Youths speak their minds through writing<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Children of today play a crucial role in turning this country
\ninto a better place to live. Yet, with a lot of them having no
\naccess to education, what will happen to Indonesia?<\/p>\n
This question was raised by 14-year-old schoolgirl Ferina
\nTjahjana, whose essay titled Dunia Anak Dunia Masa Depan
\n(Children's world in the future) won the initial writing
\ncompetition organized by the United Nations Children's Fund
\n(Unicef).<\/p>\n
\"The answer is simple: we shall all work hand-in-hand to help
\ncreate a world where these unfortunate children can secure an
\neducation, otherwise they will have no chance of moving up,\"
\nFerina said on Monday.<\/p>\n
A second year student at Pelita Harapan junior high school in
\nKarawaci, Tangerang, Ferina was inspired by her one-year
\nexperience of volunteering on Saturdays to teach children of
\nscavengers and those who live near the Kepa Duri dump in West
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I learned a lot from my experience as a volunteer. I learned
\nhow spoiled I was as I sometimes threw away a pencil that could
\nstill be used, while the children didn't even have paper or a
\npencil to write with. That made me realize how fortunate I was,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Another essay titled Siapa Pewaris Sah Republik Ini (Who's the
\nlegitimate heir of this country) also won a Unicef award.<\/p>\n
Written by Endang Rukmana, a third-year student at state SMU 1
\nsenior high school in Serang, Banten, the essay asserts that
\nchildren, as the next generation, have a right to a better
\neducation.<\/p>\n
\"Children's education is supposed to be fun. It's supposed to
\nbe a process where we can play, laugh and express ourselves
\nfreely. Don't sacrifice our right to education for business,
\nconflict or politics,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old student said he believed education should
\nenable children to learn, play and create.<\/p>\n
Ferina shared Endang's opinion, saying: \"The ideal concept of
\neducation for children is to have them learn and play in equal
\nmeasure, so that they won't consider studying a burden.\"<\/p>\n
Unicef representative Steven Allen agreed with the two
\nyoungsters.<\/p>\n
\"The key is to make the education process active, joyful and
\nparticipatory, instead of just chalk and talk by teachers,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that the essay competition was aimed at enabling
\nchildren to speak up so that their voices could be heard by their
\npeers and adults.<\/p>\n
\"Whether or not they agree with the articles, it's up to them.
\nThe important message is that these young people's voices have
\nbeen heard,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A total of 252 students from across the country participated
\nin the contest, 183 of whom were senior high school students, 58
\njunior high school students and the remaining from other
\ncategories.<\/p>\n
Twenty articles considered the best, including Ferina's and
\nEndang's, have been published by the Indonesian Children's
\nWelfare Foundation (YKAI) and will be distributed to school
\nlibraries throughout the country.<\/p>\n
Ferina and Endang received Rp 5 million (US$574.71) each from
\nBank Niaga, while the other 18 students whose articles have been
\npublished earned Rp 250,000 each.<\/p>\n
Allen said Unicef would organize the competition annually
\nuntil 2010.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/youths-speak-their-minds-through-writing-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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