The Groud Breaking Ceremony

The Lab School will be a model community school (SMA, grades 10-12) for the neighborhood around the university and will provide an opportunity for students at UNSYIAH’s College of Education and Teaching (FKIP) to practice in classrooms under the supervision of master teachers.

The ground breaking comes barely a year after the idea and the collaboration was first suggested to USINDO by the University, which has long felt the need for such a facility but could not afford it.

Actual construction of the ten classroom complex will begin in the next month, about a year after planning for the complex began. The school, which can accommodate 300 students, is scheduled to open for the beginning of the school year 2007-2008.

Acting Governor Dr. Ir. Mustafa Abubaker and Director of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Board Prof. Dr Kuntoro Mangkusubroto are scheduled to be the principal speakers at the ceremony. USINDO is bringing a large delegation led by Former Minister of Environment Emil Salim and former US Ambassador to Indonesia, Edward E. Masters, co-chairs of the USINDO Board of Trustees, to participate in the event.

“From the beginning, the project has been on the fast track,” said Amb. (ret) Alphonse F. LaPorta, president of USINDO, “because we are deeply aware of the need and want this school to begin making an impact as quickly as possible. At the same time, everyone involved is committed to maintaining sound planning for high quality construction for the building, and, more importantly, for the community of educational excellence it will house”.

The project is a true partnership, not only between UNSYIAH and USINDO, according to Project Coordinator Margaret Sullivan, but also among the many corporations and organizations that have contributed to making it possible. “This is a true people-to-people endeavor,” she explained.

Significant corporate donations have led the way. These donations, however, started with the individual contributions of corporate employees around the world in the aftermath of the tsunami that were then matched by company funds. Newmont Mining Corporation’s support is a significant portion of their contribution toward the rebuilding of Aceh. AIG’s employees have donated to the school through a special AIG Aceh Relief Fund that they collected.

Danamon Peduli, the foundation arm of Danamon Bank, has underwritten a multi-purpose community center which will also have after-hours adult education, at the request of the surrounding communities. The Boeing Company through United Way International is underwriting the physics lab.

The American Chamber, Jakarta, has contributed to the costs of building a computer lab. P.T. IBM Indonesia will supply the computers and a training program in using computers to improve education.

ExxonMobil Foundation and the Jakarta International School (JIS) Cares are jointly covering the costs of a library that will not only serve the Lab School but also the other schools in the immediate neighborhood.

American school children have also contributed to making the school possible through donations earned in bake sales, car washes and other efforts which were channeled through Do Something, a New York-City based organization. Other school contributions come from Greenville and Seely Place Elementary Schools, Scarsdale, NY.

Further contributions have come from Credit Renaissance and from many private individuals, including, among others, Julian and Ruth Schroeder, Chapman Taylor, and David and Ann Kenney.

The Sampoerna Foundation is USINDO’s partner in Aceh for monitoring the entire project. The entire project has also been developed in close cooperation with the Department of Schools, City of Banda Aceh, the Department of Schools of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and the Ministry of National Education, Jakarta
 

About USINDO

The United States Indonesia Society (USINDO) is an independent and not-for-profit institution which was established in 1994 and has headquarters in Washington DC, USA.

The Society specializes in the public education, and is the primary organization in the United States that focuses on Indonesia and building better understanding between the two countries.
USINDO’s commitment to Indonesia is demonstrated in several programs and activities, such as the Aceh School Project.

For further information on USINDO and its programs, please visit their website www.usindo.org.