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21st Institut Leimena Citizenship Education in Bandung, West Java
“We have lost faith in the government. Can Christians really make an impact in such a situation?”
“Can one spoon of salt make an impact on a big drum of water?”
“How can we create youths who love their nation when we have faced so many injustices?”
These questions were put forth by the participants. Their faces showed their anxiety, disappointments and doubt – Could they really do something for this nation?
They are a group of Christian youths meeting together under Yayasan Pembinaan dan Pelayanan Alumni Kristen (YPPAK – Foundation for development and alumni Christian service). These youths are the participants of the 21st Citizenship Education held with the cooperation of Institut Leimena and YPPAK at the hall of Sekolah Kristen Yahya Bandung (a Christian school), on 19th August 2011. They came from a few areas in the archipelago: Ambon, Kupang, Palu, Manado, Medan, Jayapura, Biak, Bogor, and Bandung.
Through the activities in the citizenship education, Institut Leimena invited the participants to ponder the notion of Indonesia as a nation. Participants were asked to tread on the ideas of Johannes Leimena about responsible citizenship, delve into the aspirations of Indonesia, understand the amendments in the 1945 Constitution and the program finally ended with 2 sessions of workshop.
These youths followed every session with much enthusiasm. They were not hesitant to express their opinion or pose questions. In these two workshop sessions, namely “Exposition to Article 32 of the 1945 Constitution” and “Learning to think in a constitutional manner: Discussing the Zakat Management bill”, the participants were having fun discussing and afterwards presenting the results of their analysis to one another.
Another interesting matter from this 21st Citizen Education was the presence of a teaching team consisting of 7 members. The trainers tried to apply an active learning method, whereby the participants are involved as much as possible in every session. This method was enthusiastically received by the participants. A lively atmosphere was built up throughout the citizenship education activities.
At the end of the activities, each participant wrote about how they have benefited from the program and their future plans. Had their disappointment turned into sympathy? Had anxiety turned into hope? Were the flames of desire to build up the nation beginning to light up? Take a look at some of the impression of the participants below:
Not acting pessimistically or being apathetic but wanting to be involved and become the salt and light to this nation. Love, loyalty and obedience cannot, and should not be missing in a person in order to care and obey God. (Halen Imang – Kupang, NTT, Training team honoree, active in the service of perkantas Kupang)
I understand that I was not placed here in this nation by chance; meaning something needs be done (Frans Rumene – Papua, serving in GMKI and GKI)
This program opened my mind about the fact that this country can change and this change cannot be brought about by just following the government. The change begins with myself. (Julianti Stefana Sinaga – Medan)
I was inspired to review the rules in my work field (environmental engineering) and started to initiate friends with the same vision and profession to carry out citizenship discussion and discuss the addition of other important rules to our field. (Irene B Batoarung – Bandung)
From a few of the feedback by the participants above, the determination and burning passion of the participants to contribute and build the nation is apparent! All praise and thanks we give up to Him for the implementation of the 21st Citizenship Education in Bandung. May He keep our fire burning!