Education is placed in the first list of the 10 National Priorities of 2018. President Joko Widodo himself encourages Indonesian people to realize this plan by focusing and paying attention on the priority scale of this list.

Yayasan Pendidikan Harapan Papua (YPHP) as a foundation that works in education, especially for the children of Papua has been doing a variety of attempts to support this program. One of them is by doing fund raising for the children of Papua by collaborating with Yayasan Musik Amadeus Indonesia (YMAI).

This collaboration has actually been going on for the past three years through a Christian hymn songs concert. This year a concert was once again held with the title “Revive Us Again” at Simfonia Hall, Jakarta, Saturday, October 27, 2018. All proceeds from tickets sales is dedicated to build classrooms in Sekolah Lentera Harapan (SLH), Daboto, Papua. Moreover, through this concert, YPHP has managed to increase the public’s participation by donating with merchandise purchase as well as their commitment to support the educational scholarship program for Papua’s children.

Before that, donation from the first concert on 2016 was able to contribute to the development of three schools in Mamit, Daboto, and Karubaga. Later on, in 2017, YPHP also managed to build another three schools in the regions of Nalca, Korupun, and Danowage. The school which was originally was only built in Mamit and only has 35 students and 3 teachers, has now grow to be a school with 514 students and 49 teachers from Kindergarten level to 6th grade of Elementary School, as well as a non-formal school in 6 rural areas in Papua.

YPHP, through Hannah Achmadi as the Project Director, said that YPHP is committed to keep developing and building schools in the rural areas of Papua. “One step forward and no stepping back, we don’t turn back though we are constrained by distance, high cost, human resources, material, and many other things,” said Hannah.

Hopes were also stated by Nursari Dewi Lugito, The Social Outreach Director of YPHP, for this event to increase the public’s participation “We appreciate everyone’s participation. All of the funds will be used for the development of educational facilities in Papua, but also to help them in obtaining a quality holistic education, especially for them to learn about God. Aside from the, we also introduce them to hygiene and health, which has not been applied thoroughly in their lifestyle. Thus, we hope that these children will have the opportunity to become the leaders of this nation,” said Nursari.

In the “Revive Us Again” concert, YMAI performed the Amadeus Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with Anugerah Chorus, Harmonisch Mannen Chorus, which was also supported by 267 members of various church choirs, communities, and schools, including Sekolah Pelita Harapan Lippo Village, Kemang Village Sentul City, Lippo Cikarang, UPH College and Sekolah Lentera Harapan Curug.

They performed 15 hymns, which are also worship songs.

“Aside from fundraising, this concert is also a movement that aims to encourage the public to sing hymns as form of worship to God,” said Grace Soedargo as the head of YMAI.

All of the pieces that are performed in this concert are arranged by Karina Soerjodibroto, a violist of the Capella Amadeus String Chamber Orchestra, who was also an alumni of Visual Communication Design major of Universitas Pelita Harapan who graduated back in 2002.

“Hopefully, the songs performed in this concert are able to bring good news, joy, and the spirit of sharing, especially to the children in Papua. One of the song that represent this spirit is ‘I Love to Tell’. I hope with this concert, people are encouraged to sing hymns, and for the mission in Papua to go well,” said Karina.

The symbolic handing of the donation was done by the representation of YPHP, Hannah Achmadi, as the Project Director and Nursari Dewi Lugito, as the Social Outreach Director, to Mr. Stephen and Mrs. Carolyn Crockett, a missionary couple from Daboto. There were more than 1,200 of people who participate in this concert as audience, including the orchestra and choir members.

In this event, the ambassador of England, Moazzam Malik and his wife, Rachel, the wife of Myanmar’s ambassador, Sabai, Pdt. Stephen Tong, and many more were also present. (it)