AMGPM campaigns for Soya Forest preservation through Adventure Race Amboina
Ambon (ANTARA) - The Maluku Protestant Church Youth (AMGKS) Ambon Island Region is campaigning for the preservation of the Soya Forest through the Adventure Race of Amboina 2026, themed ‘Soya for Ambon’, which is scheduled to take place on 4 September 2026.
The Chairperson of the Adventure Race of Amboina 2026 Committee, Karin Soplanitm, stated in Ambon on Wednesday that the event is designed to encourage youth and the community to increase environmental awareness, particularly regarding the Soya Forest, which serves as a critical area for Ambon City’s clean water sources.
“This event is not only designed to hone the fitness and abilities of participants but also serves as a concrete action to protect the Soya Forest, which plays a vital role as one of the primary water springs for the people of Ambon City,” she said.
She noted that the competition combines outdoor sporting activities with campaigns for environmental preservation and the protection of cultural heritage sites.
Participants will traverse a route of approximately 15 kilometres, starting from the Telkom area, passing through Jalan Pattimura, Jalan Ahmad Yani, the Batu Gajah Watershed, Soya Forest, Mount Sirimau, and the Old Soya Church, before finishing at the Lazarus Church Building, Kayu Putih, GPM Soya Congregation.
According to Karin, the Adventure Race of Amboina consists of three main pillars: hiking, photography, and six challenge stations.
In the hiking category, participants will trek through main roads, rivers, hills, and mountainous areas within the GPM congregation’s service area. Through the photography category, participants are tasked with documenting natural beauty, cultural heritage sites, and their actions throughout the race route.
Furthermore, six challenge stations have been prepared to test the skills, speed, knowledge, and creativity of participants in processing findings during their journey, while simultaneously campaigning via social media.
Karin stated that the activity is specifically intended for AMGPM cadres in the Ambon Island Region, covering 19 branches and 120 sub-branches. The committee has also opened opportunities for the general public to participate in the event.
In addition to the competition, participants will engage in a mass plastic waste collection drive and the planting of tree saplings at several locations designated by the committee.
“We want this activity to provide a real impact on environmental sustainability while strengthening the concern of the youth towards the cultural and natural heritage of Ambon City,” she added.
The Adventure Race of Amboina 2026 is also part of a series of commemorations for the 91st Anniversary of the GPM, the 451st Anniversary of Ambon City, and the 61st Anniversary of the AMGPM Ambon Island Region.
The AMGPM Ambon Island Region plans to establish the Adventure Race of Amboina as an annual event that can be widely participated in by the public.
Through this activity, AMGPM encourages youth involvement in environmental preservation, particularly in the Soya Forest area, while increasing awareness regarding the importance of protecting water resources and cultural heritage sites in Ambon City.