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On March 5th, 2011, in cooperation with the Christian Foundation for Student Welfare (YKKM), Institut Leimena’s Center for Policy Analysis (CEPA) held its 11th Civic Education training program at Wisma Sejahtera, Bandung (West Java). The training discussed the basics of Public Policy Analysis. 30 college students and alumni came from various universities in Bandung, including Padjadjaran University, Bandung Institute of Technology, Parahyangan University, Maranatha Christian University, and Bandung Graduate School of Theology. They were also involved in various campus ministries such as Perkantas, LPMI, GMKI and PMK (Fellowship of Christian Students). Indonesian Christian Students Movement (GMKI) in Bandung, headquartered in Wisma Sejahtera, made this event as their training program and sent many members to join it.
Tobias Basuki (Institut Leimena) started the sessions by explaining the importance of idea, such as that shown in the Youth Pledge in 1928. Although Indonesia didn’t yet exist, the youths already had the idea about the unity of Indonesia. The strength of these idea had brought the nation’s leaders in the past to act. The ideas about the role of Christians in the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia have been exemplified and taught among others by Dr. Johannes Leimena, which inspired the founding of the Institut Leimena. Leimena Presdent Jakob Tobing encouraged the young participants to study the amended 1945 Constitution as the basis for public policy analysis. He emphasized that all laws and regulations in Indonesia must be in line with our Constitution. Thus, the involvement of Christians in the public sphere in Indonesia is not to defend the interests of Christians only, but the entire nation of Indonesia, where Christians are a part of. The concept of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia was also described in connection with the regional autonomy and religious freedom in our country. Discussions with participants was also a very interesting part. Budi H. Setiamarga, Director of Leimena Center for Policy Analysis helped the participants to understand their calling as responsible citizens, by reminding them of their double citizenship (of Indonesia and of the Kingdom of God). The two are inseparable. Christians’s role in public sphere is to love others for the glory of the heavenly Father.
The participants were also trained to form a self-study group to learn the Constitutional principles, using a case study on the Civil Organizations Law (Law No. 8 of 1985). Participants were invited to read and criticize this law in the framework of our Constitution. This exercise was to help the students better understand our Constitution and how it should be implemented through other laws. In the workshop session, they also learned to hold a “Citizen Discussion” group, using the discussion material on the Acceleration of Development in Disadvantaged Areas (PPDT). In this “Citizen Discussion”, they were asked to figure out the causes of disadvantaged areas in Indonesia and what the government should do. They were also challenged to think about what role they could play to help accelerate the development of these disadvantaged areas. With this civic education program, we hope the youths will be better prepared to contribute positively for the future of Indonesia, so that Christians can be salt and light for the nation.
