Empowering Young Minds of Timika and Tembagapura Through Learning and Cultural Exchange
25 April 2025
This week, the atmosphere at the Timika and Tembagapura Jobsite has been lively with various activities held by schools under the Jayawijaya Education Foundation (YPJ) and Mt. Zaagkam School (MZS).
On Thursday, April 24, YPJ Tembagapura and Kuala Kencana held the 55th Primary Years Program Exhibition, YPJ Tembagapura school with the theme“Nemang Kawi Terhebat”, while YPJ Kuala Kencana School with the theme “Come Alive”. The exhibition had been in preparation for one u`nit of study over seven weeks.
According to Mr. Dedy, a 6th-grade teacher at YPJ Tembagapura, this activity was part of the final assessment for the sixth-grade students. Unlike conventional exams, students were asked to choose current topics related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), conduct in-depth research with their group mentors, and present solutions to the issues.
This event became a special moment not only for the students but also for the teachers, parents, and the entire community both in the Highlands and Lowlands.
The topics presented in the exhibition were chosen by the students themselves, based on real issues occurring around them. These included the impact of social media use, plastic pollution in the oceans, the role of youth in the economy, natural resource consumption, the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the importance of education, forest and endangered species conservation, water quality, and economic dynamics in Mimika Regency. Each group decorated their booth according to their topics, complete with mind-maps illustrating the problems, as well as the proposed solutions. The activity not only sharpened the students’ academic skills but also boosted their creativity, teamwork, and social awareness.
The students utilized their social, thinking, communication, and self-management skills to make the exhibition a success. In the preparation process, they were challenged to work and collaborate in groups, select their own topics, conduct research to find sources to deepen their understanding, to even interview the experts on the topics they had chosen.
“Through this process, students learn self-management, teamwork, critical thinking, and communications with various parties. This is a valuable experience that helps them understand issues around them and become lifelong learners who can solve real-world problems in the future,” said Maria Wirastuti, Principal of YPJ Kuala Kencana Elementary School.
In the same week, on Saturday, April 26, Mt. Zaagkam School (MZS) Tembagapura held a lively and vibrant celebration of International Day. This event involved over 20 nationalities within the school community and served as an important moment to celebrate identity and cultural diversity in the MZS environment.
The event began with Flag Parade where students, teachers, and parents walked while carrying their respective national flags and wear traditional costumes from the countries they represented, with Indonesia as the host country. Participants were then grouped by regions such as Indonesia, Asia, South America, North America, and Africa. Each classroom was transformed into a miniature cultural showcase of each continent, complete with traditional costumes, games, dance performances, and cultural face painting.
“Today, we celebrate International Day with more than 20 different nationalities. As an educational institution, it’s very important for us to honor everyone's identity, including their country of origin and language. We hope the entire community can learn about the cultures and traditions of various nations through this event.” said Raquel, the Vice Principal and Head of Learning at MZS.
Interestingly, during lunch, parents participated by serving a variety of traditional dishes from their respective countries. The atmosphere became even more festive as students enjoyed tasting food from around the world, not only delicious but also an educational experience.
“Celebrating differences is very important, especially for those of us who have been away from our home countries for a long time. This becomes a moment to reconnect with our own culture while also introducing it to other students. Activities like this teach mutual understanding, open-mindedness, and help us feel closer to one another. In the end, we are actually more alike than different. The more we understand a culture, the greater the respect we have for it,” expressed Gladys, one of the teachers at MZS.
Not just an annual celebration, International Day is a true form of cross-cultural education that teaches tolerance, respect, and unity in diversity.
Through these events, students from both the Jayawijaya Education Foundation (YPJ) and Mt. Zaagkam School (MZS) not only showcased their learning outcomes but also demonstrated that they are ready to become future leaders who can adapt wherever they are.
Back To List
