S3.C18. Awakening Change: Education First in Bali
Real Life Discussion - Documentary
What began as a conversation about a bootcamp has grown into something much more: a shared vision to reimagine what education can look like in Bali—rooted in curiosity, mindset development, and inclusive transformation. Our recent dialogue with Mr. Putu has clarified that this journey isn’t just about organizing an event—it’s about sparking a movement that reaches students, teachers, and parents alike - all building the ecosystem!
At the heart of this initiative is a pilot bootcamp proposed for early August, designed not just as an experiential activity, but as a symbolic and practical launchpad for the school’s long-term evolution. This bootcamp will test a new rhythm of learning—one that blends self-discovery, storytelling, challenge-based tasks, and community involvement. As we shape this experience together, our collective goal is not just to run a program but to create momentum for deeper educational reform led from within.
To complement the bootcamp, we are also upgrading one of our core programs—“A Story a Night”—with a sharper evaluation model and more intentional growth pathways. By May 15, we will assess participant performance and host a discussion on May 16 to categorize students into three levels of engagement:
Level 1 (Beginner) focuses on developing consistency in thought and presence, starting with meaningful contributions to public reflections like the article
A Window Into Summer Voices. Strong examples have already emerged from members like Arry and Rany.
Level 2 (Intermediate) includes students actively engaging on both the Question Board and Substack, showing not just participation but also evolving clarity of expression.
Level 3 (Advanced) is where we identify future Champions—students demonstrating leadership potential and capable of anchoring new experiments. These individuals are encouraged to engage with more complex readings like The Researcher’s Mind to stretch their critical thinking further.
The evaluation will be based on four dimensions: consistency in weekly sessions, depth of Substack reflections, quality of homework, and a 360° review from peers and facilitators. We’ve also encouraged a culture of motivation by recommending that feedback and scores be printed and made visible in school spaces—a tangible reminder that growth is recognized and celebrated.
As we reviewed our shared roadmap, Mr. Putu paused to commend DAV79 on the depth and clarity of the mindset reports already generated by the team
“I read it yesterday and find it very interesting. Thank you so much. I see this is not only about academic achievements but how the student grows as a person. I like how it is really tailor-made and the use of metaphor makes it really engaging to read. Well done team!”
“That’s the work from LIN91 , SAHN and our ambassadors WYBIE and JFP - It would be great to print out the report after each session and pin it on your dashboard, Mr. Putu—it’ll help motivate the kids and make their progress visible,” suggested DAV79.
Parallel to student development, the initiative also places strong emphasis on teacher empowerment. To support this, we’ve suggested a reading series on Global Citizenship, starting with articles like What Does Global Citizenship Really Mean? These reflective resources are intended to help teachers reconnect with the purpose behind their pedagogy, re-energize their delivery, and prepare them for a more dynamic, discussion-based learning model.
Equally important is the role of parents, who must be brought in not as spectators but as participants in this shift. We are currently running challenges that families can engage in together, and we propose organizing a Parent Orientation Talk around May 16. Through stories, insights, and collaborative exercises, we aim to show parents that mindset growth at home is as critical as what happens inside classrooms. Resources like Raising Thinkers and facebook activities such as Storytelling Experiments for Parents offer simple yet powerful entry points.
Currently, SMPN7 Singaraja serves about 400 students and 25 teachers—a community ripe with potential. Much progress has already been made:
15 students have already been introduced to the new mindset-first model, thanks to Mr. Putu’s initiative.
We are in the process of building a Champions group, who will participate in Saturday EXPOs to demonstrate and deepen their learning.
The teacher forum and parent engagement strategies are underway, with the bootcamp acting as a unifying platform to bring these groups together. Mr Putu suggested he could bring in a few of the teachers and he was already working on the parent community.
Plans are also being laid for a school-wide evaluation system (LMS) to help track progress and keep the transformation measurable and sustainable.
What stands out most in all of this is not just the strategy—but the spirit behind it. Mr. Putu’s commitment is not performative; it’s personal. His leadership is not about waiting for ideal conditions, but about starting now—with what’s in hand, with whoever is ready, and with full belief that transformation begins at the level of mindset.
This isn’t just a plan. It’s a quiet revolution in motion. And together, we’re planting seeds that will one day become forests of change.
And if Bali’s classrooms are going to evolve to lead global education, it will be because people like Mr. Putu dared to lead with belief instead of waiting for conditions to be perfect.