Finalizing one of the plans for Papua, especially its youths, President Joko Widodo inaugurated the facilities dedicated to the Papua Youth Creative Hub. This initiative is one of the efforts to improve the creative minds of the Papuan. Located in Jayapura, this facility is Indonesia’s first of seven hubs.
The official inauguration of the building and facilities took place on 21 March 2023. It serves as a creative space for the young generation of Papua. Hopefully, the youth of Papuans will positively use this facility to present and showcase their innovations. Next, the other hubs will be built throughout Papua, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Maluku, and Aceh.
The Background of PYCH
Papua Youth Creative Hub is a new initiative. The idea was first announced after President Joko Widodo met with 23 representatives of Papuan youths in the State Palace on September 2019. The meeting was to open dialogue between the central government and the Papuans.
During this meeting, the representatives requested an empowerment space in Papua. The region has big potential in terms of natural and human resources, which government often overlooks. By setting up a free space for the young generations, the Papuans will be able to improve their creativity and abilities.
After the meeting, the central government takes over the request. The first facility in Jayapura is built on 15,000 m2 of land. The total area of the building occupies 3,520 m2 area with adjacent supporting buildings occupying another 1,812 m2 area.
Here are the entire facilities:
- It has several multipurpose rooms that serve as classrooms for training and coursework.
- An exhibit hall is ready to showcase the new products.
- It is also equipped with sports facilities, such as indoor and outdoor courts for basketball and futsal.
- There is also a coworking space and dorm building where training participants could stay during their program.
- A cafeteria is also included inside this facility.
At the inauguration, the President admitted his pleasant surprise that the building has complete facilities. Not to mention how the young Papuans have actively used all the facilities. He also conveyed his hopes that PYCH will bring progress to the people in Papua.
He has high hope that PYCH will serve as a space for discussions among young Papuans. Through these discussions, hopefully, we could expect innovations to emerge from Papua.
Future Plans for PYCH
As mentioned above, President Joko Widodo did not hide his surprise when he officially inaugurated the Papua Youth Creative Hub building in Jayapura. He found the young Papuans have set up training and coursework on technology, such as:
- Programs for making and repairing laptops and mobile phones.
- Embracing the latest innovations, the people of Papua also get a podcast studio where they can record and produce their content. Photography studios can help them to learn and improve their skills.
- There are also programming and coding classes held in this facility.
- Other than that, the multipurpose rooms also serve as language learning classes, including marketing programs to help them grow globally.
The President shared his thought that by using the PYCH facility, young people in Papua can now race toward the future.
This creative hub is to drive the creative minds of the young people of Papua. It is not only in technology but also in other industries such as fashion, fisheries, tourism, animal husbandry, and other creative industries. It also serves as a place where the people of Papua can freely showcase their products.
The President expects Papua Youth Creative Hub offers opportunities for the human resources and innovation potentials in Papua. In the end, it will have a positive economic impact on the people of Papua.
