Jakarta, INTI - The Community Internet School in Toro Village, Kulawi District, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, is helping residents access digital technology to support education, commerce, agriculture, and tourism while raising awareness of online scams.

Established in 2024, the initiative was founded by local youth in collaboration with nonprofit organizations Roa Jaga Roa and Common Room to address limited internet access in rural areas.

Fitri, coordinator of the Community Internet School, said internet connectivity has transformed daily activities in the village, including helping students access digital learning resources without having to travel long distances.

One of the community’s recent activities took place at Alkhairaat Toro Private Islamic Elementary School (MIS Alkhairaat Toro) on October 13, 2026, where students received guidance on safe and responsible internet use.

Local Youth Establish Community Internet School in 2024

The Community Internet School was established through a partnership between Toro Village youth, Roa Jaga Roa, and Common Room.

During the initial phase, eight community organizers received training in internet use, network operations, and cable installation.

Fitri, now 27, admitted that she initially lacked confidence when learning the technical aspects of internet networking. However, her ambition to make Toro a model digital village encouraged her to remain actively involved in developing the initiative.

Before reliable internet access became available, some students had to travel approximately 85 kilometers to Palu to take practical examinations requiring computers or internet connectivity. The journey involved damaged roads and routes through forested areas.

With the development of the village’s internet network, students can now participate in learning activities and examinations without traveling such long distances.

Internet Access Supports Traders, Farmers, and Tourism Businesses

The benefits of the Community Internet School extend beyond education to local economic activities.

Some women who previously sold products door to door have begun using social media and online marketplaces to promote their goods.

Farmers also use the internet to obtain information about planting schedules, fertilizer selection, and agricultural techniques.

In tourism, digital access helps residents introduce Toro Village’s natural attractions and cultural heritage to wider audiences. Internet access has also enabled local mechanics to find technical references for vehicle repairs.

“Even motorcycle repair shop mechanics here sometimes watch YouTube tutorials to learn how to repair motorcycles,” Fitri said.

Despite these improvements, Fitri acknowledged that Toro still needs stronger infrastructure to ensure more equitable connectivity and eliminate areas with little or no mobile signal.

Community Internet School Promotes Online Scam Awareness

In addition to developing internet connectivity, the community organizers have made digital literacy a central priority to protect residents from online abuse and fraud.

Educational activities cover misinformation, safe internet practices, and the dangers of online gambling and scams.

Fitri revealed that several Toro residents suffered combined losses of up to Rp1 billion due to online fraud in 2025. The incidents prompted the community organizers to expand awareness campaigns across different hamlets.

“The education efforts have produced results. In several hamlets we have visited, there have been no further reports of online scam victims,” Fitri said.

Digital literacy activities also target schoolchildren, helping them identify reliable information and avoid harmful online content.

When a power outage occurred in the hamlet where one activity was being held, Fitri and other organizers used the local mosque’s facilities to continue the learning session with laptops and a projector.

Alkhairaat Toro Teachers See Benefits of Digital Learning

Nurlia, a teacher at MIS Alkhairaat Toro, said the Community Internet School has helped educators prepare teaching materials.

Previously, teachers had to visit other villages or travel to Palu to obtain a stable internet connection. Access to the internet now allows them to use a wider range of digital learning resources to support classroom activities.

Nurlia also praised the community organizers for voluntarily providing digital literacy education to students.

“Children can now, to some extent, distinguish between good and bad information,” she said.

Despite the growing use of the internet, the school continues to prohibit students from bringing mobile phones during regular school activities. Digital devices are permitted only for specific learning purposes under teacher supervision.

The school also educates parents about two-factor authentication and parental control applications to help protect children when they access the internet at home.

Central Sulawesi Allocates Rp10.3 Billion to Expand Internet Access to 150 Villages

Wahyu Agus Pratama, head of the Central Sulawesi Provincial Office of Communication, Informatics, Encryption, and Statistics, described Toro Village as an example of digital village development in the region.

He said the Community Internet School aligns with the provincial government’s Berani Berdering program, which aims to expand internet access to remote areas.

In 2026, the provincial government allocated Rp10.3 billion to implement the program, targeting internet coverage for 150 villages throughout the year.

Sigi Regency and Tojo Una-Una Regency have each been allocated coverage for 15 villages, while other regencies have quotas of 12 villages each.

Wahyu explained that the two regencies received larger allocations because they had only recently exited their designation as underdeveloped regions.

He expressed hope that the Community Internet School in Toro would continue empowering residents while supporting the provincial government’s broader efforts to expand equitable digital access.

Conclusion

The Community Internet School in Toro Village demonstrates how grassroots initiatives can bridge the digital divide and empower rural communities. By expanding internet access, promoting digital literacy, and supporting education, agriculture, commerce, and tourism, the initiative creates new opportunities for local development. Combined with the Central Sulawesi provincial government’s efforts to expand connectivity to 150 villages, the program highlights the importance of community collaboration in building a more inclusive and digitally connected society.

Read more: From Makassar to Chiba, Japan, Unismuh Shares Technological Innovations with the Indonesian Diaspora