(Multiplication program of Stube-HEMAT in Raja Ampat)

By: Trustha Rembaka.    

Raja Ampat Regency consisting of 117 villages that spread out on several islands has an area of ​​46.108 km2. With a very wide coverage consisting of 89% of waters, the sea transportation becomes the main requirement for the mobility of people and goods from island to island. It is a challenge for the government to develop the area, as well as for the community to carry out activities such as to meet others, to do educational affairs, to have economy activity, and other needs, due to the high-cost transportation. Not giving up on the situation and let the area being left behind, all components endeavor to pay attention to the condition of the people there.

The Multiplication program of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat together with Christian students and young people are working to improve the quality of human resources even though these activities require a long process to achieve the noble goals of the program. It is reasonable for the Multiplicator to have continuous approaches to several villages to introduce Stube HEMAT by involving students from Raja Ampat who participated in several previous activities in North Salawati, Central Salawati, Batanta, and the capital of Raja Ampat district, Waisai. Rev. Grace Nanuru, S.Th., the Multiplicator of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat keep working to introduce Stube HEMAT and its programs, as well as delivers church youth programs including students. It must be admitted that there are several obstacles for the activities such as lack of motivation, budget priorities, and communication between regions, so it is important to have work priority for the region.

During May and June, the Multiplicator visited some villages by using a small boat and must carefully do 'mapping' the weather at the sea. One of the visits was to the village of Wailen, Kalobo in Central Salawati district. This village has more than five thousand people and the majority of the population is Muslim and most of them are transmigrants from Java island a long time ago. Geographically, this area has a wide and fertile plain so that agriculture has the potencies to be developed. There is only one church here, Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) in Papua. Yefman Island consisting of West and East Yefman with most of the population is Muslim and only a small part is Christian. The church youth, including students in both places, was accompanied by a chaperone from the church council. They responded enthusiastically about the attention and activities of Stube HEMAT and willing to involve in various activities that will be carried out in the following activity of the Multiplication program of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat.

Through the activity of Stube HEMAT, church youth, and students, it is expected that the human resources of the young generation of Raja Ampat will increase and be able to develop themselves with their surrounding potencies. Jou Suba***