TIF Highlights: March 2026 to May 2026
Quarterly Update
This quarter, our students explored the deep connection between physical vitality and mental well-being, alongside hands-on activities like mangrove planting, a performance art workshop with Evolve Arts, and an outdoor learning session at a Learning Farm. In addition, this quarter marked the launch of our Mobile Learning Program, and Local Teacher Training continued across Bintan and Lingga. The TIF team also welcomed visiting teaching mentors from UWCSEA, Singapore, and participated in BelajaRaya Jakarta, a nationwide event for educators to exchange knowledge and practices. Finally, we pulled together a multi-school TIF Fun Day to encourage cross-school collaboration and celebrate as a community!
As part of our ongoing mission to elevate education across the region, we are thrilled to announce our continued engagement with Dinas Pendidikan Anambas (the Anambas Education Agency).
Building on the incredible success of our programs in Lingga and Bintan, connecting with the Anambas district represents a vital next step in scaling our impact. We look forward to collaborating closely with local government officials to bring teacher capacity-building and student empowerment initiatives to even more island communities in the future.
Learning Centres
Learning Centre Highlights
This quarter, our students embarked on a journey of self-discovery through our “Healthy Mind & Body” unit, where they learned the importance of setting goals and building healthy habits to manage mental fatigue and express their emotions constructively. Class discussions examined the bigger picture of understanding the nuances between mind and mental health, as well as how economic and environmental factors—including eco-friendly practices—can deeply influence our personal wellness.
To bring these concepts to life, the classroom buzzed with hands-on learning experiences, role-playing, and collaborative group discussions. We hope that our students walked away with strengthened self-awareness, deeper empathy, and the resilience to care for themselves and each other.
In Q4, we delivered 621 classes with 932 hours of teaching, engaging 541 students across 13 Learning Centres.
Mangrove Planting
On 19 April, students from our participating Learning Centres rolled up their sleeves and embarked on a mangrove planting excursion. This unique opportunity not only encouraged them to engage directly with nature, but also taught them about the critical role that mangrove ecosystems play in protecting our coastal environments. Before heading into the mud, students were taught the proper techniques to safely plant the seedlings, ensuring their hard work would have a lasting, positive impact on local shorelines.
48 students participated in this wonderful event and walked away with a strengthened understanding of environmental conservation and their personal responsibility to protect our ecosystems.
Evolve Drama Workshop
On 26 April, our community gathered for another highly-anticipated Evolve Arts Workshop! The Evolve Drama Workshop gave students the opportunity to dive into the world of drama and emotional expression. Through engaging, creative activities, students stepped out of their comfort zones to build confidence, hone their communication skills, and explore new ways to express themselves. The interactive setting also provided a wonderful, supportive environment for students to practice their conversational English while having a great time!
We were absolutely thrilled to share this experience with the students’ families. Having parents present not only made the day even more special but also reinforced the importance of family involvement in the learning process. In total, 111 students and 96 parents attended the workshop.
Learning Farm
This April, 101 students had an opportunity to visit the Kebun Reja Nikoi Learning Farm for exciting outdoor learning sessions. Guided by local agricultural experts, students dove into the world of sustainable farming explored the fundamental steps of food production. They participated in making nutrient-rich compost, managing a plant nursery, and carefully planting new crops—an immersive experience away from traditional textbooks that fostered a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship and sustainable living.
Teacher Training
Local Teacher Training Updates
This quarter, we organized four Local Teacher Training (LTT) sessions across the Lingga and Bintan districts. These programs are designed to elevate teaching quality, empower local educators, and build student-centered classrooms. Thanks to cost-sharing partnerships with the Office of Teachers and Education Personnel, we successfully delivered comprehensive capacity building workshops with an incredible 100% attendance rate of 190 teachers across all four cohorts! This included an intensive 6-day program on remote Tambelan Island, where 34 teachers participated despite geographical challenges and limited accessibility.
Together with our partners, we strive to ensure that every teacher—no matter how remote their classroom—has the tools and support they need to help their students thrive.
Mobile Learning
This quarter marked the launch of our Mobile Learning Program, with four Orang Laut Field Learning Assistants joining the team to support delivery across participating communities. The assistants travelled to Bintan for training and onboarding with TIF’s wider learning program team, building their skills and confidence before returning to the field. As the program becomes more established, we are also seeing growing support from parents and community leaders, with families increasingly encouraging children to participate and communities and Elders helping to shape how learning is delivered locally.
Community Engagement
TIF Fun Day
For this year’s annual TIF Fun Day, we reimagined how we celebrate as a community. While past events were hosted separately at individual schools, we decided to take a leap of confidence and bring together students from multiple schools for one massive, shared celebration this year.
And what a spectacular success it was! 196 students and 28 teachers brought their A-game; preparing for and competing in a range of activities including a bazaar and craft, quiz and dance competitions. This new approach encouraged cross-school collaboration, sparked new friendships, and fostered a deep sense of collective community.
We couldn’t have done it without our partner schools, who combined their time and effort to make the event an overwhelmingly positive one, creating a fantastic format for future events.
Community Service Learning
In March, three university student interns from UMRAH joined the TIF team under our new Community Service Learning (CSL) Program.
Two students supported the Learning Centre pilot program at Sialang School, while the third supported research and data collection activities in Kawal Laut for a new upcoming Learning Centre. In addition to their primary assignments, all three regularly supported Learning Centre classes throughout their attachment.
Not only were the students a great help to the team, but they also gained valuable practical experience in education, community engagement, research, and program implementation. Overall, the students expressed their satisfaction and appreciation for this unique opportunity to learn, contribute, and engage directly with the communities we serve.
We look forward to welcoming the second batch of CSL student interns in August!
UWCSEA Mentors Visit
In April, we were delighted to welcome 7 teacher mentors from UWCSEA to our Learning Centres across villages. The mentors observed classes, participated in learning activities, and engaged directly with our facilitators. The visit provided them with a deeper understanding of the local communities and contexts in which our programs operate, and provided a platform for the meaningful exchange fresh insights, practical guidance, and renewed inspiration to strengthen teaching practices. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from the UWCSEA mentors and support the continued professional growth of our facilitators.
BelajaRaya Jakarta
On 2 May, TIF participated in BelajaRaya Jakarta, a major education event in Jakarta organised by Belajaraya and Semua Murid Semua Guru (SMSG) that brought together diverse educational communities, organisations, and practitioners from across Indonesia. The event was a melting pot ofknowledge and fresh perspectives, giving our team newideas and methods that could be adapted to strengthen our ƒs. We also had the opportunity to facilitate a mini learning session, where 30 participants experienced firsthand how we create engaging and meaningful learning experiences for students in our Learning Centres.
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