Global Dignity Day Commemoration in Indonesia Encourages Indonesian Youth to Lead a Dignified Life through Healthy Lifestyle Campaign by YCAB Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jakarta, 20 October 2011 – The Global Dignity Day (GDD), which celebrates on 20 October every year, reminds us about ‘dignity’ as a universal language that unites the human kind. The idea of a Global Dignity originated from three Young Global Leader alumni, i.e. HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen, and Operation HOPE Founder Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant. In 2011, Global Dignity expects to reach over 100,000 youth across more than 50 countries on Global Dignity Day, through the leadership and efforts of its Country Chairs, the Young Global Leaders ( www.younggloballeaders.org ), and hundreds of other volunteers.
The GDD commemoration in Indonesia began in 2008 and was initiated by Veronica Colondam, one of the Young Global Leaders (YGL) who was selected by the World Economic Forum in 2006. Through YCAB Foundation, the Global Dignity campaign aims to encourage Indonesian youth to adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to live a dignified life. This campaign is part of one YCAB’s three pillars, namely the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion (HeLP) which conveys the necessity of leading a dignified life through a healthy lifestyle and avoidance of risky behaviors, including free sex, drugs abuse, and HIV/ AIDS.
Since three years ago, the Global Dignity campaign by YCAB Foundation had reached more than 50,000 youth in Indonesia per year. The campaign started with the Jakarta area in 2008 and was expanded across eight cities in eight provinces in 2010. This year, along with Silverius Oscar Unggul from Telapak (YGL 2008), YCAB Foundation pledges to spread the message about the importance of dignity to more than 50,000 youth across Indonesia. Telapak is an association which have vision to make Indonesia a politically and economically independent, and also culturally dignified country.
By 2011, the Global Dignity campaign conducted by YCAB Foundation had reached more than 45,200 students in 273 schools in 10 provinces in Indonesia, i.e. DKI Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Lampung, Bali, and West Sumatra. The Healthy Lifestyle Promotion (HeLP) team from YCAB Foundation visits the schools regularly for anti-drug and HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns. The team always delivers the five dignity principles at the beginning of every campaign to encourage Indonesian youth to lead dignified lives. In addition, YCAB Foundation also held a number of Performing Arts carrying the theme of “Dignity” – inviting some of the schools’ representatives to participate in performances related to ‘human dignity’.
Meanwhile, the Global Dignity campaign by Telapak in 2011 by Silverius Oscar Unggul has reached more than 25,000 students. The campaign succeeded in reaching 24 schools in seven provinces in Indonesia, i.e. Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Mentawai Islands, Jambi, and Papua.
“We believe that ‘dignity comes before development’, which means that the development of dignity is the milestone of developing the lives of our young generation. Through our healthy lifestyle campaign, YCAB Foundation seeks to encourage Indonesian youth to lead a dignified life so they can realize their dreams. One of the Global Dignity principles which says that dignified life means an opportunity to fulfill one’s potential, is in accordance with what YCAB Foundation believes – that children have the rights to live life to the fullest,” said Founder/CEO YCAB Foundation Veronica Colondam during the media conference for Global Dignity Day 2011 commemoration in @America which was broadcasted worldwide.
Within the same day of the GDD 2011 commemoration, HeLP team also showcased Performing Arts in Ujung Menteng, East Jakarta. It also invited five schools’ representatives who were selected based on their active contributions in spreading the message on Global Dignity to Indonesian youth. Some of the student representatives also attended the media conference and share their “dignity stories” – each highlighting one of the five dignity principles.
During the media conference, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway as one of the founders of Global Dignity extended his greetings to Indonesians in a video recording, along with Veronica Colondam and Silverius Oscar Unggul. He said that Global Dignity sought to create a scope in which the youth would be provided a chance to think about the most important aspect in their lives.
“We have been faithful in commemorating the ‘Global Dignity Day’ worldwide up to this moment. The Global Dignity campaign in Indonesia, which was initiated by Veronica and Silverius had reached 10,000 young people. Global Dignity has become a part of the world movements and currently people across continents (especially among youths) and the world talking about the meaning of dignity. This is a good medium for us to think about the real value about life’s most essential element: human dignity,” said His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.
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About Global Dignity
Global Dignity is an independent, non-profit, non-political organization focused on empowering people with dignity. Established in 2006 by Young Global Leaders HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant and Professor Pekka Himanen, the initiative inspires respect, self-esteem and tolerance of diversity and promotes the idea that every human being has the universal right to lead a dignified life. Global Dignity has developed a course on dignity, including five dignity principles, which is taught in schools around the world on October 20th – Global Dignity Day. In 2011, over 100,000 students in more than 50 countries will participate in Global Dignity Day. To join the movement or learn more, please visit www.globaldignity.org.
Five Key Principles of Global Dignity
- Every human being has a right to lead a dignified life.
- A dignified life means an opportunity to fulfill one’s potential, which is based on having a human level of health care, education, income and security.
- Dignity means having the freedom to make decisions on one’s life and to be met with respect for this right.
- Dignity should be the basic guiding principle for all actions.
- Ultimately, our own dignity is interdependent with the dignity of others.
For further informations, please visit www.globaldignity.org
About Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa
Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa is an independent non-profit organization in Indonesia that was established in August 1999 and became a global organization in 2011 through YCAB Foundation. YCAB Foundation is headquartered in New York and is registered as a non-profit organizations that already have the facility of tax reductions (tax deductions) through section 501 (c) (3).
YCAB Foundation aims to establish independence in adolescents with a comprehensive development approach through the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion (HELP), House of Learning and Development (HOLD), and Hands-on Operation for Entrepreneurship (HOPE).
For more information, please visit www.ycabfoundation.org
Linda Chalid
Development and Communications Division
YCAB Foundation
Tel: +62 21 5835 5000
Fax: +62 21 5835 5001