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IL News 008/2013
46th and 47th Citizenship Education
West Seram, Maluku, May 13th – 16th, 2013
“GPM Church in Neniary village, West Seram, Maluku”
A simple white wooden building stood on the roadside of Neniari, a small village on Seram island in Maluku province. In front of it, there’s a sign written “Betel”. It was the first worship place of the Maluku Protestant Church (GPM) congregation in Neniari village. Behind it, a new church building was under construction and would eventually replace it.
The simple wooden building used to occupy the new church location. Since the congregation wanted the new church to be built on the same old location, they literally carried together the wooden building and moved it to the roadside. Then they built themselves the new building, while keeping the wooden one for temporary worship place. They did all this voluntarily and joyfully.
“Citizenship Education in Neniari village for the West Seram Class of GPM Church.”
The practice of helping one another is a culture of Maluku people, called ‘Masohi’. It’s not bounded by religions. Local communities have long been accustomed to helping one another to solve problems together. This is the culture of “gotong-royong “ (mutual help), which the first president Soekarno referred to as “a genuine Indonesian word”.
Since the 1945 Constitution’s amendments in 1999-2002, citizens cooperation to address public issues is becoming increasingly important, because the people’s sovereignty has been reinstituted. Reflecting on the local culture such as ‘Masohi’, our people still have the social capital to build Indonesia together. “Gotong-Royong Nation!”, said Soekarno.
Building the citizens’s awareness and capacity to address public issues was the main focus of the Citizenship Education on May 13th to 16th, 2013, in Neniari and Tihulale villages, West Seram district of Maluku province. It’s a partnership between the Leimena Institute and the Maluku Protestant Church (GPM).
“Participants of Citizenship Education in Tihulale village for the Kairatu Class of GPM Church.”
Dozens of pastors, church elders and activists in each region participated in the program. The Leimena team was accompanied by the leaders of each Class (regional synod): West Seram Class Chairman Rev. Nick Rutumalessy and Secretary Rev. George Likumahwa, and Kairatu Class Chairman Rev. Jan Matatula and Secretary Rev. Adriana Lohy. Mrs. Yos Sigerz of the church’s Central Synod was also in the team.
The simple wooden building became the venue for the Citizenship Education in Neniari village. The story behind this church reminded us that Indonesian people are not necessarily greedy and selfish, as often displayed in the news. It’s time for the people to raise the awareness, conviction, and capacity to work together to build Indonesia. A valuable lesson from Seram island, warmly called by the locals as ‘Nusa Ina’, the mother island.
Comments from the Citizenship Education participants in Neniari and Tihulale villages:
“It opened our horizon as church members with the responsibility in political sphere.” (Rev. Adriana Lohy, Secretary of GPM Church’s Kairatu Class)
“Very useful. It inspired me to improve the situation through the Citizens Discussion program.” (Amelia D. Lopulalan, GPM Church “Lumoly”)
“What I will do: form discussion groups in my congregation to raise the awareness as responsible citizens in one nation.” (Rev. Will Mirpley, GPM Church “Eti”)