Improving Students' Understanding of Bullying, Violence, and Harassment Prevention in Tourism Learning Environments
Author : Adrianus Ubas, Programme Officer Field Office Sumba
Editor: Firra Kholisha Mustika, Senior Communication
Acts of bullying, violence, and harassment are still found in both social and school environments. The DESMA Center is committed to promoting greater awareness among students, enabling them to recognize and understand these harmful behaviors in order to effectively prevent their occurrence.
Coinciding with the Anti-Bullying Campaign on April 25, 2025, the DESMA Center officially announced the winners of its flyer and video reel competition, which aimed to promote the prevention of bullying, violence, and harassment in tourism education environments.
Participants were students from various Vocational High Schools across Sumba. The best student works were showcased as part of the campaign and will be further disseminated online. Through this initiative, it is hoped that awareness will be raised and concrete actions encouraged, particularly through the publication of digital works aimed at preventing bullying, violence, and harassment within tourism education environments.
This initiative reflects the DESMA Center’s commitment to strengthening human resources in the tourism sector by fostering mutual tolerance, excellence, and competitiveness, with the ultimate goal of creating a better and more inclusive tourism industry.
_______
The Safe Learning Program is part of the TVET for Sustainable Tourism Development in Sumba initiative, supported by MISEREOR/KZE and Kindermissionswerk (KMW), and implemented by the DESMA Center. This youth-friendly school program aims to prevent bullying, violence, and harassment within educational settings, enabling young people to appreciate diversity and contribute to the development of a better tourism industry.
The program includes strengthening: (1) the school management’s capacity regarding the importance of adolescent protection in schools, in accordance with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation No. 46 of 2023 on the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Educational Institutions (PPKSP); (2) the active functioning of the Violence Prevention and Handling Team (TPPK) within schools; and (3) partnerships between tourism Vocational High Schools, government bodies, non-profit organizations, communities, and stakeholders.
The direct beneficiaries of this program are: (1) SMK Pancasila – Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba; (2) SMK Negeri 2 Kota Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba; (3) SMK Bakti Luhur – Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba; (4) SMK Efata – Omba Rade, Southwest Sumba; and (5) SMK Negeri 1 Waikabubak, West Sumba. The program’s direct partners include: (1) The Education and Culture Office of East Nusa Tenggara Province; (2) The Government of Southwest Sumba Regency; (3) The Government of West Sumba Regency; (4) The Tourism Office of Southwest Sumba Regency; and (5) The Tourism Office of West Sumba Regency.
