Education as a Nation’s Pillar Highlighted in Inspiranation Webinar of the 12th SATU Indonesia Awards 2021

Education as a Nation’s Pillar Highlighted in Inspiranation Webinar of the 12th SATU Indonesia Awards 2021

JAKARTA: Education is a crucial form of investment that can determine the future and progress of a nation. In advancing the education system, the role of younger generation who are motivated to build the nation cannot be overlooked.

Young people’s contribution to the national education is represented by the speakers in the Inspiranation talk with 12th SATU Indonesia Awards 2021 themed “Education as a Nation’s Pillar”. The event is held by Astra in collaboration with Young On Top today (7/5).

The speakers are Alena Wu, a singer and founder of Alena Sahabat Anak (ASA), and Eklin Amtor de Fretes, “the Creative Storyteller for Moluccan Children” and recipient of the SATU Indonesia Awards 2020 in the Education category. Prof. Fasli Jalal, Rector of Universitas YARSI and Professor in the Master’s Program of Universitas Negeri Jakarta, who is also one of the judges in the 12th SATU Indonesia Awards is also present to share his insights.

During the webinar, Alena shares about her work in supporting the education of children who come from low-income households – her contribution that she started in 2009. As of today, hundreds of children have benefitted from ASA’s dedication.

Meanwhile, Eklin Amtor de Fretes tells the audience about storytelling as a means to promote messages of peace, pluralism, and tolerance. Eklin also introduces his companion, a puppet he calls Dodi (short for ‘Dongeng Damai’ or Peace Story).

“I try to tell stories about virtues with a contextual approach. I always consider the situation and needs of the children who would be at the receiving end of my character-building through stories,” said Eklin, who said that he learned storytelling techniques from YouTube.

Prof. Jalal commends the contribution of Eklin and Alena in education. “The goals of education go beyond ensuring that students can one day get a job. Education also needs to nurture their character and advance the nation, because Indonesia is strong if the people are educated,” he said.

The Creative Storyteller for Moluccan Children

Eklin also founded the Youth Interfaith Peace Camp, a program where the value of peace is manifested through creative activities and daily routine. As many as 90 young participants from Maluku who represented different faiths (Islam, Christian, Catholic, and the Nuaulu indigenous religion) have participated in the camp.

It was after he founded the camp that Eklin became inspired to promote peace messages to more children in Maluku, especially to provide alternative narratives to conflicts that were segregating the region. In delivering his peace stories, Eklin gets some help from a friend, Dodi the stuffed animal.

Eklin did not stop there. In 2019, he initiated a new learning program, called Learn with the House of Peace Story. Here, Eklin organizes English, German, and arts classes as routine courses for kids in Maluku. The goal is to teach them storytelling in different languages and get them interested in the arts.

“Teaching is not only about academic knowledge, but also positive values that we can instill in children since they are young. My hope is to establish storytelling not only as an education technique, but also a medium to maintain peace in Maluku,” he said.

Eklin’s spirit to advance education and perpetuate peace is in line with Astra’s mission to Prosper with the Nation and goal four of the SDGs, Quality Education.

For further information, please contact:

Boy Kelana Soebroto
Head of Corporate Communications
PT Astra International Tbk
Ph.021-508-43-888

About Astra

PT Astra International Tbk was established in 1957 in Jakarta as a general trading company under the name Astra International Inc. In 1990, for the purpose of the company’s initial public offering (IPO), the name of the company changed to PT Astra International Tbk, followed by listing its shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange under the ticker code ASII.

Astra has developed its business by implementing a business model based on synergies and diversification within seven business divisions: 1) Automotive, 2) Financial Services, 3) Heavy Equipment, Mining, Construction & Energy, 4) Agribusiness, 5) Infrastructure and Logistics, 6) Information Technology and 7) Property.

Astra Group conducts business operations in all parts of Indonesia under the management of more than 238 companies, including subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, and was supported by more than 188,000 employees, as of March 2021.

As one of the largest national business groups in Indonesia today, Astra has built a strong reputation through offering a range of quality products and services, taking into account the implementation of good corporate and environmental governance. Astra always aspires to be the pride of the nation that participates in efforts to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.

Astra's business activities strive to apply a balanced mix in the commercial aspects of business and non-business contributions through 9 foundations and a variety of sustainable social responsibility programmes, namely Astra Untuk Indonesia Sehat, Astra Untuk Indonesia Cerdas, Astra Untuk Indonesia Hijau and Astra Untuk Indonesia Kreatif.

Astra initiated the Semangat Astra Terpadu Untuk (SATU) Indonesia Awards programme, which has entered its eleventh year, and has given recognition awards to 397 young Indonesians, consisting of 70 national level recipients and 327 provincial level recipients in the fields of Health, Education, the Environment, Entrepreneurship and Technology, which are integrated with Astra’s wide range of community activities through 116 Kampung Berseri Astra and 755 Desa Sejahtera Astra initiatives in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia.

For further information, please visit www.astra.co.id & www.satu-indonesia.com, and follow Astra through Instagram (@satu_Indonesia), Youtube (SATU Indonesia), Facebook (Semangat Astra Terpadu) and Twitter (@satu_Indonesia).