Weaving a Hope in Former Conflicted Land

Heka Leka's Mission Trip . (Source: Facebook Heka Leka Maluku Cerdas)

Dozens of teachers from Christina Marthatiahahu Education Foundation, Ambon, Maluku, seemed serious operating laptops in front of them. Today, they were studying how to use technology, especially internet, to help preparing teaching materials.



A number of young volunteers were assisting them whenever there was a teacher who was confused operating their devices. Although they have been teachers for quite some time, they weren’t shy studying latest technology, from looking for information in search engine, selecting proper information, to using them as teaching materials. 



That is Digital Literacy which is one of the “Goes to School” activities initiated by Heka Leka community. Heka Leka community is a social foundation that focuses on education. The institution is established by Stenley Ferdinandus, an Ambonese who becomes the victim of humanity tragedy in Maluku, 1999.



“Conflicts in Maluku leave so many miseries. A lot of Ambonese lost chances to get proper education and other social problems. One faith remains, that with education we can build Maluku again,” said Stenley as quoted from Beritasatu.com.

Heka Leka, which means “reborn” is set up on 7 September 2011. Dozens of volunteers joining the community come from various professions, from lecturers, university students, and even non-academicians. Heka Leka comes from the hearts of the Maluku youngsters who are moved by the educational gap in their hometowns.  



One of the Heka Leka volunteers, Mega Pattiasina, said a lot of programs had been carried out by the foundation. In addition to Goes To School, there is a Study Group, a study group which doesn’t only involve students but also parents.

“Study Group emerges because we see kids find it difficult studying at homes and parents attention accompanying them for studying is very low,” said Mega when encountered on the sidelines of Road to Indonesia Development Forum 2018 in Ambon, end of May.

She said one of the missions of Heka Leka was becoming a catalyst for accelerating education development in Maluku Province. As a catalyst, Heka Leka creates programs that stimulate children’ thought pattern and the local administration’s goodwill to improve education quality. A total of about 20 activities have been made by the foundation.



One of them is Mission Trip. This journey brings kids visiting an island in Maluku to learn nature and local culture. Maluku is an archipelagic province comprising of hundreds of islands. The effort doesn’t only provide knowledge and new information but also teach them about discrepancies.

A number of Heka Leka activists once see with their own eyes how violence and riot occur there because they can’t accept differences. Brutality and turmoil caused kids left behind. They even lose opportunities to get the education. The activists don’t want today’s Maluku kids experiencing similar things.

World Declaration on Education for All or Jomtien Declaration in 1990 says that education is more than just about reading and calculating but also changing behaviours which promote positive values. The values and the norms then contribute well to supporting peace.

Heka Leka carries values that are in line with the declaration. Its programs are not only for helping Maluku kids studying but also encouraging them to be individuals who are responsible, open-minded and willing to understand discrepancies.

Indonesia Development Forum supports education practices and innovations as done by Heka Leka. Education is one of the tools to overcome the inter-region gap in Indonesia, in line with the theme of IDF 2018, “Pathways to Tackle Regional Disparities across The Archipelago”.

IDF 2018 is carried out by the National Development and Planning Agency which obtains supports from the Australian Government through Knowledge Sector Initiative (KSI). The forum is held on 10-11 July 2018. The result of the forum will be used as recommendations to formulate National Medium Term Development Plan 2020-2024.**