YPBM has approached us to support their vision of establishing a Mentawai Cultural Learning Centre on Mentawai’s largest Island, Siberut. For over 10 years, this Mentawai Foundation has developed a cultural and ecological education program for Mentawai youth. YPBM wish to achieve a self-sustaining level, strengthening the value of Indigenous knowledge, & impacting students and ...
Indigenous Education Foundation
Establishing a cultural education centre in Mentawai
GOAL
$42,000
RAISED
$500
International
12/01/2024 > 31/12/2025
Field of Interest
- Education/training and employment
- International aid and development
Target Population
- Asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and people from CALD backgrounds
- People experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or vulnerability
Indigenous Education Foundation
Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF) is an Australian registered charity supporting Indigenous-led cultural and ecological education programs in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific. IEF partners with Indigenous-led organisations to deliver these programs, which strengthen connection to indigenous language, cultural and ecological knowledge.
Projects and education programs supported by IEF are designed and implemented by Indigenous Peoples themselves, in such a way that each program fosters full respect for Indigenous Peoples and their members’ identity, dignity, human rights, and cultural identity. IEF believes that by being Indigenous initiated and led, communities do not suffer adverse effects during the engagement process. From this starting point, social and economic benefits may be attained.
IEF ensures that all its programs are based on the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples during all phases of the project and campaigns, including the identification, development,
Project Summary
YPBM has approached us to support their vision of establishing a Mentawai Cultural Learning Centre on Mentawai’s largest Island, Siberut. For over 10 years, this Mentawai Foundation has developed a cultural and ecological education program for Mentawai youth.
YPBM wish to achieve a self-sustaining level, strengthening the value of Indigenous knowledge, & impacting students and youth across all Mentawai, whilst empowering teaching and cultural exchange opportunities nationally and across the Asia- Pacific.
Their vision is to establish a Cultural Centre on land situated at Maileppet village to serve as a central hub for students in the region, and gateway for foreigners to enter Mentawai – sensitive to the Indigenous peoples. Aligning to the vision for their community to fortify and protect their cultural knowledge, the centre will support pathways to a self-funded future for their Foundation and their cultural and ecological education program.
In their words “This Cultural Centre is so important for our future. If we do not take the initiative then our culture will be lost and our children & community will be destined for poverty, or worse, disappear… We have seen a really positive impact on our Mentawai community since our program has begun. The program is now running in six different villages and we have over 350 students. We dream of sharing our culture with others, both tourists and other Indigenous communities worldwide. We are looking to the future, knowing that we are becoming stronger every day. This is one step to get us there.”
Project Outcomes
Establishing a Cultural Centre for YPBM provides a central location for Mentawai’s cultural/ecological education and training, managed and developed by the YPBM team. Paying guests visiting Mentawai utilise their onsite ecotourism accommodation services en route to their destination, experiencing the impacts of cultural training through performance of student groups. Funds generated via accommodation, sale of cultural arts and crafts go towards the future growth and sustainability of their cultural/ecological education program, shifting from aid to self-reliance.
Students in the education program also receive certification to obtain future roles as cultural educators within the Mentawai formal school program, which currently has non-Mentawai teachers. To be taught Mentawai culture by future Mentawai Educators is an achievable short to medium term aspiration with lasting impact. The Cultural Centre will provide a central location for major cultural events/performances organised by government departments; e.g. Mentawai Persona Festival.
The Cultural Centre will be equipped with technologies to enable cross-cultural sharing/learning experiences at an international level. Purchase of the land provides space for students to develop a medicinal plant garden for educational purposes and to service health needs for the community.
This project is achieved upon finalising construction of the centre and facilities, purchase and integration of all items to operate. The YPBM Foundation, their ecotourism initiative, and their cultural and ecological education program are also operating and benefiting from within this space week to week. Longer-term, success is measured through increased participation, events, and a shift towards an entirely self-funded Mentawai Foundation and social enterprise.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $57,000
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Private donor (confirmed) | $12,000 |
| Private donor campaign (confirmed) | $3,000 |
| Funding gap (unconfirmed) | $42,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Land purchase - 3/4 ha of land within 15 minutes of the harbour | $12,000 |
| Performance stage - build a Mentawai uma inspired performance stage with back rooms for educational, storage and preparation purposes. | $5,000 |
| Guest accommodation - build 4x small Uma huts for student/guest accommodation (incl. bedroom and bathroom delivering capacity for ecotourism) | $12,000 |
| Cultural equipment - purchase of cultural paraphernalia / musical instruments and equipment for educational and performance purposes, plus a PA, sound system, projector | $7,000 |
| Gallery shop - construction and fit out of a Gallery shop to sell cultural souvenirs etc. that have been crafted by students and members of the community | $3,000 |
| Transportation - purchase of a second-hand Mini bus type vehicle to transport students, guests etc. from harbour, different villages and cultural hubs | $8,000 |
| YPBM Office space - building the YPBM Foundation's Office Space including toilet and office facilities (desks, shelving, desktop computer) | $10,000 |
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