NATSIR'S NATURE SCHOOL
Natsir's Early Life
Natsir was born in 1970, and grew up as the oldest of six siblings in a poor family in Tana Toraja. Natsir had to work very hard in the garden, helping his single mother to support their family. He would sometimes miss school to sell vegetables at the market; walking 8km from his village to Makale while carrying the weight of the crops on his back.
Because of the condition of his family, education was not at the reach of all of his siblings. Natsir was one of two siblings to have completed senior high school, and this was only made possible by Natsir’s hard work to support his own education. Everyday he would walk 7km to school, return and then work for his father’s business. This provided Natsir with enough money to continue his schooling.
When Natsir began senior high school it became clear to him that he would not be able to continue his studies at university, however he had a teacher who inspired him with the possibility of speaking English. Marten Rangan spoke of the doors that may open with another language; Natsir’s mind was opened to a world of opportunities and he became intent on learning to speak English.
Natsir's parents couldn't afford to pay for his English course, so he was given the choice to continue studying at senior high school or to learn English. Natsir knew this wasn't an option as he saw both as a necessity to his future, so he sacrificed three weeks of school to go and work in a village 40km away from his home, which earned him enough money to pay for his course and allowed him to continue with his studies at senior high school.
For the next three years Natsir spent his days walking 7km to school and then another 8km to his English course, only to return home at 10pm every night. On his weekends and during his holidays, he would walk over 20km from Makale to tourist attractions in Rantepao, so that he could practice his English with foreigners. He did not let the tiring hours deter his dedication to his education, and it soon paid off!
Sowing the Seeds
Natsir graduated senior high school in 1991 and was immediately offered a teaching job at an English course in Rantepao. He worked there for the next two years, earning a measly thirty-five-thousand rupiah per month.
In 1993, Natsir decided to set up his own English course in Palopo, where he ran classes for the next six months. He then moved back to his hometown and ran an English course in Rembon, where he taught most of his students for free.
Natsir's own experiences and difficulties growing up had shaped his understandings of society, and lead him to view it as unfair to only allow those with money to receive a good education. It is for this reason that Natsir taught most of his students for free, despite needing the money for his own family.
In 1995, Natsir was offered a job with International English Center (IEC), where he worked until 2000.
Meanwhile...
In 1997, Natsir met a Canadian couple in Makale and invited them back to his house. The couple stayed with Natsir's family for the next few days, in which time his selfless heart and wondrous mind became known. They later decided to help Natsir and sponsor his university education.
Natsir asked if he could use the money to set up an official English course in Makale, promising that the money he earnt through the business would go to pay for his university. They agreed.
In 1999, INCA English Course was established. By 2002, Natsir had saved enough money to pay for his university. He studied English for the next four years and graduated as an English teacher in 2006.
Reaping the Crops
Throughout his studies and past his graduation, Natsir continued to teach at INCA English Course until 2010.
Natsir also worked as an honorary teacher at two different government schools from 2005-2009 and 2010-2015.
In 2008, Natsir set up "Little England" which was later renamed to "Natsir's Nature School"; a free English school aimed at empowering children and young adults in his village.
In 2014, Natsir welcomed the first volunteers into his project - until then he had been teaching alone.
Since 2014, Natsir has welcomed over 70 volunteers from around the world, who have helped in Natsir's mission to provide the youth of Tana Toraja with brighter opportunities for their futures.
Natsir's initiatives continue to grow, and he is now working to run tour guide training courses for teenagers and young adults.
In all this time, Natsir has also maintained an organic garden and emphasized the importance of looking after our environment through sustainable living. Natsir tries to incorporate environmental awareness in the English school and has future plans to hold workshops on sustainable alternatives and practices. His focus on environmental sustainability and local empowerment has lead him to promote local craftsmanship, and he has recently begun creating his own bamboo products.
Natsir has dedicated his life to improving the lives of those in his community without asking for anything in return. Consequently, supporting the education of his own children has not been easy. Thanks to the volunteers that Natsir's Nature School has welcomed in the last two years, Natsir has been able to support his family while continuing the work he does for the community.