By Rev. Grace Nanuru, S.Th

'Working Young People' became the theme of the training on Ecoprint batik. This spirit emerged from a slogan 'If not me, who ones else and if not now, when? This sentence motivated young generation to be braver to do something, to express creativity, and to be different. Motivation is the strength starting from one’s inner then encouraging others to work, especially increasing the resources of the young generation in Raja Ampat area.

Improving the quality of the young generation's resources is the main focus of the Multiplication program of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat through various activities, one of which is eco-print batik. This eco-print batik is a simple batik technique because the material comes from the environment or the surrounding nature. Eco-print itself comes from the word 'eco' or ecosystem which means biological or natural environment, and 'Print' means to print, print leaf patterns, and boil them, similar to the process of making traditional batik, so it is often called 'eco-print batik.' The materials used are leaves, flowers, and twigs that come from nature, without synthetic chemicals, which makes this batik environmentally friendly and does not cause water, soil, or air pollution because the dyeing process of the fabric uses natural materials. No less interesting, the participants of the training on eco-print batik were the young people of Yefman Island who were very excited to learn new things. Some women also joined and took part in practicing eco-print batik which was held in East Yefman village. The training itself was attended by eighteen participants (Thursday, 7/10/2021).

This activity has objectives: 1) to train the creativity of students and youth in East Yefman village; 2) students and youth learn to make motifs on fabrics using natural materials available around them and easily to get; 3) youth are aware to hone their creativity even during the pandemic by keeping the health protocols.

The Multiplicator of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat involved several students from Raja Ampat who have participated in previous Stube HEMAT activities so that they understand more about Stube HEMAT activities. Efata Yefman's youth assistant, Fera Karet, responded positively to this activity and will promote eco-printed fabrics on Sunday, October 10, and develop eco-print batik with Yefman's women community group with the multiplicator.

During the activity Rev. Grace Nanuru, the Multiplicator of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat asked the hopes of Yefman island youth after attending this training. It was revealed that they felt the benefits of the training and would do the follow-up on eco-print batik making and hoped that in the future, Stube HEMAT activities involved them, as expressed by Hilda Mnusefer. The multiplicator also explained the work camp activities that will be held on Sagawin island, October 25-28 2021. Meanwhile, student activists from Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat who accompanied the multiplicator were interested in continuing this activity in Yenanas, their village, and conveying their experiences at Stube HEMAT to the participants, and the critical thoughts emerged of what can be done in the future for the development of the young generation of Raja Ampat's resources.

The big hope of the Multiplication program of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat is young generation of Raja Ampat will become young people that be able to build their area through working and developing creativity by utilizing the potencies around them. The young generation of Raja Ampat is the working youth, they can make it.