The flash flood that happened on March 16, 2019 has taken on hundreds of lives and forced thousands to evacuate. The disaster has led a group of students who are joined as the Student Executive Board of Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH), to carry out an act to care for the flash flood in Jayapura, Papua.

All elements of UPH, including students, managed to collect donations up to the amount of Rp13.548.999, which was then given to the flash flood victims through Yayasan Pendidikan Harapan Papua (YPHP). The donation was given to fulfill victims’ need for food and clothing, as well as other needs. Some of the donations was also used to but beds, foods, clean water, sanitary tools, clothing, school supplies, and many other things that the victims needed.

The Vice-rector for Academic Affairs, Gunawati Tjioe, B.Ed., M.Pd., Ph.D., said that this act is a really good example of the Godly Character value and has manifested the characteristic of UPH graduate’s profile, a future leader who fears the Lord.

“As the representation of SLH and THE Foundation, I am really grateful for the YPHP community who has lend a hand, and take the initiative to donate. Hopefully, they can continue this even after they graduated from UPH and can really become a light and hope wherever they are,” said Gunawaty.

In this opportunity, Elsabella, the Head of Community Service Department of BEM UPH, as the initiator of the donation also spoke for the participating students; saw this whole thing as a mean for students to raise their awareness for others. The students are always willing to help, but sometimes, they are hampered because they don’t know how to distribute their donation.

“Caring for those around us is not that hard, and everyone must have empathy and care inside them. Sometimes, they are just confused or they just don’t know how to channel their empathy. Though the Community Service program, BEM UPH tries to facilitate students who want to help others,” said Elsabella.

Through personal approach, Elsabella and her colleagues from the Student Activity Units in UPH such as Ambassadors of UPH, Art Band, Production Troops, Meng Club, Spirit Dance Company, Mentoring, and Spiritual Growth for Students, visit the other students to share about what happened in Sentani, and to encourage them to donate. The donation could be in the form of money, donation vouchers, or even offerings during church service.

Beforehand, the students of UPH’s Product Design has started to raise donation by selling plastic waste-based products created by students. Thyer works are not just produced to be sold, but also to inspire young people to be creative. These design students sold their works in an event called the “Happiness Festival” in Lapangan Banteng, Jakarta, on April 27-28, 2019. All proceeds of their sales, in the ‘Pop Up Store for Plastic Waster Awareness’ themed event, has also been given to Yayasan Pendidikan Harapan Papua (YPHP).

This whole event has really shown that everyone in UPH really does care, and all elements of the institution, be it the leaders, lecturers, staffs, and even students, are willing to show it. (pl)