Multicultural program for children launched<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Bartol and Sam, both 12 years old, are children
\nof Kanum ethnic group living around Rawa Biru (Blue Swamp) in
\nMerauke, Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
One day, while fishing at the swamp, they accidentally crossed
\nan area known as Sasi.<\/p>\n
Sasi is a Kanum tribal mourning tradition signified by
\nplunging a marker in the swamp around which people are forbidden
\nto fish for two to three years.<\/p>\n
The boys got frightened as local lore has it that those who
\nbreak Sasi law will be punished, or worse, be haunted by the
\nmonster Meriyam.<\/p>\n
The dispute was resolved after Sam's family apologized to
\nthe mourning family.<\/p>\n
That was the script of one of the shows for a new children's
\ntelevision series titled Pustaka Anak Nusantara (Indonesian
\nChildren's Book) which will be aired on private TV station SCTV
\nand state-owned TVRI starting on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The show, produced by the Visi Anak Bangsa working group
\n(KKVAB), is meant to be a peek into the daily lives of children
\nfrom different ethnic groups across the country.<\/p>\n
\"It's part of our multicultural campaign program. It's aimed
\nat showing our children how rich our country is,\" noted film
\ndirector Garin Nugroho who also a member of KKVAB told
\njournalists at the official launch of the program at Taman Mini
\nIndonesia Indah (TMII) on Monday.<\/p>\n
Beside the television series, Garin said, they would also
\npublish a cultural encyclopedia and video compact disc.<\/p>\n
\"Many children don't know what their peers are doing in
\ndifferent provinces. So through this program, children will
\nhopefully understand different cultures, respect them and finally
\nbe proud of their country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
This is especially relevant at this juncture when this country
\nis threatened by disintegration, he added.<\/p>\n
The program was officially launched by Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri who was accompanied by Minister of National
\nEducation Yahya Muhaimin and Minister of Culture and Tourism I
\nGde Ardika.<\/p>\n
Some 200 school children also came to the launching to watch
\nthe preview of the television series.<\/p>\n
According to Garin, there will be 32 episodes in line with the
\nnumber of provinces in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"We've been doing this for seven months. So far, there are
\nonly 15 episodes that have been finished,\" he said, adding that
\nthere are some 150 people involved in the project.<\/p>\n
According to Garin the project is being funded by food
\nproducer Indofood, with a production cost of around Rp 175
\nmillion (US$18,420) per episode.<\/p>\n
KKVAB has been active in a campaign of civic education. They
\nhave produced non-commercial public service advertisements
\nincluding for the 1999 election.<\/p>\n
They also have produced a similar television series Anak
\nSeribu Pulau (Children of Thousand Islands) in 1996 which was
\nsimultaneously aired on all television channels.<\/p>\n
\"Now, we only chose two stations because I think people have a
\nright to decide what show they wish to see,\" Garin said.<\/p>\n
He added that foreign countries have shown a strong interest
\nin Indonesian children's shows.<\/p>\n
\"Singapore and Australian TV stations have bought the Anak
\nSeribu Pulau series. Therefore, we want to be more active in
\ndistributing this program including asking the Minister of
\nNational Education to distribute the VCD and encyclopedia to
\nschools all over the country,\" Garin said.<\/p>\n
Children who saw the preview of the new series seemed ecstatic
\nabout the show.<\/p>\n
Kiki, 9, looked very sad when Sam was ostracized by Bartol and
\none of the members of the mourning family.<\/p>\n
\"Poor him, but I like the show,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Alif, 5, seemed so happy with the adventures of
\nBartol and Sam that he laughed, shouted and clapped during the
\npreview.<\/p>\n
\"Mama, how come we've never been to Irian?\" he asked his
\nmother who sat beside him.<\/p>\n
\"It's very far, honey,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"But we've been abroad!,\" said the Al Azhar kindergarten
\nstudent.<\/p>\n
There was no reply from his mother.(hdn)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/multicultural-program-for-children-launched-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }