MEMBER SPOTLIGHT — Meylisa Sahan
Welcome back to Member Spotlight where we introduce you to the personalities behind AIYA. This week, we introduce you to AIYA new Blog Editor, Meylisa Sahan!
The Stories We Tell as Part of ReelOzInd!
‘We tell ourselves stories in order to live’ wrote Joan Didion. It is also true that we can tell stories in order to live more harmoniously with each other. This is precisely what the ReelOzInd! – hopes to achieve in sharing the stories of two neighbouring countries – Australia and Indonesia – through film.
Organised by the Australia-Indonesia Centre, with premiere nights at both ACMI in Melbourne and the ITB in Bandung, the short-film festival will travel in both Indonesia and Australia until the 31st of December this year. Given the reputations of both Bandung and Melbourne as creative hubs, and given the recent partnerships created by the Victorian Government and the province of West Java, the selection of locations for the festival was certainly apt.
SOUNDSEKERTA PRESS CONFERENCE
©Thomas Wesley
On a rainy Melbourne afternoon, the city is buzzing for the footy grand final. Meanwhile at the consulate general of Indonesia, a press conference anticipating the 2019 Soundsekerta music event hosted by PPIA is underway. I was lucky enough to be invited to attend as a representative of AIYA, to interview the stars of this year’s event.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT — Iven Manning
Welcome back to Member Spotlight where we introduce you to the personalities behind AIYA. This week, we introduce you to AIYA National Director of Communications, Iven Manning.
International Literacy Day celebration in Bandung
International Literacy Day is celebrated annually on 8 September. As the United Nations maintains, the day is an opportunity for Governments, civil society and stakeholders to highlight improvements in world literacy rates, and reflect on the world’s remaining literacy challenges.
In light of International Literacy Day, AIYA Jawa Barat held a literacy-themed Language Exchange (LX) on Sunday 15 September. Joining us were representatives from Duta Bahasa Jawa Barat, Duta Perpustakaan, Wanoja Jajaka Budaya Jabar, Putra Putri Bumi Siliwangi, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan and ACICIS.
In Indonesia, the literacy rate is 99.71% amongst those aged 15-24. However, in international literacy testing regimes such as the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Indonesian students typically place at the bottom of rankings. In contrast, Australian students tend to perform higher but still lag behind their counterparts in Scandinavia, Singapore and elsewhere.
Eksistensi Etnis Manggarai di Pulau Timor
Terdiri dari ratusan kelompok etnis, hampir mustahil rasanya mengenal seluruh etnis yang ada di Indonesia. Tidak jarang juga sebuah etnis berkembang diluar daerah asalnya, sebut saja etnis Manggarai yang ada di kota Kefamenanu di Kabupaten Timor Tengah Utara yang akan kita bahas.
Tahun 2018 lalu, saya berkesempatan untuk menjadi salah satu peserta karnaval dari etnis Manggarai dalam rangka memperingati hari ulangtahun kota Kefamenanu di Kabupaten Timor Tengah Utara. Kegiatan karval ini merupakan salah satu kegiatan tahunan yang diadakan oleh pemerintah setempat. Peserta yang turut serta dalam karnaval ini mulai dari tingkat sekolah dasar sampai dengan sekolah menengah atas, berbagai etnis atau suku yang menetap di kabupaten ini sampai dengan berbagai komunitas atau unit kegiatan masyarakat. Acara karnaval ini merupakan puncak acara setelah dua minggu penuh diadakan pameran pembangunan yang isinya adalah stand-stand dari seluruh kantor pemerintahan yang ada di Kefamenanu, lalu ada stand-stand dari berbagai kecamatan yang menjual kain tenun khas atau olahan alam dari daerah tersebut. Ada juga berbagai permainan dan jajanan khas pasar malam.
Orang-orang Manggarai dari pulau Flores yang merantau ke pulau Timor, khususnya di daerah Kefamenanu membuat sebuah organisasi yang disebut Ikatan Keluarga Manggarai (IKM) yang terdiri dari berbagai lapis masyarakat – tua, muda bahkan sampai anak-anak. Organisasi ini menjadi salah satu peserta dalam karnval dan IKM menampilkan beberapa tarian yang dibawakan oleh mahasiswa dan mahasiswi Manggarai, adapula nyanyian dalam bahasa Manggarai dan atraksi yang menjadi pamungkas dari etnis ini adalah tarian Caci. Apa itu tarian caci dan seperti apa atraksinya? Simak ulasannya berikut ini.
Caci merupakan kesenian dari Manggarai yang sarat akan keunikan dan juga dimeriahkan dengan nyanyian, tarian dan pantun yang dibawakan oleh para penari inti yang beranggotakan sekitar lima sampai enam orang. Menurut berbagai sumber Caci merupakan gabungan dua kata yaitu ca yang berarti satu dan ci yang berarti uji. Sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa hal ini merupakan kegiatan bertarung satu lawan satu untuk menguji sesuatu. Awal mulanya tarian ini merupakan sebuah tradisi yang dilakukan oleh masyarakat Manggarai untuk menguji ketangkasan mereka dalam bertarung. Sampai akhirnya kegiatan ini berkembang menjadi kesenian yang di dalamnya terdiri dari gerakan tari, lagu dengan musik pengiring. Tari ini dimainkan saat syukuran musim penen (hang woja) dan ritual tahun baru (penti), upacara pembukaan lahan atau upacara adat besar lainnya, serta dipentaskan untuk menyambut tamu penting.
Para pemain dilengkapi dengan pecut (larik), perisai (nggiling), penangkis (koret), dan penutup kepala (panggal). Pemain akan bertelanjang dada dan mengenakan celana panjang warna putih dan sarung songke (songket khas Manggarai) berwarna hitam. Di pinggang belakang dipasang untaian giring-giring yang berbunyi mengikuti gerakan pemain. Topeng atau hiasan kepala (panggal) dibuat dari kulit kerbau yang keras berlapis kain berwarna-warni. Namun seiring perkembangan waktu biasanya hiasan kepala ini dibentuk dari bahan anyaman yang keras yang dibuat menyerupai bentuk tanduk namun tidak menghilangkan fungsinya yaitu untuk melindungi kepala para pemain dari pecutan. Wajah ditutupi kain destar sehingga mata masih bisa melihat arah gerakan dan pukulan lawan. Selain itu destar ini juga berfungsi sebagai pelindung wajah dan mata. Tubuh bagian atas dan bagian tubuh yang terbuka merupakan area yang boleh terkena pecutan.
Dikutip dari artikel ilmiah yang ditulis oleh Ingrida Trifiani Kantor* bahwa caci penuh dengan simbolisme yang percaya bahwa kerbau sebagai hewan terkuat dan terganas di daerah Manggarai. Pecut melambangkan kekuatan ayah, kejantanan pria, penis, dan langit. Perisai melambangkan ibu, kewanitaan, rahim, serta dunia. Ketika cambuk dilecutkan dan mengenai perisai, maka terjadi persatuan antara cambuk dan perisai. Bagi orang Kabupaten Manggarai, caci merupakan pesta besar. Desa penyelenggara memotong beberapa ekor kerbau untuk makanan para peserta dan penonton.
Hal ini juga tentu saja dipraktekkan oleh para pemain caci yang merupakan mahasiswa Manggarai di kota ini. Mereka saling melemparkan serangan kepada satu sama lain. Ada yang terkena pecutan sampai meninggalkan luka di tubuhnya, namun ada juga yang berhasil menghindar dari serangan lawan. Para pemain akan berganti-gantian, menjadi yang memukulkan larik dan menjadi orang yang akan menangkis. Setelah selesai atraksi ini biasanya salah satu pemain akan mulai melantunkan lagu dalam bahasa Manggarai yang akan dijawab oleh seluruh anggota karnaval. Atraksi ini juga mengundang banyak sekali perhatian penonton karnval karena titik dimana atraksi dimainkan semua orang berkumpul disana.
