Activities

Initiation phase of DESMA Center activity, Strengthening of Tourism Vocational Schools (SMK Pariwisata) in Sumba Barat Daya District (SBD), marked by the series of meetings with key stakeholders of to tourism vocational schools in Sumba Barat Daya and Kupang.

This two-year activity which received generous funding of the William & Lily Foundation (WLF) and Adaro Bangun Negeri Foundation was commenced by a coordination meeting with SMK Pancasila Tambolaka and SMKN 2 Tambolaka–SBD. The selection of the two vocational schools as beneficiaries has been through administration assessments, nomenclature and resources owned by the SMKs. 

During the meeting, DESMA Center introduced the program focus on enhancing school management quality, productive teachers of tourism study programs and industrial work practices of the students of the assisted SMKs, and developing tourism business units in assisted SMKs; including boosts of the relation between beneficiaries: two SMKs and the districts government, tourism associations and tourism industry. SMK Pancasila and SMKN 2 Tambolaka positively welcomes this program as their schools were selected by DESMA Center to be the partners of this program.

The meeting with tourism industry representatives also has been conducted with Sinar Tambolaka Hotel, Ella Hotel, Sumba Sejahtera Hotel, Pasola Hotel, Oro Beach Houses, Newa Sumba Resort, Redemptoris Villas, Gula Garam Warung, Eat First Restaurant, Sirkey Cafe, Kitchen Sumba, Bilbo Tour & Travel and Sumba Adventure; meetings with tourism associations: DPD ASITA of NTT Province, DPD PHRI of NTT Province, DPC PHRI of SBD and Tourism Village Associations of SBD. During the meetings, it was discussed about the two-year program that would be carried out by DESMA Center. The industry representatives stated their support towards this Strengthening of Tourism Vocational School program.

Furthermore, DESMA Center team also conducted meeting with the Sumba Barat Daya District Tourism Office and the Sumba Barat Daya District Planning, Research & Development Agency (BP3D) aims to coordinate the program. The SBD tourism office and BP3D welcomes to synergy in order to support the program for strengthening the tourism vocational school in SBD.

DESMA Center SBD team also carried out the coordination meeting with the head of District SBD, dr. Kornelius Kodi Mete. In the audience, DESMA Center team informed the district about the strengthening of tourism vocational school ecosystem program. The head of SBD district welcomed and stated that he would provide fully support to WLF and DESMA TVET program in SBD.

DESMA Center Jakarta and SBD team also conducted a meeting with the NTT Provincial Education & Culture Office. The team was welcomed by the Head of Office, Mr. Linus Lusi Making, S.Pd., M.Pd., Head of Secondary Education Mr. Mathias M. Beeh, MM, and their team. The Education & Culture Office of the Province of NTT expressed their support and were ready to be synergized for the program conducted by DESMA Center in the context of strengthening Tourism Vocational Schools in SBD. The office stated that program implemented by DESMA Center is in line with the government program to reinforce the tourism industry through the strengthening of vocational education system in Sumba Barat Daya. This will also support the NTT Provincial Education Office program which is currently innovating for the development of Tourism Vocational Schools.