Hutaraja Learning House is a learning center located in Ulos Hutaraja Village. It was founded by Damayanti Sinaga as a medium to channel her hobby and passion for teaching English to children.
Besides her hobby and passion, Damayanti aims to help accelerate the development of local human resources in Lake Toba, especially in Samosir. She hopes the community can converse with tourists, particularly as Samosir, especially Ulos Village, is a popular tourist destination often visited by international travelers. Therefore, residents need to speak English to serve foreign guests well.
Students The majority of students at Hutaraja Learning House are elementary school children from Ulos Hutaraja Village. Some also come from outside the village, such as SDN 10 Lumban Suhi-Suhi and SD 22 Lumban Suhi-Suhi. For more than six months, children have been learning English for free, from August 2023 to January 2024. Starting in February 2024, a tuition fee of IDR 50,000 per child per month has been introduced. Currently, around 30 children actively study English, including over 20 elementary school students and five junior high school students.
Classes are held every Monday and Wednesday from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM WIB, with elementary students attending from 3:00 to 4:25 PM and junior high students from 4:30 to 6:00 PM.
Lesson Materials The lesson materials are tailored to daily conversational needs, topic by topic. For example, when discussing the home, all household items are listed in English, and students must memorize the vocabulary. They are also required to construct sentences and read them aloud to improve their pronunciation.
This program helps prepare the younger generation to become guides capable of assisting foreign tourists.
Ulos Hutaraja Village, located within the Toba Caldera Geopark, has been designated a global tourist destination. President Jokowi has even designated Lake Toba as a Super Priority Destination. Therefore, improving local skills, especially English proficiency, is crucial.
The motivation to learn English must be boosted as the world becomes increasingly interconnected. Without proper education, children risk falling behind in terms of communication and access to information, which could lead to a lack of confidence.
Teaching English to children here is a strategic move to enhance critical thinking, competitiveness, and creativity. These skills are essential for handling the demands of a globalized world, especially in a tourism-focused area.
Challenges The main challenges faced include a lack of respect for time and lessons among the children. Despite the free initial classes, many parents were not supportive of their children's learning.
Nevertheless, Damayanti remains committed to maintaining the schedule and continues to engage with parents about the benefits the children have experienced and how the skills can be useful in life.
Limited resources such as books and teaching aids also impact the learning process. However, the core challenge remains the lack of appreciation for education.
Damayanti believes that if children have access to quality education, particularly English skills, they will be able to promote their local tourism industry and even pursue better job opportunities abroad.
This program aligns with the SDGs Goal 4: Quality Education, and Damayanti is committed to continuing it. She aspires to have a dedicated building for teaching children, as the current space belongs to a relative. Additionally, she hopes to establish a learning center in Girsang 1, where she first began teaching English to children.