Tarian ini mungkin saja akan membawa kesan menyeramkan bagi beberapa orang namun ada banyak nilai yang ingin disampaikan lewat tarian ini yaitu sportivitas, rasa saling menghormati dan bentuk dari melestarikan budaya. Kegiatan ini akan berakhir damai karena kedua belah pihak yang menjadi pemain dalam tarian ini tidak menyimpan dendam.
Selain para pemain Caci, penari perempuan merupakan salah satu daya tarik dari rombongan etnis ini karena busana yang digunakan begitu khas yaitu baju dengan warna merah muda terang dipadukan dengan kain songke yang dibuat seperti rok lengkap dengan selendang dan hiasan kepala yaitu balibelo.
Waktu itu saya diperbolehkan untuk menggunakan balibelo yang merupakan hiasan kepala khas perempuan Manggarai. Sebenarnya ada cukup banyak variasi balibelo yang digunakan, tapi bentuk dasarnya tetap sama yaitu terdiri dari tujuh sampai dengan delapan lempengan yang dibentuk melengkung keluar dan diberi warna emas. Di ujung dari lempengan ini akan digantung semacam hiasan kecil yang akan terus bergoyang. Lempengan ini akan diikatkan ke kepala dengan menggunakan kain berwarna merah, ada juga yang menggunakan kain berwarna emas dihiasi dengan potongan songke – tapi sekali lagi bentuk hiasan kepala ini akan sama. Ketika menggunakan balibelo saya merasa seperti membawa bunga yang mekar kemana-mana. Tentu saja ini cantik sekali!
Kegiatan hari itu ditutup dengan sukacita karena etnis Manggarai berhasil keluar sebagai Runner Up untuk kategori penampilan etnis terbaik. Semua peserta puas dan bergembira akan hal ini. Lewat etnis Manggarai yang ada di kota Kefamenanu saya belajar bahwa persaudaraan yang erat akan selalu membawa kebahagiaan untuk siapapun yang ada di dalamnya.
Sekali lagi, selamat etnis Manggarai!
*Artikel Ilmiah Pelestarian Tarian Caci Sebagai Tarian Khas Manggarai di Desa Lante Kecamatan Reok Barat
Benefits of Multilingual Environment for Children’s Future Academic Success
Did you know that bilingualism was considered one of the main causes of slow language development back in the past? That’s right, and it’s because a lot of parents thought that their children are experiencing a language delay if they’re learning two different languages at the same time. Another myth about bilingualism claimed that bilinguals have double or split personalities. Even though their attitude is often based on different people and situations, we certainly can’t define that as having double or split personalities. After all, these are just myths that didn’t prove to be true, as there are numerous benefits that were predominant in the end. All you need to do is to keep on reading and you’ll learn everything you need to know about the benefits of bilingual and multilingual environments for children’s academic success. Check them out!
What are the benefits of a bilingual and multilingual environment?
The benefits of a bilingual and multilingual environment are numerous, and we can freely say that these can give children social, cognitive, and linguistic advantages over their peers. Besides that, it’s also safe to say that bilingualism can be seen as a kind of brain insurance that keeps your mind sharp, no matter your age. Research has shown that older bilinguals often perform as well as younger monolinguals, which just proves that the advantages of bilingualism last well into old age. Here are some of the most common benefits of a bilingual and multilingual environment:
It has fantastic cognitive benefits
In case you didn’t know, cognitive functions are linked to the way your brain functions – or the mechanisms that allow your brain to acquire information, to be more precise. First of all, bilinguals or multilinguals are highly likely to be more successful in their academic career because they are able to focus on a task while successfully tuning out any disruptions, unlike their monolingual peers. It also affects their ability to concentrate, which is crucial in the school environment. When in combination with early childhood education programs, kids can get prepared for future academic successes more efficiently, which is the benefit that mustn’t be overlooked.
