On Saturday, 23rd of February, the Frans Seda Foundation welcomed Twin Scholarship students and Innovation Lab fellows to a preparation meeting in Jakarta. In April, eight Fellows from Indonesia will join the FSF Innovation Lab in Jakarta, Cirebon & Linggarjati. During the Innovation Lab, the Indonesian fellows will join forces with fellows from the Netherlands to work on the development of four nonprofit organisations.
Septa Dinata preparing the 2019 Twin Scholarship recipients
Twin Scholarship
A special preparation session was conducted for the 2019 Twin Scholarship recipients from Unika Atma Jaya and Universitas Indonesia. As with previous Twin Scholarship recipients, they will visit the Netherlands to conduct their master research at host university Tilburg University. Septa Dinata, 2018 Twin Scholarship recipient, shared his experiences in the Netherlands and offered the new batch of students’ advice on conducting their research in the Netherlands.
Deisya Maulida Al Hamid presenting on behalf of Kitong Bisa, one of the selected nonprofit organisations.
Innovation Lab
Shortly after the Twin Scholarship preparation session, the FSF Innovation Lab fellows joined the students for the afternoon session.
The FSF Innovation Lab is aimed to contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, by offering nonprofits and social enterprises access to the strategic professional support they need to become more efficient, effective and sustainable. A group of talented young Dutch and Indonesian leaders have been selected to co-create solutions that will widen the impact of the nonprofits through a one-week Innovation Lab in Indonesia.
Ery Seda, member of the Board of Trustees, and Anindita Sitepu from the Board of Directors opened the session by explaining the origins of the Foundation, and the reason for continuing to honour the legacy of the late Frans Seda. According to Anindita: “The Foundation aims to continously build bridges between Indonesian and Dutch young people, promoting understanding and collaboration between the two countries through its’ signature programs. I am proud and excited to introduce The FSF Innovation Lab, a platform where professionals with different backgrounds will work together and widen the impact of selected nonprofits in Indonesia.”
The session was followed by presentations of the selected nonprofit organisations, to better acquaint the Fellows with the organisations they will work with. The four nonprofit organisations that have been selected are spread throughout Indonesia and are: The Leader, Project Child, Yayasan Ksatria Medika Airlangga & Kitong Bisa.
Sonya Suganda & Teuku Reza Fadeli together with Rennie Roos & Irene Sugiharto, the moderators of the Innovation Lab
Return to Linggarjati
Part of this year’s Innovation Lab will take place in Linggarjati, a historical place for Indonesia-Netherlands relations. In 1946, representatives from Indonesia and the Netherlands for the first time sat together to talk about future relations. Sonya Suganda, whose family has close ties with Linggarjati and with Ibu Joty ter Kulve who shared her story last week with our Dutch Fellows, started by sharing her personal story of Linggarjati. Teuku Reza Fadeli, a historian from the University of Indonesia followed by giving a brief history of the Linggarjati Agreement.
The Frans Seda Foundation’s overarching goal is to build bridges. Bridges between different cultures, religions and nationalities, just as the late Frans Seda did during his lifetime. By revisiting Linggarjati, the Foundation hopes to bridge an understanding that connects the past to the future. On May 1st, the Innovation Lab Fellows will visit the Linggarjati Museum, initiate meaningful discussions, and will create a joined statement on Indonesia-Netherlands relations.
Indy Hardono on working with the Dutch
Dealing with the Dutch
For some of the Indonesian Fellows, it will be a first time working together with the Dutch. For that reason we asked Indy Hardono from Nuffic Neso Indonesia, to give some insights in the Dutch culture, and to give some tips and tricks on working with Dutch people. Olivia Herlinda, one of the Indonesian Fellows mentioned the following: “It was a very nice briefing to get to know each other and to dig deeper into our history, and most importantly to anticipate and to set expectations of the Innovation Lab and to work together with the dutch fellows. Apparently, among many differences, we also share lots of commonalities given our shared history. I am excited to be finally meeting, having a fruitful discussion and to literally bridge the differences and prejudices among all of us.”. After a lively session with Indy, the day ended with taking selfies and excitement all around.
We would like to thank Septa Dinata, Sonya Suganda, Teuku Reza Fadeli and Indy Hardono for helping us prepare the 2019 Innovation Lab Fellows and Twin Scholarship students. Terima kasih!
Official opening in April!
Do you want to attend the opening of the Innovation Lab in Jakarta on April 28th? Save the date and register now via: FransSedaFoundation.com/Save-The-Date