Tribune News Network
Doha
The Indonesian Embassy in Doha held the first Short Course on Civic Education for Indonesian Youth.
The course was held in collaboration with the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the Islamic University of Indonesia, Yogyakarta, Indonesian Student Association in Qatar (PPIQ), Anak Qatar and the Indonesian Community Association in Qatar (PERMIQA). The theme of the course was ‘Nurturing Nationalism in the International World’.
"We took this theme to create awareness that the nationalism we want is nationalism that respects other nations. Our nationalism must nurture and nourish in the ‘garden’ of internationalism,” said Ali Murtado, head of Social and Cultural Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Doha.
The course was organised online from October 10 to 13 and offline on October 28. The programme concluded on October 28 coinciding with the commemoration of the 94th Youth Pledge Day. Around 40 Indonesian youths in Qatar participated in the programme.
Emphasising the importance of nationalism among the young Indonesian expatriates in Qatar, the Indonesian Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Ridwan Hassan said: "This activity aims to foster a sense of love and belonging for the homeland among these children.”
He pointed out that many young Indonesian expatriates in Qatar have grown up as ‘half’ foreigners. Many of them cannot speak Indonesian properly, he said. "That is also the reason why this year’s the course was held in English,” he added.
"This event is incredible because it reveals Indonesia from various perspectives. Loving Indonesia does not need to be limited by who we are and where we are,” said Putri Handayani, one of the speakers and a mountaineer who currently lives in Qatar.
This event also proudly presented Izza Alyssa, an Indonesian youth who had won the prestigious Sheikha Moza Scholarship in Qatar, as well as Dr. Anto Mohsin, a lecturer at Northwestern University in Qatar.
"I am very happy to attend this programme. It gave me a more comprehensive description about my country” said Keira, a 15 year-old participant at the event.