Jakaringan Cinema Team
With members aged 15 to 22, the Jakaringan Cinema Team has launched six short films focused on ending violence against children in Indonesia. They also campaign through social media, raising awareness of sexual violence. The Jakaringan Cinema Team believes that mobilising children empowers them to be agents of change.
Q&A with Jakaringan Cinema Team
lightly edited and condensed for clarity
What are your favourite foods to eat?
Seblak (Indonesian traditional food). Some of us prefer to have seafood, fried chicken, fried mixed vegetables, or meatballs. And some of us love all foods.
What are your favourite things to do for fun?
Our favourite things to do are singing, reading fiction, movies, exercise, poetry writing, photography, and vlogging.
Who are your favourite actors/singers/influencers?
Adele and Maudy Ayunda (singers)
Tulus (Indonesian actress/singer)
Najwa Shihab (Indonesian influencer)
Mata Suherman (Indonesian professional photographer)
Greta Thunberg (influencer)
TEDx (education and improvement)
What are some of your team members’ favourite memories from childhood?
Swimming with friends when a flood came. Playing in Kid Zania (theme park). Having good meals after getting treatment. Family holidays. Celebrating birthdays.
What would you tell a future Changemaker?
A future changemaker should inspire and influence others to be part of solutions and maximize the tools or other resources around us to make it happened.
What would you say to yourself 5 years ago?
Please don’t be a lazy person. There is always a place for yourself. At the end you make the point. Work hard. Be soft. Be good to yourself, family, and friends. You made the right decision to joint this club.
What is the issue you advocate on and what made you decide to take on this issue?
Our issue is to end violence against children. The issue is real and happens around us. Our group vision is to voice this. We believe children are the future of our country, and we need to protect each other.
Why is ending violence against children and the issue you advocate on so important to you?
As children, we felt like we had no power against that violence. But when we met each other, we believed we had opportunities. We realized we could take part to at least reduce numbers.
What difference would you like leaders to make to create real change on the issue you advocate on?
We hope that leaders in every sector help us to raise these issues, educate the community to respect and listen to our voice, respect the child with legal issues, and equal treatment for all children.
What would you say to leaders if you had the chance to talk to them directly?
Dear leaders, please listen to our voice and be directly involved. Protect us since we are our nation’s future. Please take action with us.
What is something you hope to accomplish in 1, 5, 10 years?
In one year, we promise to produce content and movies actively.
In five years, we will try to collaborate with the government and many more influencers to raise awareness of this issue broadly.
In ten years, we will become leaders that respect child issues, and make sure this group is still running.
What is the most encouraging thing that has happened during your work with this issue?
We are becoming agents of change since we met peers with the same vision, perception, and work with the same heart and spirit.
What five words would you use to describe why the issue you work on is so important to you?
Children, harassment, action, change, protection.
What is the most fun thing that has happened during your advocacy work?
Having dinner together when we produce our work and casting our friends to be actors for our work.
What challenges have you encountered in your advocacy work?
Since we are teens, the most challenging for us is controlling our emotions and egos during group work. Digging the idea - taking a concept and trying to find a new approach for the issue we want to raise.
Do you advocate alongside other children and young people, and how do they inspire you?
Yes, we do. We work with some children groups, and sometimes we raise awareness of the issue together with them. We enrich our team by having collaboration with them.
If you could pick one personal memory or achievement around ending violence against children, what would it be?
Our 6 Ending Violence Against Children short movies. That was such a big project for our team, involving children from 6 villages, and working and producing on our weekends.
Watch their short films on YouTube here:
Sari - a story about stopping child marriage.
Ngehits – Ngintip – & PAP – teaching children how to be wiser using social media.
Perahu tak sampai - a child’s unrealised dreams of going to school.
Sahabat Sunyi - from bullying to friendship.