Article Review Form

Name
: Nurul Fadhila Izhar
Student number : 1306447000
Faculty
: Environmental Engineering
Jungle School: Volunteers Bring Alternative Education to
Marginalized Communities
The title of this article has fascinated me from the first time I read. The title of
this article is Jungle School: Volunteers Bring Alternative Education to Marginalized
Communities. It was written by Butet Manurung, and has been translated and
edited by Blair Palmer. This article talks about Sokola Rimba, the first jungle in
Indonesia. Its located in Bukit Duabelas National Park, Jambi. This organization that
run by volunteers is offers education and support to the people from isolated or
indigineous groups who is do not attend school, due to their distance from schools,
the costs involved, or their nomadic lifestyle. Sokola Rimba itself is unlike formal
school which has a permanent building, but only in the form of huts sometimes
move its location. To be able to teach the Orang Rimba was not that easy. Initially,
there was resistance from them due to consider literacy (education) is not part of
their culture, but the culture of outsiders. Convincing Orang Rimba that education is
required in order not to be treated unfairly and continue to oppressed by the canal
beyond. Its pretty hard for the volunteers while doing his job when Orang Rimbas
mindset is education is not important at all. Orang Rimba didnt trust the outsider
because they thought that the outsider is a destroyer for their home, for their forest.
That is why the volunteers have to be very care and understand to Orang Rimba.
Time flies, the volunteers kept teaching Orang Rimba, and slow but sure Orang
Rimba became more enthusiast in studying. Orang Rimba has been prepared to
face some problems, one of the problem is illegal logging. And now, this Sokola
Rimba has became nationals attention and has been spreading to other areas.
Then, the long term-dedication volunteer got another problem, money. In some
areas, the government has modernized the lifestyle of the indigineous groups, but
the groups did not stay for a long time. So, we know that Sokola RImba is just a
committed group of volunteers. But the need for the kind of education we provide is
very great.
With this article, the writer want to open the readers eyes widely about the
people who lived very traditionally, people whom live in the rainforests of Sumatera.
And also about Sokola Rimba, the issue they have to face. Tribal people who is need
education for their rights and they are not just some naked primitive who are
uneducated. And by this article, it increase our awareness and solidarity to our
environment.

I think this article is very good. Even it is quite long, but I still enjoy and
interested with the topic. This article shows us an excellent example of how a small
number of individuals can effect change. It also provides a detailed explanation
regarding how and why there is Sokola Rimba. And this article doesnt need any
addition. Because it is already complete with the issue, the struggle, the process,
the fight and the result.