Mapping the Potency & Creativity of Raja Ampat Youth

By Trustha Rembaka, S.Th.          

Raja Ampat is one of the regencies of West Papua which is unique as an archipelago covering an area of ​​67.379.61 km2 with a location of 0.45 – 2.15° South Latitude and 129.15 – 132° East Longitude. This regency has a northern boundary with the Pacific Ocean, South with North Seram Regency, West with Seram Sea, and East with Sorong City and Sorong Regency. Its existence as an archipelagic region has its consequences. On one hand, the marine has abundant content from fisheries and coastal and marine tourism attractions, but on the other hand, connectivity between regions is very dependent on the availability of sea transportation modes, weather, and telecommunication networks.

Tourism in Raja Ampat is a magnet for other business breakthroughs, such as culinary, souvenirs, homestays, attractions, and tourist trips bringing income for tourism actors and the local community. As part of the Raja Ampat community, youth should grab the advantage of tourism potency. In this case, they need to increase their capacity to take this business opportunity. The multiplication program of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat took the initiative through online entrepreneurship training for youth dan students in Raja Ampat in collaboration with Stube HEMAT Yogyakarta (23/9/2022).

Eight youths and students from Raja Ampat and several Stube students from other provinces joined the discussion, thereby strengthening relations between Stube students in Indonesia. Trustha Rembaka provoked the participants' opinions with what came to mind when they heard about Raja Ampat. Some said it has famous tourist spots, some said the sea and its potential, and others said transportation problems. This is the reality in Raja Ampat that must be accepted and responded properly.

Regarding youth initiatives in entrepreneurship, one of the discussion participants, Jimy, revealed the potencies of the sea, namely Gropa fish. He caught and processed it into salted fish, then sell to collectors for resale in Waisai. Another marine potency was explained by Eklefina, a young student from Warwarbomi, where young people in her village were fishing tuna. Meanwhile, Yuli Mambrasar revealed activities in her village that traditionally process sago from trees into sago flour. She also told about the culinary delights of sago and brown sugar that are favored in Sorong. Another participant told about coconuts that grow in their village and are processed into VCO. Various other ideas also emerged, such as Ariani Narwastujati telling a unique tour in Bali, namely the Fireflies Garden, where tourists are invited to enjoy a rice field tour at night to watch the fireflies. Thomas revealed the business of accessories and t-shirt souvenirs with local images.

The participants were motivated to express entrepreneurial ideas that they would work on. By 5W + 1H in doing business, they observed: What: what business will be chosen? Why: Why do we choose this business? Who: Who will run the business? Where: Where does the business operate? When: When will the business start? And How: How do we run the business?

This initial sharing became the starting point for Stube HEMAT to enrich the horizons of young people in Raja Ampat and collect creative entrepreneurial ideas that students in Raja Ampat will pioneer. Many opportunities to develop with the existing potencies. Young people of Raja Ampat, you can! ***