Stube HEMAT Multiplication Program in Sumba

By: Elisabeth Uru Ndaya, S.Pd.      

On the 76th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia’s independence, the youth's role as initiators is still much needed to fill independence by doing positive things, especially in today's digital era. Digitalization with all the conveniences to obtain and process information makes all human activities can be presented online, as well as Indonesia's potencies can be introduced to the rest of the world only through internet access. Therefore, youth and students are required to continuously learn and produce real works to improve Indonesia's competitiveness.

To welcome independence day, Elisabeth Uru Ndaya, the Multiplicator of Stube HEMAT in Sumba as well as an igniter and leader of the village youth, lifted the enthusiasm of the students and youth of the Tanatuku village to become productive, innovative, and creative youth using social media as a communication and socialization platform, in a discussions with Reynaldo Erick (Monday, 16/08/2021). He is a young man who is engaged in the digital world and shares an interesting experience of what he is doing. He has a YouTube account with thousands of subscribers. His YouTube’s contents are the introduction to tourist attractions in East Sumba that has succeeded in bringing tourists from several countries to travel in Sumba, and he is the guide. Not only YouTube, but he also uses FB and Instagram to promote regional tourism. This is one of the benefits and uses of digital media, not only bringing income but also successfully having a promotion of the region to foreign countries. Erick invited youth to be 'literate' with media and trained them how to create a YouTube account, how to make videos and how to promote the content and media.

Knowing many benefits of digital media, as the first step, the youth and students agreed to create video content on the hill of Ndapayami, Pambotandjara village, Waingapu district, East Sumba, with the theme 'Tough Youth, Indonesia Grows', as well as the celebration of the 76th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia. The beauty of the hills with its amazing curves, complemented with an extraordinary view of the sunset, boosted the enthusiasm of the participants to prepare the content. The black and white uniform and the red and white ribbon tied to their head, as well as the waving of the red and white flag, inspire a high sense of nationalism and love for the homeland. Here is the impression and messages of one participant, Melyanti Njurumana, "The Covid-19 limits people who should gather together but have to keep their distance from each other". Meanwhile, other youth expressed hopes that this nation would soon recover and be free from Covid-19.

Once again, it is important for the innovative and creative youth to have self-awareness to see social conditions, to open up to a wider environment, and to have sensitivity to problems that occur in society. Especially during the current Covid-19 pandemic, the role of youth is important to educate public so that they can free themselves from the pandemic. ***