-XXIII-C may be able to maintain and further gain succsees like the outgoing Garuda XXIII-B.
Many thanks to The First Lady of Indonesia Mrs. Hj Ani Bambang Yudhoyono. She’s put a lot of love and hard work into National Education Movement . And we appreciate all she’s done. Here in our residence, we receive one unit “Motor Pintar” (Smart Motor Cycle). The “Motor Pintar” have a specific melody (jingles) which is widely recognized by the target group. When the jingle is ringing, it attracts the kids to come together to read and open their mind to the world, (without internet connection of course).
Great work guys. Keep doing the fun stuff with those kids, it’s make you feel youthful and feel homely .
PS :
Nine years old Fatima: beautiful “BLUE” eyes reading a book in the “BLUE” Car beside the “BLUE” beret man , did she wearing a “BLUE” coat too..??? haha….You make me “BLUE” .. what an experience.
excellent, it is only one word that i would say…i am really surprised that The First Lady of Indonesia really cares about the children in Lebanon since she sent the Smart Motor Cycle (Mobil Pintar) to provide the education and the entertainment for the children there…
Also say BRAVO for GARUDA XXIII-B that already passed the duties…Bravo Indonesia..
Wish they have something kind of books that share our culture heritage to the world.