The world is discovering pristine and beautiful Sumba as the budding tourism sector has brought world-class 5-star eco-resorts to the island. The growth of multiple new eco-resorts on the island of Sumba provides an opportunity and new vacancies for the locals to get out of the poverty cycle, as many Sumba residents face.

As the generation of hope, the children of Sumba are facing challenges in finding opportunities to improve the community’s economic sustainability. Most of the Sumbanese who live in the rural villages live in poverty and have minimal knowledge of English, as the standard global language. Yet, having a good understanding of basic English is a steppingstone for more opportunities to improve their lives through tourism and other related sectors. There was a need of learning English to help improve the local village lives.

In 2015, a young local Sumbanese teacher, Roswita Asti Kulla, initiated English Goes to Kampung (EGK) as she hoped to help the rural community to develop. Despite the limited resources, she began going to the villages (Kampung) to teach basic English and life skills to the children in coastal and rural areas around her living area. She realizes that some of the children were often unable to go to school because of the far distance and other difficulties that constraints them from attending school. Asty believes by having education and the ability to learn English, the children of Sumba can have better opportunities to improve lives.

Over the first five years of EGK, the scope has evolved into a holistic spread of activities such as expanding children’s knowledge to develop a healthier, sustainable lifestyle, character building, improving essential life skills, and safeguarding the culture and environment of the beautiful Sumba island.

English Goes to Kampung has improved the spirit of community among children to develop and strengthen the local community bond, embracing their local culture, as well as, to help them grow confidence in facing the global challenges. This enables the motto of English Goes to Kampung: Think Globally, Act Locally.

English Goes to Kampung was formally formed in 2018 and has expanded to reach children and volunteers as a learning community in all four districts of Sumba. The community of English Goes to Kampung community is now growing and has given benefits to many people. Most of them developed maturity and generosity throughout their volunteering work as volunteers.

The spirit of English Goes to Kampung also starts engaging with local and international partners in collaborative projects. Up to date, English Goes to Kampung has over 80 volunteers from various backgrounds who are involved regularly in coordination activities.

From 2015 up to date, English Goes to Kampung has involved 1,000 youth. 18% of the college-aged, 26% high-school-aged, 50% of elementary school age, and 6% of various ages.

A survey done in 2019 resulted in a positive impact on the effectiveness of English Goes to Kampung taught children and higher employment numbers of its alumni. 70% of the parents are now convinced of the importance of education for their children, and 50% of the children were able to speak better English, found a better opportunity to find jobs, and successfully got scholarships for higher education. A matrix of success of the English Goes to Kampung program in 2019 was the change in children’s attitudes with positive feedback from parents.

On 30 July 2019, Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights launched the English Goes to Kampung Foundation to give it a formal and legal framework and presence. Its mission and vision evolved around what it has identified as the two prime challenges of Sumba’s rural population: poverty and poor quality of education.

OUR VISION

To create a better and more sustainable life for young Sumbanese children along with the coastal areas and the inland villages on the island of Sumba.

OUR MISSION

1. Reaching out to children across Sumba Island to teach conversational English.
2. Conducting activities that develop solidarity among people, appreciation, and awareness for the environment and a healthier, sustainable way of life for all communities.
3. Conducting creative empowerment activities to build an independent and productive community.
4. Conducting social, cultural, and environmental studies