Selected Speaker for IDF 2019: Marlon Arthur Huwae Introduces the Concept of Aji Bangun, One Year Pre-Work to Develop Regions

Marlon Arthur Huwae

The pre-work program called Wajib Bakti Membangun (Aji Bangun) for one year is introduced by a Selected Speaker for IDF 2019, Marlon Arthur Huwae.  He thinks this program can explore the potential of Human Resources (HR) as well as strengthen our love for the nation. This concept is enshrined in a paper entitled, “Toward Professional Meaningful Vocational Training and Strong Nationalism in Indonesia: A 1-Year Development Conscription to Bridge the New “Prakerja” and High School Graduates to the Job Market, and Indonesian Unity.”

 

“The Aji Bangun Program targets grounded and meaningful strengths, problems, potentials, and solutions. People will only participate in Aji Bangun once in a lifetime,” explained Marlon, who is also the CEO of Indokonor Foundation, an NGO based in Papua and focuses on technological innovation, development, governance, and entrepreneurship.

 

The central themes of Aji Bangun are social development, economy, sustainability, entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology.

 

“However, even though Aji Bangun is a mandatory program, the essence is not the same as the compulsory military service, which only focuses on defence and protecting the country, where people with disabilities cannot take part in,” continued Marlon.

 

The Aji Bangun Pre-work Program facilitates Indonesian youths, including persons with disabilities, across Indonesia, to develop interest, talent, and expertise in various fields to address issues in their respective regions. This program will build interdependency between the nation and its youths.

 

“I think there has yet to be a program that can blend youths into the nation, and at the same time, ignite youths’ capacity to provide concrete solutions in developing the nation,” said Marlon.

 

Another goal of Aji Bangun is to establish collaboration between the central government, local governments, scholars, and the private sector.

 

“Aji Bangun is expected to unlock direct interaction spaces among youths across Indonesia to improve the understanding of culture, pluralism, and nationhood,” expressed Marlon.

 

 

Four Stages of Aji Bangun

Aji Bangun is divided into four critical sessions, which are recruitment, provisioning, developing Indonesia (post-project), and evaluation. Recruitment is intended for youths aged 15-29 years old, carried out using the principle of equality and covers representatives from each province. On the recruitment stage, participants must fill out a form and describe their potentials and issues that they will address in the post-project stage.

 

Participants taking part in the provisioning stage must have their transport and needs covered. Provisioning is conducted centrally in one region in Indonesia, taking turns every year. During provisioning, which takes place for nine months, several programs will be given, such as leadership in industrial era 4.0, work preparedness, dialogue on nationhood, and cultural activities. The funding is provided with a joint budgeting scheme between the central and local governments, namely 50 percent from the central government and 50 percent, and/or between the government and private sector, with a composition of 50 percent government and 50 percent private.

                                                                                            

Next, the post-project stage can be carried out individually and/or in groups.

 

“For example, a bachelor’s degree graduate from the food technology major of the University of Papua wants to make an organic instant noodle product with an extract of red fruit in his post-project stage,” said Marlon.

 

A participant with this kind of interest can be directed to learn at a food and beverage company. This stage occurs for three months, and participants will go to their respective regions to implement their projects.

 

“Due to budget limitation, the government can fund 10 of the best projects of each theme: social, economy, sustainability, entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology,” stated Marlon.

 

The rest can be funded by the local government and/or through other schemes, such as village fund, or donor from non-government organisations or businesses, either through direct assistance scheme or crowdfunding. Those that do not receive funding assistance can opt to undergo apprenticeships in the government sector, non-profit organisation, and/or industry.

 

During the evaluation stage, all participants must submit all of their final reports and evidence to the district, provincial, and central governments. The data of all participants will then be recorded and they will be gathered in one online platform for alumni.

 

 

Managing the Future, Managing Youths

 

Marlon explained that Aji Bangun is a system to empower youths by identifying potentials and problems from their perspective.

 

“We then provide reward for the best ideas and solutions in social development, economy, sustainability, entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology,” said Marlon.

 

The positive impact of this is the government can identify the strengths and potentials of youths across Indonesia, as well as collect existing problems from the youths’ point of view. Subsequently, it can establish collaborations to discover solutions. The government can also acquire inputs in policymaking. This program also strengthens nationhood, build dialogues among youths, and increase tolerance.

 

Marlon admits that the impact will not happen instantly. This program even requires some funding from the state.

 

“But in the long run, we expect to have young generations growing up to be entrepreneurs, innovators, and activists, who can provide real contribution to Indonesia,” he added.

 

Marlon further explains that should the pre-work concept through this Aji Bangun is implemented, it is necessary to create the legal umbrella, along with its funding mechanism.

 

“Aji Bangun is a fruit of my research. It is academically sound. However, to operate it, we need other instruments, such as rules, legality, funding and apparatus resources, and its impact,” he continued. 

 

Marlon is currently undertaking a doctoral program in Public Policy at Macquarie University, Australia. Born in West Papua, he received several scholarships from the United States, Holland, and Australia. Marlon long desires to be a researcher as well as CEO who can bring positive impacts on innovation and technological empowerment, as well as in social and economic conditions in Papua, Indonesia, and to the global scene. Has was once the Policy Coordinator of UNICEF and the Secretary of Art Department at the University of Papua.

 

During Indonesia Development Forum 2019, Marlon presented his research in the Ideas and Innovation, Marketplace, Co-Creating and Collaborating session on July 22, 2019. In IDF 2019, entitled “Mission Possible: Seizing the Opportunities of Future Work to Drive Inclusive Growth,” the Aji Bangun Pre-Work Program became a part of the discussion of one of IDF 2019’s subtheme, Reforming the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) System for Future Work.