Speech by Ms Christie Lee, SIF Director, Programmes, at the Closing of Early Childhood Education Projects, in West Java, Indonesia
Ibu Evy Margaretha, Head of Asia Pacific and Africa Subdivision, Planning and Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education,
Ibu Supinah, Vice-Chairperson of PP IGTKI-PGRI,
Dr Fadhilah, Vice-Chairperson of PP IGTKI-PGRI,
Ibu Neti Arimurti, Chairperson of IGTKI-PGRI Jawa Barat,
Distinguished guests, Singapore International Volunteers, and friends,
Selamat pagi (Good morning). It gives me great pleasure to join you here in Bogor for the ‘From Classrooms to Communities: Strengthening Early Childhood Education for a Shared Future’ Symposium and Closing Ceremony.
Today, we celebrate the successful completion of two meaningful projects in early childhood education, and more importantly, the friendships and shared aspirations between Singapore and Indonesia.
At the Singapore International Foundation (SIF), we believe in the power of collaboration at the people-to-people level to effect positive change. These two projects — the Early Childhood Educator Development Project in Jakarta and the Early Childhood Education in Bandung (Phase 2) Project — exemplify what can be achieved when communities from both countries come together in the spirit of collaboration, trust, and mutual learning.
Since 2019, our team of Singapore International Volunteers, or SIVs, has worked hand in hand with Indonesian educators and institutions to strengthen early childhood education, by building educators’ capabilities and enriching the learning experiences of young children. This journey began with SIF’s first ECE initiative in Bandung, and its success went on to inspire two subsequent projects in Greater Jakarta and West Java.
The ECE Jakarta project, supported by our partners at PP IGTKI-PGRI and Presbyterian Preschool Services in Singapore, trained more than 1,000 educators and developed a group of 41 Master Trainers who cascaded their learning with peers. In turn, the project benefited more than 240,000 members of the wider community, and we celebrate the success of this collaboration.
Through this collaboration, educators gained new pedagogical skills in areas such as literacy, numeracy, play facilitation, and family engagement. Many have since gone on to create safe, dynamic classroom environments and adopt eco-sustainability practices inspired by their new knowledge exchanged with the SIVs and what they observed in Singapore schools. We are proud that this collaboration was also the impetus for the establishment of a digital resource repository to support peer learning and ensure that the project’s impact continues to grow across Indonesia for many years to come. The development of this repository through careful curation of resources will go the distance in supporting many educators and we are proud of this successful Singapore-Indonesia partnership.
In West Java, the ECE Bandung (Phase 2) project — co-developed with IGTKI-PGRI West Java and the Singapore University of Social Sciences — trained over 660 educators. This included 18 Master Trainers, who were equipped with advanced skills to train their peers. They were also mentored by Master Trainers from Phase 1, some of whom continued as part of the Phase 2 cohort – reinforcing a strong foundation of peer support. Together with our SIVs, participants explored topics from character education to nutrition and health literacy – preparing themselves to design more holistic learning experiences for young children. This collaboration extended beyond the classroom, actively involving families and communities. In doing so, the project ultimately touched the lives of more than 160,000 people across the region.
Above all, we are encouraged to know that the bonds forged through this collaboration has laid the groundwork for lasting relationships between Singapore and Indonesia. Earlier this week, we were in Malang to close another education project, which focused on training teacher-counsellors. I am so
inspired by the educators in Indonesia – they are so passionate about ensuring their students are well taken care of. These projects have not only strengthened teaching practices but also deepened cross-cultural understanding and trust between Singapore and Indonesia – and this is the very heart of the SIF’s mission.
The success of these projects would not have been possible without the support of our close partners. On behalf of the SIF, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our partners for embarking on this journey with us: PP IGTKI, IGTKI-PGRI West Java, Presbyterian Preschool Services, and the Singapore University of Social Sciences. To all our SIVs and Indonesian educators — we are grateful for your passion, dedication, and openness to learning from, and with, one another.
With Singapore turning 60 and Indonesia marking 80 years this year, today’s celebration is made even more meaningful, as we honour not just our shared milestones, but also shared commitment to shaping a better future together.
Terima kasih dan sampai jumpa. (Thank you and until we meet again.)