Despite having only Sundays free, many migrants eagerly participated.
In 2010, Harun pioneered a diploma programme in collaboration with a private college in Singapore. Fifty migrant workers showed interest in pursuing higher education.
“We collaborated with the institution that generously provided free classrooms and teachers for a business course,” Harun explained.
The tuition fee, costing about S$12,000 per year, was waived by the college.
Two cohorts successfully completed the programme. One graduate is now a hotel manager in Central Java; another is an assistant manager in Batam.
“During the interviews, they were immediately hired because they graduated in Singapore,” Harun proudly stated.
However, the programme was halted after several private colleges in Singapore were involved in fraud scandals, making it difficult for many institutions to keep their licences.
Faced with this challenge, Development Singapore began partnering with Ciputra Entrepreneurship Center, an Indonesian philanthropic organisation that aims to create two million entrepreneurs in Indonesia.
This partnership led to more practical, flexible and impactful training in entrepreneurship and skills development, beyond formal education.
