SHARING THE ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES WITH SABANG-MERAUKE CHILDREN

BINUS INTERNATIONAL was one of several destinations for the student exchange programme organized by SabangMerauke Community, last Monday (10/8).

Being the latest batch, participants of the programme, not other than junior high school students from all around Indonesia, had the opportunity to learn about making artworks, such as postcards and short films, with their seniors of the Department of Visual Communication Design (DKV), BINUS Northumbria School of Design (BNSD) and the Film Department, BI’s Faculty of Computing and Media.

On this occasion, 8 DKV students taught their juniors how to create postcards, in which Indonesian children are not very interested anymore. Thanks to the students’ patience and ability to share their knowledge in an interesting way, SabangMerauke young participants responded with high enthusiasm and put their best effort for the postcards. Participants were seemingly racing for the best postcard result, themed tolerance in Indonesia.

A similar experience was shared by students from the Film Department. This session was delivered by Melody Muchransyah and Adilla Amelia. Both the Film Department students shared their experiences in the process of short-film making, an activity with which they are most familiar. The sharing will hopefully inspire these young participants to the ability to make their dreams come true, as well as inspiring those who dream to make their own films.

SabangMerauke programme’s third batch is part of SabangMerauke Community’s annual activity. This community itself is open to everybody who shares the pressing concern about education, tolerance, and the state of being Indonesian. These 3 values are grown in the heart of each participant by this community, that came into being in 2012.

“Our community’s main purpose is to amplify these 3 values among society, especially among Indonesian younger generation,” said Putri Lestari, SabangMerauke Community’s Managing Director.

Just like the last and second last batches, the participants take part in a student exchange programme and are placed in their “foster parents’” houses that are appointed by the organizers. For 2 weeks, they will live with their Jakarta-based “foster parents” and experience for themselves the programme’s 3 values.

To get a thorough experience out of the 3 values, participants are set to live with families who have different background from them, for instance religious and cultural backgrounds. This way, they can really learn the meaning of these values, especially tolerance in diversity.

“It is because we believe that it is not enough to merely teach tolerance, for it must also be experienced,” Putri concluded.