TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Elementary school students motivate RI athletes ahead of 2018 Asian Games
Change Size
A
round 20,000 students from 100 state elementary schools in Jakarta and its satellite cities (Bogor, Depok and Bekasi in West Java, as well as Tangerang in Banten) have sent motivational letters of support to Indonesian athletes who will compete in the upcoming 2018 Asian Games.
Stationery brand brand Sinar Dunia (SiDU), which is widely used by students across the country, is actively supporting the program by providing the paper and envelopes for the students to write their letters.
It’s parent company, paper firm Asian Pulp & Paper Sinar Mas (APP Sinar Mas), helped organize the program, which is part of SiDu’s nationwode campaign, Ayo Menulis Bersama SiDU! (Let’s Write with SiDU!)
Launched in September 2017, the campaign seeks to promote paper-based writing among students in an age where digital technology has discourages people of all ages to write by hand.
It also aims to boost children’s creativity with the help of teachers and parents.
According to research compiled by Oxford University, writing by hand actually brings with it many cognitive and emotional benefits. The physio-cognitive activations that happen when one writes by hand can reduce stress, boost creativity and learning, boost memory capacity, increase comprehension and help the writer regulate his or her feelings.
And with the Asian Games fast approaching, SidDU hopes to raise awareness about the quadrennial event and the significance of Indonesia’s role as host among the younger generation
Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) vice director of revenue Cahyadi Wanda said it was important to boost the general public’s enthusiasm about the upcoming Games to turn them into a success.
“As the organizing committee, we appreciate APP Sinar Mas’ initiative through its brand SiDU to boost the awareness of people from all walks of life, specifically elementary school students, about the upcoming tournament. I hope that the tournament can be an opportunity for us, especially the younger generation, to commit ourselves to doing our best to advance our country,” Cahyadi said.
Basketball player Vincent Kosasih, representing his fellow Asian Games athletes, said the students’ letters truly boosted their spirits during their rigorous training schedule.
“The students’ letters have been an effective energy booster for us to do our best in the Asian Games!” he said.
Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi said the motivational letters meant so much to the athletes, especially considering how hard they had trained every day to prepare for the competition.
“They have been practicing and training hundreds of days, thousands of hours to go beyond their personal limitations during the upcoming tournament. I am very sure that our children’s motivational letters will impact the athletes profoundly and emotionally, so that they have the strength to move forward,” he said.
“I am also very proud about the fact that these students – who are still in elementary school – are already aware about national issues, propelling them to write and send thousands of letters to support these athletes.”
APP Sinar Mas consumer business head Sovan K. Ganguly said the company was honored to take part in boosting the spirits of Indonesia’s younger generations and sharpen their potential through the handwriting initiative.
“Besides supporting our athletes, who are our modern-day heroes, we also would like to boost the competence of our young generation, particularly by teaching them how to instill a habit of writing clearly,” he said.
As part of its efforts to support the Asian Games, SiDU has also launched a multipurpose paper product with special packaging that revolves around the 2018 Asian Games. APP Sinar Mas will also provide 20,000 reams of paper to support the operations of the upcoming tournament, which is Asia’s biggest multisport event.
“For more than three decades, SiDU has been accompanying its Indonesian consumers in their handwriting, studying and working activities, starting from primary school levels right up to their years working as professionals through various innovations, products and educational programs. We have committed ourselves to continue supporting Indonesia in its journey toward a better future,” Sovan said.
