On Tuesday, August 22, 2023, dozens of students from YPK Tanah Merah Baru Junior High School, YPPK Santa Monika – Bintuni Junior High School, and Satya Wacana Christian Laboratory Junior High School – Salatiga, engaged in collaborative online learning. Due to the considerable distance between these schools, the activity was carried out using technology, specifically the Zoom application.
As part of Project P5 (Global Diversity), Papua students learned about the significance of the ‘Kain Jarik’ cloth and ‘Keris’ dagger, while students from Salatiga gained insights into the Yospan Dance, an indigenous dance from Papua. Guided by teachers from their respective schools and facilitators from the Nusantara Sejati Foundation, the learning process proceeded smoothly.
With enthusiasm, students presented and explained their respective topics. Students from Salatiga presented the history and meaning of ‘Jarik’, while Papua students demonstrated the Yospan Dance and explained its significance.
After discussions among students from all three schools, the learning process concluded with a joint singing of the song “Cublak Suweng”. Teachers from Satya Wacana Christian Laboratory Junior High School led this activity, teaching the pronunciation and explaining the meaning of the song. All students participated with great enthusiasm.
The experiences generated from Project P5 not only expanded cultural horizons but also strengthened cross-cultural understanding and cooperation. Mr. Patric, the Principal of Satya Wacana Christian Laboratory Junior High School Salatiga, and Mr. Roger, a teacher from YPK Tanah Merah Baru Junior High School in West Papua, fully supported this innovative initiative. Both hope that similar activities can be held periodically to continuously strengthen the bonds among students from various regions.
