Speaker Found

(Published in Speak! Magazine Desember 2012)

If you couldn’t make it to the Speak! Magazine launch and the Speaker! Competition grand final, here’s what  you missed.

Saturday, Nov 10,2012 marked the official launch of Speak! magazine with 15 Speaker finalist s battling it out to become the first ever ambassador  of the magazine at Epiwalk, Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Selected from hundreds of applicants, the finalists aged 15 to 22 have a proven record of social commitment. Each was enquired to write an essay on their innovative ideas to bring positive change to society.

SMAN 98 student Anggi Nurqonita was chosen the 2013  Speaker by impressing judges and the audience with her idea for contingency plan for  schools in event of natural disasters.

“ I observe  that when a disaster strikes, children are among the most vulnerable group, especially those attending school in the time of disaster. This prompted me to come up with Schoolaturahmi, a project set to engage the school community, especially students and teachers, to anticipate and solve local environmental problems related to natural disaster,”said Anggi, who was accompanied by dozens of enthusiastic supporters.

The objective of her project is,”to  inform and mobilize school communities to have a better understanding about the disaster risk in their area. With help from industry experts, this project also aims at ensuring that the schools building are built to withstand disaster hazards.”

Anggi will also encourage students to established the School Safety Club, in which students play an active role in assessing the risk and preparing their simple  evacuation plan. Each club will be a part of School Safety Network, where students can exchange information and knowledge with regards to natural disaster.

“I believe Schoolaturahmi is very relevant to Indonesia, a country prone to natural disasters. And wit its efficient network  and organizational activities, Iam hoping that this project will also be effective in reducing the potential of student brawls that is rampant today,”said the 16-year-old, who plan to go to medical school.

As Speak! Magazine ambassador, ANggi will have a monthly column in the magazine for 12 months.

Meanwhile, runner-up Lydia Sophiani and second runner-up Ajay Puri are focused on educating underprivileged children.

SMAN 3 Bandung student Lydia a Student Ambassador  for Kennedy-Lugar Youth Excange and Study Exchange Program to America last year, believes that providing education to street children should be a bottom up effort.

“It should start from us. When an awful lot of people care an awful lot about this issue, they can urge the authorities to address this issues seriously. In the meantime, we shoud roll our sleeves and start teaching these kids,”said the vivacious 18-year-old.

Voicing a similar opinion is British International School student Ajay Puri, who made it inti the Guiness Book of Wrold Record at age 3 as the youngest web designer.

He believes knowledge is the key for underprivileged children to escape the cycle of poverty.

“Taking on the edage’Give a man to fish feed him for live’-I made my own philosophy of donating money to a man may help him for a day or two but in the long run ti, is knowledge, and only knowledge, which will lead a man to lead a better life,”said the 16-year-old.

The five hour event also included a performance by teen heartthrob Calvin Jeremy and polished music and dance routines by students from Pangudi Luhur, Tarakanita, INTI College Indonesia, SMAN 82 and SMAN 70.