Systems Thinking Training for Students

By: Any Sulistyowati

On 16-18 June 2016, KAIL held a training of Systems Thinking Techniques for some students of Bandung. The training was attended by 19 students from various student organizations in the city. For three days they were guided by a team of trainers and facilitators of KAIL.

The training materials they got were as follows. On the first day they got Systems Thinking Base. On the second day they took the field data and implement the measures that they earned on the first day. On the third day they learnt about mental models and how mental models influenced mapping and analysis system.

In addition to the materials Systems Thinking Techniques, participants were also invited to get to know each other more deeply through the River of Life shared activities, in particular for their own concern. It is hoped that through this activity the awaken friendship will continue as they make changes in the future.

For more information about this event or when interested in getting the training services of the Systems Thinking Techniques from KAIL, please contact kail.infomasi@gmail.com.

translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

Students Bandung Gardening at KAIL House

By: Any Sulistyowati

Thursday afternoon before iftar, June 16, 2016, several dozen students filled holiday in KAIL House. They volunteered gardening at Home KAIL. In this gardening activity, their role was to prepare a bed named "bed student". Unlike the daily activities on campus were using paper and pen, in this day they worked with hoes and sickles. Joy showed in their faces when plowing and hauling the soil, filling the beds with fertile soil, forage and manure.

 KAIL’s garden is designed using the principles of permaculture. Following these principles, the garden is divided into several zones, ranging from zone 0 and 1 which is closest to the house up to zone 5 at the riverside of the most distant from the house. Zone 0 and 1 contain plants that are commonly used, such as vegetables, spices and flowers, while zone 5 contains hardwood and bamboo plants that serve to greening, firewood and barriers to erosion. Among these zones, there are zones 2, 3 and 4, which contains fruit trees, fish pond and ducks.

Before gardening, the volunteers got an explanation of the principles of permaculture. In addition to learning about the zoning, they learnt about healthy agriculture, maintaining the balance of nature and promote local biodiversity. Included in it were free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. They also learnt about the stages of preparation of the land to be conducted in their bed.

They worked vigorously while joking. According to the plan, this bed would be planted after the Eid. Hopefully by then forages and manure would have decomposed into fertile soil. Happy were their faces when they finally finished bed before sunset. Activities ended with group photo. Thanks for the students.

translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

Salted Eggs Feast in KAIL House

By: Any Sulistyowati

Salted Eggs

On Sunday, June 12, 2016 afternoon, KAIL House was filled with sixteen children. Most of them were from Kampung Cigarugak, the village where KAIL House is located. They came to attend Children's Day Learning (Hari Belajar Anak, HBA). HBA activities held regularly every month in KAIL House, the children learn all sorts of interesting and useful things for their lives. This month HBA was a feast of salted eggs. The eggs were made by the children themselves in HBA event last May. After three weeks stored, the salted eggs were ready. Due to coincide with Ramadan, the feast was held as Iftar.

In this activity, children cooked their own salted eggs. They can choose to fry or to boil the salted eggs. The small children were helped by volunteers of KAIL. They cooked alternately in an orderly manner.

Salted eggs are most delicious eaten with rice. For this Iftar, kids can select one or more options of rice, which is the usual is white rice, green beans rice, red rice and corn rice. There were also stir-fried vegetables cooked by Kak Fine, a volunteer of KAIL. Hmmm ... delicious!

The children cooked their salted eggs

Iftar would certainly be more complete with iced fruit cocktail dessert. In this activity, children prepared together their fruit cocktail. Some cut papaya, melon and watermelon and other scraped coconuts. Then, ice was added. Thus, the iced fruit cocktail is fresh and healthy. In order for the whole process of making the cocktail and of cooking salted eggs running smoothly and orderly, the children were divided into four groups. Each group sat around a table and get specific tasks, such as cutting papaya, cut melon, coconut curry etc.

Preparing fruit cocktail for Iftar

Before the cooking, kids could play giant board game together on the lawn. It was a very exciting game. In this game, they were divided into two groups. Each group determined their representation to become the pawns, the ones to jump on the checkered board game. In addition to playing board games, they also listened to Kak Debby telling the story of Bandung from-time-to-time. HBA cannot be possible without the support of KAIL staff and volunteers. Thanks for Kak Fine and Kak Kukuh who were willing to volunteer HBA this time. Also thanks to Kak Debby and Kak Deta who are faithful to accompany the children in each event of HBA. Also Mrs. Melly, coordinator of KAIL House who took time to attend this HBA.

Board game

Hopefully by time HBA events get more and more popular among children and bring benefits to their lives.

Translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

Let’s Systems Thinking!

By: Umiazh

Triangle Idol Games

KAIL held a training of Systems Thinking Techniques (STT) on Saturday, June 4, 2016 in KAIL House. The event started at nine in the morning and lasted for approximately nine hours. Participants of this training came from a variety of backgrounds, including psychology UNIBI, ASF-ID, Energi Persada, Sadagori and Literature Rim ITB. Participants follow a series of STT materials hosted alternately by the facilitators of KAIL.

In the training, participants created groups based on the same background. Furthermore, in a group, participants were taught by each mentor to describe the vision and mission for the next five years based on their organization. Participants assisted with the tools used in ST, such as indicators, Behavior Over Time (BOT), Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) and leverage points.

Materials included logic of cause and effect, indicators that can intervene and composing strategy plan. Participants also did a simulation game that was of course related to the material

Causal Loop Diagram

being studied. One interesting simulation game was a game idol. This game was about simulating interplay indicators and existing loop, anyone who could intervene were to give effect into the loop.

It was expected that after the training participants can apply Systems Thinking Techniques not only in their organizations, but also to apply it in all aspects of life.

The participants and the facilitators

translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan