Vice President Supports Development of Asmat Museum and Sago Field School
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has expressed his support for the development of the Asmat Museum and the Sago Field School during an audience with the Widya Cahaya Nusantara Foundation at the Vice Presidential Palace, Central Jakarta, on Thursday.
According to a statement from the Vice Presidential Secretariat, the Vice President listened to a presentation by the Widya Cahaya Nusantara Foundation regarding ongoing programmes in Asmat Regency, South Papua. These initiatives include the development of the Asmat Museum as a centre for cultural heritage preservation, as well as the Sago Field School, which aims to strengthen food security and improve the welfare of local communities.
“(The Vice President) is very supportive, and it must be done in this manner so that the art of woodcarving does not disappear. This is a true treasure for the Indonesian nation; while others have taken pieces of it, the true centre remains with us. We will preserve it, and the Vice President has asked us to maintain it,” said the Treasurer of the Widability Cahaya Nusantara Foundation, Evy Tjahyono, following the meeting.
According to Evy, the development of the Asmat Museum is expected to serve as an educational tool as well as a centre for documentation and the preservation of various artworks and traditions of the Asmat people, which are widely recognised internationally.
In addition to supporting cultural preservation, the Vice President also welcomed the implementation of the Sago Field School programme, designed to strengthen community food independence through assistance in the fields of agriculture and fisheries.
“Through the Sago Field School programme, we hope that the community, who were previously foragers, can be taught how to begin farming and fish farming. It has already begun, and they are starting to experience the benefits of catching fish from their own ponds,” Evy explained.
The programme is considered aligned with government efforts to strengthen food security based on local potential while encouraging increased community capacity to become more self-sufficient and productive.
During the audience, the Widya Cahaya Nusantara Foundation also highlighted various challenges still faced by the Asmat community, particularly in the healthcare sector. In response, the Vice President expressed concern regarding efforts to accelerate stunting prevention, improve sanitation, and control malaria, which remains an issue in the region.
“Regarding stunting and hygiene, the Vice President truly wants these to be implemented there. He also wants health issues, such as malaria in the area, to be addressed,” concluded Evy.