Jakarta-based freelance journalist Syamsudin Ilyas believes that journalism is crucial to helping children develop their creativity, sharpen their critical thinking skills and build character.

Armed with this belief, the alumnus of the Antara School of Journalism founded Kelas Jurnalis Cilik (little journalists class) in 2018. The program provides a free journalism course for underprivileged children in Kalibaru district of Cilincing, North Jakarta.

The course is designed to match the skills level of the participants, who range from elementary to junior high school students, and is four months long.

The first month introduces the children to writing and the principles of journalism, which is then followed by basic photography in the second month. In the third and fourth months, they are sent on an “assignment” around the neighborhood, during which they are free to write stories and take the accompanying photographs, putting in practice everything they have learned.

Several other journalists have joined the program as volunteer instructors, including Mast Irham from the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA) and Adek Berry from Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Syamsudin’s introductory course also covers the 5W and 1H of journalism, referring to what, where, when, why, who and how, as well as lighting and angles in the photography segment.

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