Profile Indonesian Regions

Profiles of Indonesian Regions represented by Legacy International’s  2010 Indonesian Youth Leadership Program  Participants

  • Gorontalo City, Gorontalo Province – Sulewesi Island: Gorontalo Province is situated in the northern part of Sulawesi Island. The capital city has the same name, Gorontalo, which is known as the “City of Culture ” from the variety of traditions represented through dance, music, and legend. The Gorontalo region, from its lush panorama of mountains and hills to its coastal areas, offers many unique natural attractions. Geographically located near the Equator, this area is a popular tourism spot for world class diving. Several indigenous tribes live apart from ‘modern’ society and maintain their own culture and way of life. The Bajo people continue to live on boats while working as fisherman and cultivating pearls and sea grass. The island of Sulawesi is an evolutionary melting pot between the continents of Asia and Australia. Because it has been isolated from these landmasses for millions of years, the island has seen the evolution of many animal species unique to this area. However, Sulawesi’s incredible wealth of indigenous wildlife is threatened by loss of habitat through farming, hunting, and most recently, the growth of gold mining. Conservationists are increasingly concerned with the economic influences that focus on providing ‘a better life’ for the people at the expense of it’s unique and natural beauty.
  • Cilegon, Banten Province – West Java: Cilegon’s strategic coastal location continues to expand as one of West Java’s main seaports in Banten province, and is intended to be an alternate port of Singapore. With the assistance of the Indonesian government, Cilegon has become a major industrial center, attracting oil & heavy steel refineries, petrochemicals companies, etc. Other attractions in the Cilegon area are its abundant supply of labor, land, and easy access to many markets for products and services. This area is also the home of Indonesia’s first national park, Ujong Kulon, which contains the largest remaining lowland rainforest in Java. It is also one of only two homes of the critically endangered Javan Rhinoceros. The park encompasses the volcanic island group of Krakatoa, as well as and other islands. The explosion of Krakatoa in 1883, estimated to have killed over 120,000 people, produced a tidal wave that eliminated the villages and crops of the coastal areas on the western peninsula, and covered the entire area in a layer of ash about 30 cm thick. This caused the total evacuation of the peninsula by humans, thereby allowing it to become a repository for much of Java’s flora and fauna, and most of the remaining lowland forest on the island. In the aftermath of the eruption, it was found that the island of Krakatoa had almost entirely disappeared. Banten Provinces’ indigenous people are from the Baduy tribe, who continue to live and practice their traditions in community settlements located in the river basins of the mountains.
  • Batam, Riau Archipelago – Riau Islands: Batam, an island and city in the Riau Islands Province, which encompasses 3,200 islands. Beginning in the 1970s, the island underwent a major transformation from a largely forested area into a major harbor and industrial zone. The population grew from a few thousand in the 1960s to today’s estimated population of 1 million. The official language on the island is Bahasa Indonesian, but due to the sizeable Chinese population, Chinese and Madarin are also spoken. Batam Island is one of the fastest growing tourism markets in Indonesia besides the island of Bali. The island is strategically located within an international shipping route between the Indian and the Pacific Ocean. Located only 12.5 miles off Singapore’s south coast, with lower labor costs and special government incentives, it is the site of many factories operated by Singaporean companies. Shipbuilding and electronics manufacturing are major industries on the island. This proximity to Singapore has not been ignored when it comes to tourism opportunities. Ferries from Singapore run directly to this part of the island making the perfect weekend gateway from the bustle of the ‘Lion City’.
Indonesia is a unique and diverse country comprised of over 17,000 islands, and is the world’s largest archipelago country. With a population of 230 million people, it is the world’s fourth most populous country and is the world’s most recently elected democracy. Indonesia’s first direct presidential elections were held in 2004, in what was hailed as the first peaceful transition of power in Indonesia’s history. The people of Indonesia have faced many challenges while nurturing their emerging democracy: rebuilding an economy devastated by the Asian collapse of 1997, independence demands from restive provinces, increasing ethnic and religious conflict agitated by outside forces and frequent large scale natural disasters. Relations between the U.S. and Indonesia continue to be positive – a close partnership in education is a major priority for both governments. The IYLP program supports this joint commitment to revitalize education in all sectors of society for the next generation of Indonesia’s leaders.
Indonesia also has the world’s largest population of Muslims. Traditionally, Indonesian’s have practiced a moderate and tolerant form of Islam that promotes harmonious co-existence with other races and religions.  Islam has long been and continues to be a moderating influence in the region. Students are selected from various educational institutions – many from traditional boarding schools. The experience of cooperative living and emphasis on spiritual development at these schools reinforce opportunities for character building, high academic achievement and personal development. These Indonesian youth are key to a more tolerant, secure future among civil nations.