They visited the 3T areas (Underdeveloped, Outermost, and Frontier regions) in an effort to develop and equalize infrastructure across Indonesia.

The Ganesha Expedition is a movement initiated by the younger generation to improve the quality of education in remote areas of Indonesia through infrastructure development and human resource enhancement.

Under the guidance of a lecturer from the Humanities Research Group, Dr. Yedi Purwanto, M.Ag., Ganesha Expedition 2.0 was successfully carried out in West Manggarai with two main programs.

The first program focused on infrastructure development. This involved renovating two classrooms at MIs Al-Fatah Benteng Dewa, South Lembor District, West Manggarai Regency, NTT. The renovation aimed to create a more comfortable and conducive learning environment for students, supporting a more effective educational process.

The second program aimed at improving human resources. This program included activities such as the Clean and Healthy Living Program (PHBS) for MI (Islamic elementary school) students, a Science Fair for MTS (Islamic middle school) students, and a higher education outreach for MA (Islamic high school) students.

These activities were designed to instill awareness of the importance of health, foster interest and skills in science, and provide insights into higher education opportunities.

Additionally, Ganesha Expedition 2.0 paid special attention to educators by conducting training on the implementation of the "Independent Curriculum." This training aimed to help teachers face the challenges of implementing the new curriculum and enhance the quality of teaching in local schools.

Moreover, the Ganesha Expedition 2.0 also included informal activities, such as stunting prevention counseling for mothers and reading and playing sessions for children who were still learning to read.

During the execution of these activities, the Ganesha Expedition 2.0 team encountered several challenges, including high mobility demands, limited access to water, and insufficient transportation infrastructure.

“The challenges we faced during the expedition were high mobility amidst limited access and transportation. However, fortunately, we were warmly welcomed by many new families who accepted us with open arms during this expedition,” said one of the Ganesha 2.0 expedition team members, Dea Nanda.

They hope that through this expedition, they can provide real benefits and bring new hope to the local community.

For more information, visit medium.com/@ekspedisiganesha2024 and Instagram @ekspedisiganesha.

Reporter: Angra Eni Saepa (Urban and Regional Planning, 2021)
Translator: Anggi Nurdiani (Management, 2024)
Editor: Hanifa Juliana (Urban and Regional Planning)