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Go and Share the Good News to All Nations: Three ITC Graduates Share What They Are Doing Now

The Kingdom of God, His church, and Christian schooling are growing exponentially throughout Asia, and the need for well-trained Christian teachers who know, believe, and teach from a consistent and coherent biblical framework is critical. Universitas Pelita Harapan’s International Teachers College (UPH-ITC) was founded in 2014 to equip future educators, from a distinctively Reformed theological framework, to serve as teachers in schools within Indonesia and globally. Over the past 9 years, UPH-ITC has become a “beacon” of excellence which draws students from 20 countries across five continents and a “cradle” of training which forges them into future educators who possess outstanding teaching and research skills, global mindset and a heart of service.  

To date, ITC has produced a total of 156 alumni who went on to make impactful contribution to the development of education and communities in their local countries, to glorify God through their works and become a blessing to the nations through the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is also worth mentioning that even those who failed to finish due to English ability, family situations, political strife, the rigor of the program, or finances have gone on to careers in education and credited their attendance at ITC as playing a pivotal role in their success. 

At ITC, students are exposed to many different cultures and educational systems, while studying in English, and living in a safe and comfortable environment. The caring and supportive Christian residential community helps them grow in their knowledge and faith as they prepare themselves for service as Christian educators in schools around the world. 

This article highlights the journey and endeavor of three ITC alumni who are serving in different parts of the world. They shared their memorable college experience, how ITC prepared them for their careers today, and the challenges they encountered on the ground.  

Gita Lama - Promise Bilingual School, Banepa, Nepal 

Born and bred in Nepal, Gita was part of ITC’s first batch (2014) of students. When she first came to Indonesia, she found the culture, food, and environment to be markedly different than that of her home country. While overwhelmed at first, she was able to overcome the culture shock and homesickness thanks to the support of loving and caring ITC faculty and staff. She especially enjoyed going to the chapel and church, where she could get to know many Indonesian friends.   

Upon graduation, she taught for four and a half years at a Christian school in Pokhara, Nepal, and then obtained her master’s degree in English Language Teaching (ELT) from Kathmandu University. She is now a principal of Promise Bilingual School, a new school in Banepa (about 25 kms east of the capital Kathmandu) established under the auspices of Australia-based Transform the Nations (TtN).  

Her responsibilities also include teaching English at the nursery-K-7 school with five teachers and a first batch of 50 students from different religious, caste and ethnic background. About a quarter of the students come from impoverished families, with many of them orphans from the nearby orphanage which the school partners with. 

“The greatest challenge is to change the mindset and expectation. Nepalese students are used to the traditional chalk-and-talk approach instead of a student-centered approach. We try to use the latter method as much as possible whenever the lesson content allows. It is very impactful because students become more eager to learn; they are more active, inquisitive, and engaged. This is what makes our school different,” said Gita. 

There is also another tricky problem concerning the teaching of Christianity in the Hindu-majority Nepal as the country ban and criminalize religious conversion. “What we do is we try to teach Christian values and morals indirectly during the assembly sessions using metaphors, parables or analogies drawn from the Bible based on the theme of the month, for example about fruit of the Spirit ― love, joy, peace, kindness, generosity, et cetera.” 

Dennis Ochieng Juma - Horizon Christian School, Oregon, USA   

Hailing from Nairobi, Kenya, Dennis enrolled at ITC in 2016 after he learned about the opportunity from his church. He had fond memories of UPH Festival which he said helped him to settle into the lively, diverse, and warm community of UPH. He also appreciated the vibrant dormitory life which provided exciting opportunity to interact with individuals from more than 15 different countries.  

In addition, ITC provided him with comprehensive training and international certificate which allowed him to work in Christian schools anywhere in the world. He learned a lot about effective teaching methods, lesson planning and curriculum development. However, in his view, the most significant emphasis was placed on the art of adapting to diverse situations, cultures, and environments. This approach enables him to tailor a curriculum that aligns with that specific cultural context and integrate Christianity naturally into the teaching-learning process, without having to impose it on the students. “I find that leading by example through my faith and character is also a significant part of my teaching approach, allowing me to demonstrate the values I seek to instill,” he said. 

After graduation, he went to teach at a school in Myanmar. However, in early 2021, the military launched a coup, plunging the country into a period of conflict. As a result, students frequently missed school, and since classes were conducted online, it was difficult to maintain student motivation and engagement. Some students would be absent for months, which presented a formidable challenge.  

In 2022, he landed a teaching position in the United States. He is now the head of the mathematics department, instructing courses in mathematics and Bible, science, and physical education (primarily as a soccer coach). The school, situated in the picturesque town of Hood River, Oregon, has approximately 300 students, comprising sixteen well-equipped classrooms for interactive learning.  

In America, however, he encountered a different set of challenges, notably the lack of intrinsic motivation among students. “Unlike in developing countries in Asia and Africa, students in first-world countries such as the US often fail to recognize and appreciate the privilege they have. They tend to take education for granted,” he observed.  

Thomas Ferdinand Harefa - Life International School, Sihanoukville, Cambodia 

Balikpapan-born Thomas is an ITC alumnus of class 2018. In fact, teaching was not his original passion. But after his initial plans for college/university did not work out due to unforeseen circumstances, his career counsellor suggested ITC as an alternative option for him to consider after noticing his potential. Inspired by his grandfather, who was a school principal in Nias, he eventually decided to enroll. “Within a few months of enrolment at the ITC, Jesus made it clear beyond any shadow of doubt that I was called to teaching.” 

He said the highlight of his college experience was living with fellow students from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. “I still vividly remember the scent of exotic spices from different continents permeating every corner of our rooms every day. On Mondays, we would feel like we were warped to Nepal, Tuesdays to China, Wednesdays to Kenya, and so on,” he reminisced. “It was that exposure to myriad of cultures that helped make me to be far more inclusive, accepting, and hospitable to my brothers in Christ.” 

Thomas is now the secondary school principal of Life International School, a K-12 Christian private international school in the coastal city of Sihanoukville. When he started out as an English teacher, he was instrumental in the school’s Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) accreditation process. Together with the school committee, he managed to help it earn the recognition as the first ACSI-accredited school outside of the capital Phnom Penh. In acknowledgement of his hard work and competency, he was appointed principal of the secondary school in February 2021, overseeing a dozen teachers and close to a hundred students. He is currently working toward a master’s in educational leadership from Liverpool John Moores University, expecting to graduate in early 2024. 

“ITC has equipped to be a better leader through the genuine relationships I have fostered with my peers, lecturers, and mentors. Yes, living and working abroad can be tough, but through ITC God has given me the ability to serve wholeheartedly,” said Thomas.  

Because the Cambodian government forbids schools to create curriculum/subjects that favour a certain religion, the school has shifted from Bible Studies to a more inclusive Biblical Philosophy class. “In elementary school they call it ‘character/values education’; in secondary school we call it ‘Foundational and Formational Studies’. Yes, Cambodia can be a difficult mission field, but the Lord is at work here!”