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JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its unwavering commitment to supporting Indonesia through education, the Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) hosted a fundraising event on Saturday, February 16, 2019, to celebrate the second year of its Bhinekka Tunggal Ika (BTI) scholarship program while raising awareness about JIS' ongoing search for the archipelago's future leaders.
Themed Merah Putih (Red and White) in honor of host country Indonesia, the fundraiser invited members of the JIS community and a number of special guests to come together in the spirit of giving back and ensuring high-quality education for all.
Distinguished speakers who shared their appreciation of the BTI included JIS Head of School Dr. Tarek Razik, Persada Capital Investama President Director Arini Subianto, former Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, and Caturkarsa Megatunggal President Director and CEO Jimmy Masrin.
"I'm very proud to be associated with an organization that cares so deeply both about education and about improving the lives of individuals in the country," Dr. Razik announced in his speech.
"We're here tonight to let everybody know how we can all help. How we can help students, how we can help JIS and how we can help Indonesia."
The BTI was launched in the 2018/19 academic year with the aim of providing academically outstanding Indonesian students the chance to meet their full potential at JIS with a fully funded, high-quality educational experience until graduation. Two exceptional students were selected last year and are currently doing very well with their studies and extracurricular activities.
According to Mr. Gita Wirjawan, these students and future recipients of the BTI reflect JIS' active role in answering a broader need "to produce a product of education that has the necessary gumption, prescience, mental fortitude and foresight for Indonesia to be a relevant country."
"Bringing a [student] from a public school Karawaci [in Banten], East Nasa Tenggara, North Maluku or from a public school in Papua to enroll in JIS until he or she graduates is a symbol of JIS' ability to underline the point that talent is universal, but opportunities are not," he added.
"If that [student] were to be given the opportunity to learn how to speak English, mathematics, physics, literature, music, the spirit of Merah Putih shall linger."
For Mr. Jimmy Masrin, a "proud Indonesian" and JIS alumnus, the fundraising event allowed him to reminisce about his formative years at the school but also underline the importance of the scholarship for other Indonesian students who may not have the financial capacity to receive the same opportunity for quality education.
"The most precious gift my parents gave me was an education at JIS. I can't imagine a better [educational] foundation for Indonesia," he said.
"[The BTI] is the future of Indonesia; it's a life-changing scenario."
While Mr. Jimmy Masrin looked back on how JIS helped him grow as a global citizen and achieve his current level of success as a businessman, one very special guest that evening gave a very current account of how her life is being shaped at JIS.
Grade 11 student Farheen Shamdasani described her experience at the school as "a student's dream", one that could help her accomplish her goal of empowering young people across Indonesia.
"I always thought that because I'm so young, my opinions won't be valued [...] JIS has empowered me to fight for what I am passionate about and instilled core values in me that I use on a daily basis as I attempt to make my impact on the world; as I attempt to be the best for the world," Farheen said.
"It is a community of the most passionate and creative thinkers that I know and a community that I hope to see expand through the growth of the [BTI] scholarship program."
The BTI Committee is currently in the process of selecting three more recipients for the 2019/20 school year, having already visited state middle schools (SMPN) and state high schools (SMAN) across Jakarta in a scholarship Road Show. They include SMPN 111, SMPN 49, SMPN 115, SMPN 216, SMPN 41, SMPN 225 and high schools SMAN 3, SMAN 28, as well as JIS sister school SMAN 8.
About Jakarta Intercultural School
JIS was founded in 1951 by United Nations workers who aimed to introduce relevant schooling in English for children of expatriates in a newly independent Indonesia. Originally named the Joint Embassy School (JES) after our British, American, Australian and then-Yugoslavian embassy partners, JIS became a pioneer for international education in the archipelago and the region.
A name change in 1974 saw JIS to become the Jakarta International School and finally Jakarta Intercultural School in 2014. Today, with high expectations for results-oriented and engaged learning, JIS helps each community member grow to be Best for the World.
As JIS continues the nearly 70-year journey, JIS values each learner whose personal story enriches our own. With some 2,400 students, over 250 faculty members and countless alumni and parents contributing daily to the school's legacy and the world around us, JIS's diverse community remains encouraged, humbled and motivated to continue growing as lifelong learners.
For more information, please go to https://www.jisedu.or.id/scholarships
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