Students in a remote school in Oebola village, 70 kilometers east of Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara, got to learn through writing in an entirely new way from September 14 to 16.

More than 90 students documented their activities at school and home using the journalism skills they learned through a training held by Plan International Indonesia.

The students came from grades four to six in elementary school and grades eight and nine in junior high school. They learned basic journalism and the craft of writing poems and short stories. Then they learned how to assemble the stories and make a school magazine. 

The judges, led by Benny, a teacher at Satu Atap Oelbeba junior high school, picked four best student works. The winners received trophies and certificates.

The principal of Satu Atap Oelbeba elementary school, Simeon Nuban, said the basic journalism training, whose aim was to encourage students to write as early in their schooling as possible, would encourage the students’ self development.

“In just three days the students have been able to write news pieces using the basics of journalism. [This experience] will encourage students to hone their writing craft,” Nuban said .