It has important academic benefits
Speaking more than one language and spending time in a bilingual or multilingual environment can be extremely useful for kids in terms of entering their favourite university. Passing language tests is obligatory when entering the majority of good universities, which is exactly why children should be introduced to other languages apart from their mother tongue from an early age. Apart from that, speaking multiple languages is closely intertwined with vocabulary development as well. This means that bilingual or monolingual kids are highly likely to express themselves with more success, especially when compared with their monolingual counterparts. Needless to say, mastering different languages can only be a huge advantage for the kids in the future, so bear that in mind, too.
It has amazing social-emotional benefits
When it comes to social-emotional benefits of bilingualism and multilingualism, these are completely unmatched. First of all, children who speak more than one language have always been able to make new friends very fast, without fear, which is a quite useful skill that can help them network and position themselves high up in the global world later on. Besides that, it’s also important to know that learning a new language is much more than just learning how to read, write, and speak in that language. The primary focus is on learning about a new culture through language, which allows children to understand the world around them and make friends from other cultural groups. Bilingualism and multilingualism also nurture a positive attitude and respect towards other cultures, which can be essential for kids’ future academic success.
What are the benefits of an Australian-Indonesian relation?
The relationship between young Australians and Indonesians has always been very strong, and the truth is that it allows for cultural, educational, and professional growth everyone should strive for. If you wonder why Australians should learn Indonesian in school and vice versa, some of the best reasons are better communication skills, improved academic success, and greater chances of getting a job in the future. Besides that, geographical proximity is one of those reasons, too, as the two countries are only 120 km apart and have strong business connections. Knowing the language of a neighbouring country is always a good way to go, so don’t wait any longer and familiarize your kids with it while they’re still young. It’ll undoubtedly open many doors for them in the near future.
As you can tell, the benefits of a bilingual and multilingual environment for kids’ future academic success are numerous. Even though there were many myths which promoted the negative effects of bilingualism, it sure proved to be much more than just a nuisance. In fact, it has so many advantages that play a huge role in children’s lives, education, and career prospects, so bear them in mind and you’ll do the right thing for your little ones!
Art VS Pollution: Indonesian Artists Taking a Stand
As Australia grapples with a waste management crisis, Indonesian artists campaigning against pollution have been recognised by Australian curators for their innovative approach to the issue.
Australia’s unsatisfactory waste management was highlighted in July when 210 tonnes of contaminated waste from Brisbane was dumped at Indonesia’s Surabaya shipping port. Indonesians meanwhile have become so addicted to plastic packaging that it is now the world’s second-largest contributor of plastic pollutants to the oceans according to the scientific journal Science. The works by Indonesian artists communicating the cost of environmental degradation are now available to the Australian audience.
“It’s a chronic issue that inspired me”, explained Tita Salina, who is taking part in the National Gallery of Australia’s Contemporary Worlds: Indonesia exhibition until October. Her work, 1001st island – the most sustainable island in the archipelago (2015), made from rubbish collected with her local community, evokes the island of Java where rubbish-clogged rivers channel waste into Jakarta’s bay.
Tita Salina with 1001st island – the most sustainable island in the archipelago (2015). Photo citynews.com.au
[Member Spotlight] Owen Wishart
Welcome back to Member Spotlight where we introduce you to the personalities behind AIYA. This week, we introduce you to AIYA Yogyakarta Sports officer, Owen Wishart!
AIYA QLD Malam Karier 2019
Success often depends on who you know.
Thursday the 8th of August saw AIYA QLD host its second event, and it was a huge success. Malam Karier sets the stage for an excellent and informative evening of discussion on the advantages of smart networking and how to be interview ready. Featuring two very special guests, John Kimlin and Alister Alibi, who shared their expertise in navigating competitive job markets.