Social Project for PPAN Selection

PPAN (Pertukaran Pemuda Antar Negara) is an exchange program between countries that further strengthen the relationship between youths. Since Indonesia is compromised of 34 provinces, the selection is made per province with different programs each year. This year, Jakarta got one quota for the exchange to Singapore that is designated for male and another one quota designated for female to South Korea. Of course this does not mean that only Jakarta would be the representative for Indonesia. However, other provinces that got the same exchange program quota would be gathered together in one place, and would later be sent for the exchange program. So the participants that represent Indonesia would be from all over Indonesia.

Jakarta has several steps of selection. The first step was to upload a video on social projects that the participants have done. The second selection process covered a series of steps. But before that, the candidates, judges, and the committee were swabbed for COVID where everyone was tested negative. After that the there was an academic knowledge test, and then there were several interviews including the ability to communicate in English, knowledge concerning the applied project, as well as an interview for previous social activities that was posted for from the first selection step. There was also a leaderless group discussion, along with a showcase of performing art talent that had to be recorded and uploaded.

The last selection process was the best part for me. The PPAN delegate candidate had to work together to make a social project for the next week. We had discussed on what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it. So after discussing, we had all assigned ourselves the role we wanted to play. We decided to make a sort of career day, where each post would be about a certain career. The purpose of this was to encourage the children to pursue their dreams whilst giving information and knowledge about the careers. There were four posts, that are the conservationist, teacher, art and entertainment, as well as a doctor post.

The social project was held on 24^th April 2021 at Kaliadem, Muara Angke, jakarta, Indonesia. The location is close to sea and near Kaliadem port. There were 40 children at the age of 5 to 12 years old, where these children live in an illegal village that should not exist. The post I was in charge of was the conservationist post, and I proposed this post due to my concern on the environment as well as my education background as a Biology student. I had taught the groups of children that visited the post about the dangers of plastic trash and why its important to collect them. The method I interacted with them was to build eco-bricks. So another messaged that was given to the children is that when they have trash, they should at the very least collect it into a bottle so that it would not be readily available and mistakenly eaten by a sea creature.

I gave out Eco Generation souvenirs to these children to encourage them in continue keeping the environment clean. The children were very enthusiastic in making an eco-brick. They had so much energy. I had brought masks beforehand for the kids that did not have a mask. In which I also had to continuously remind them to follow the health protocol by wearing their masks properly as we are still in the midst of a pandemic. A good thing was that the social project was held in an open space at a park.

The point of this selection process is to see how individuals work together. So it was a peer-to-peer evaluation. At the end of the selection, I got to be the 2^nd runner for the exchange program to South Korea. So I would only be participating in the exchange were the selected delegate and the 1^st runner up suddenly unable to attend. Well even so, all in all it was a fascinating experience. I was able to learn a lot of new things and make new friends, so that is something important to me. I look forward to when I am able to participate or hold other social activities again, as I still look out for the corona virus. Keep safe everyone.