Art, music expected to help end street bawls among students
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.