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Institut Leimena’s 19th Citizenship Education in Luwuk, Central Sulawesi
Institut Leimena held its 19th citizenship education in the Youth Consultation for the Sulawesi Region in Luwuk city, Central Sulawesi province, on July 1st, 2011. The regional consultation was organized by the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) and hosted by the Luwuk Banggai Christian Church (GKLB) Synod. Around 65 youth leaders from 14 church synods across Sulawesi island attended this program.
In this program, the youth leaders from different churches in Sulawesi learned about their roles and responsibilities as members of the church and of the nation of Indonesia. This includes understanding the Bible and Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution as the foundation for active participation in building Indonesia. We also encouraged the participants to start “Citizen Discussion” groups in their congregations as a followup of this education program. We ended the program with a workshop on how to read and analyze legislative bills. This helped the youths to think critically and constitutionally.
For Junindy Modiesta Hontong of the Indonesian Protestant Church of Banggai Isles (GPIBK), this program had motivated him to become a citizen who could think constitutionally in dealing with national issues. While for Adrian W Jew from Christian Evangelical Church of Sangihe Talaud (GMIST), the citizenship education helped transform a rigid mindset to a critical mindset. In addition, he learned the importance of having a solid Constitutional foundation in building an argument.
Here are some of the comments from the participants:
This program is very beneficial for me. In addition to new knowledge, this program also changed my mind … that a young man should think critically, become the salt in the community and the Pioneers-Warriors-Thinkers for our beloved nation. (Abraham Goni, Treasurer of Youth Ministry, Bolaang Mongondow Evangelical Christian Church – Pusian District)
This workshop is very useful for me because it has taught me how to be a citizen involved in the community issues. The dividing wall in my mind as a church activist who considered public affairs as the portion for the parliament only has broken down. Now I’m ready to return to my church and congregation to share with other friends. (Yunus Buana Patiku, Organization Division Head of the Youth Central Executive, Toraja Church)
This program has reminded us that in this world, in the life of nation and state, youth organizations have worked hard and contributed significantly to the change or progress in their nations, especially in Indonesia. As a follow-up, what I can do is to convey to my youth colleagues that in fact we can act to change the disparity around us, provided that we act accroding to the Constitution. This can be done by today’s young generation. (Kamarudin Mangasapu, Head of Youth Ministry, Indonesian Protestant Church of Banggai Isles)
This education is very useful because it gives insight and new experience for me to apply at the church and congregation. Especially the most memorable and rewarding is the “Citizen Discussion”, because this discussion program is good to apply in our congregation. (Delvina Pembeu, Head of Youth and Teenager Ministry, Manado Free Protestant Christian Church)
Programs like this are very useful in building up excellent youths and teenagers. To that end, the same program should be carried out in every church or synod. (Roly Lumi, Head of Synod’s Teenager Ministry, Bolaang Mongondow Evangelical Christian Church)
This program provides fresh air in understanding various issues facing our nation. What I can do as a follow-up is to instill our nation’s founding values in the future generation, especially in our community. This can be done by sharing this information to the public to be understood and used as reference in our national life. (Dondan Langi, Youth Central Executive, Toraja Mamasa Church)