Art, music expected to help end street bawls among students

By Rita A. Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): Several huge banners carrying messages of peace which were made by high school students in Jakarta were seen at the city's National Museum and the United Nations building in Central Jakarta.

The messages, some in Indonesian slang and some in broken English, reflected the genuine feelings of the writers.

Aku Bosan Tawuran (I am sick of fighting in the streets), Kami Cinta Damai (We love peace), Let's Make Love not War, Nyawe kite kan cuman satu, nyo stop berantem (We only live once, let's stop fighting each other).

These pacifist phrases were jointly written by 500 high school students from 15 regular and technical high schools in Greater Jakarta.

Normally it would be common for these students to pelt each other with stones upon meeting on the city's streets. But in the newly renovated lobby of the National Museum they happily danced and played music with top musician Harry Roesli and percussionist Gilang Ramadhan.

From April 12 through April 16, these students were involved in the Youths for Peace program, jointly organized by the Jakarta office of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Ministry of Education and Culture, the National Museum and non-governmental organization the Sacred Bridge Foundation.

Philippe Delanghe, UNESCO's assistant program specialist for culture, said the program was intended to develop tolerance and cross-cultural understanding among students and youths in the capital.

In the five-day meeting at the National Museum, students, teachers and people from related institutions were involved in active discussions, joint music and art programs in an attempt to bridge differences and to find solutions to many crucial problems faced by students, including the escalating number of street brawls and youth crime.

"We are very much concerned over the latest development regarding violence among the city's school students," Delanghe said.

UNESCO and its local counterparts are trying to address the problems and to promote nonviolence among youths through cultural interaction.

"I believe music and art can unite people in the world because of their universal values. I hope that these art activities can also unite these students and help them end their longtime feud," he added.

The participating students were included in several small groups and were required to work together in several art projects, which included creating messages and painting them on the banners and participating in group discussions.

Some high school students helped technical school students write thoughtful verses on a banner. Others were involved in music performances led by Harry Roesli and Gilang.

"The program is very attractive. We can play music with famous musicians like kang (brother) Harry. It's a rare chance for us," said Agung, a student at Muhammadiyah high school.

Some of the girls were quite taken with percussionist Gilang Ramadhan.

"He is so OK and very kind even though he is famous star. It's a pity he is going steady with Maudy (movie star Maudy Koesnady)," commented Anita.

Harry Roesli and Gilang said they were involved in the program because they felt compassion and empathy for the youths.

"Basically, all students are nice boys and girls. It is us, adults, who fail to provide them with good role models and examples," said Harry.

Lack of coherent social and economic development and parental guidance plus the poor education system contribute to boosting youth violence, particularly in Jakarta.

"People tend to always blame and condemn the kids. They see these students in black and white, as good or bad," commented Harry, a father of teenage male twins Lahami and Layala.

An inconsistent schooling system is another problem. Harry said schools were depressing places for children who felt there was no escape, adding that violence becomes a form of release.

"Children today are not allowed to argue, make mistakes or go through necessary development. So we have seemingly normal children who are withdrawn, violent or afraid of school," said Harry, who is also a lecturer at the Teachers Training Institute, Bandung.

High schools do little more than force-feed facts to students and subject them to countless rules and tests.

At home, there is little family life to speak of, especially when fathers and mothers are at work and children roam the streets, he added.

"The education system is a mess and requires a complete overhaul," said Harry. "If that doesn't happen, there will be more cases of youth violence," he added.

Gilang pointed out that young people needed somewhere positive to go to after school to stay off the streets.

"Well structured activities during out-of-school hours is absolutely crucial to confronting student brawls," he said.

He suggested that the government build facilities to nurture talented youths.

"Now it is very difficult for students to take part in constructive programs such as music, art and sports because facilities are very limited and expensive," said Gilang, who spent his childhood in France.

Good youth programs not only enhance student creativity, but often change students' lives, he said.

"Despite the crisis, the government should start focusing on empowering the country's future generation. I know the government still has plenty of money," Gilang said.

When the essential facilities are available to them, and they have places to go, there would be no need for them to continue hanging around the city's streets, said Gilang.