Powering the Young Generation’s Literacy: Theological College of Arastamar in Bengkulu Knows Stube HEMAT

By: Made Nopen Supriadi.          

Warm greetings to Stube-HEMAT Bengkulu readers! Literacy is an important part of today's young generation amid digitalization and globalization. Customizing a proper and correct literate life is a necessity today. Without a literacy spirit, the younger generation will be easily influenced by various non-constructive information. This article is a reflection of my experience because I am grateful that Stube-HEMAT Bengkulu has a literacy movement, therefore I will give my testimony on how I got to know Stube-HEMAT Bengkulu and its benefits.

On August 30, 2021, the Stube HEMAT multiplicator in Bengkulu, Yohanes Dian Alpasa, S.Si.Teol. started a conversation about how to accommodate the constructive thoughts of students in Bengkulu city considering that Bengkulu city has many universities, both public and private. Our discussion focused on how to provide enlightenment for students at various universities in the city of Bengkulu. The discussion was further narrowed with the idea of ​​documenting the thoughts of youth in the form of critical and constructive writings in various fields of social life. I welcomed the idea with enthusiasm, considering that I also have an interest in the world of literacy.

We met again to discuss the idea of ​​documenting the constructive thoughts of students in Bengkulu City in September. On September 22, 2021, I was asked to be one of the facilitators for Stube-HEMAT Bengkulu, this was the first time I heard the term Stube-HEMAT Bengkulu. Next, I asked for detailed information about Stube-HEMAT, after reading the blog from stubehemat.blogspot.com I began to understand the direction of its activities. The meeting in mid-September could not take place because I had a visit and development activity for the GEKISIA congregation in Bangka Province. The meeting can be held on September 30, 2021.

At the meeting, I first learned about Stube-HEMAT Bengkulu and realized that on July 20, 2020, I was a resource person at Stube-HEMAT Bengkulu with the material Bengkulu Youth and Christian Leadership with Dahlia Sitohang as moderator. It made me even more enthusiastic to respond to the offer as a facilitator for Stube-HEMAT Bengkulu.

On October 5, 2021, the Multiplicator of Stube HEMAT in Bengkulu discussed the theme ‘Rural Sustainability’ with 15 students of the Bengkulu Arastamar Theological College (STTAB) we got to know Stube-HEMAT Bengkulu and mapping potencies and vulnerabilities in the village. The theme itself encouraged them to describe the place they live in, such as villages in the Mentawai Islands, Nias, and Bengkulu. They enthusiastically told the conditions in which they live and the expected progress. I felt so grateful that I have been trusted to be a resource and I have found the right place to actualize ideas in writing and share them with the younger generation, especially students. We hope that Stube-HEMAT Bengkulu will continue to develop as a literacy driver for the younger generation and spark local ideas for community welfare. ***