Seira Children’s Festival Brings Early Childhood Education and Teachers to Life

On Seira Island, learning doesn’t always take place in the classroom. It lives in the village hall, in the playground, at night when teachers should be resting, and in the curious faces of children. Through the Seira Calls Home series of activities, Heka Leka, along with Seira Youth, creates learning spaces that reach all ages, from early childhood education teachers to children and teenagers.

This journey began with the early childhood education teachers of Seira Village. Amidst the quiet village evening routine, the female teachers stepped into the Seira Calls Home Committee Secretariat to participate in the Let’s Teach Creatively session. There was initial anxiety about whether they would survive until the end of the session. However, time proved otherwise. Until 10:10 PM WIT, the teachers persisted, learning, laughing, and creating. They tried making liquid paint, painting with sand, and experimenting with marbles as a learning medium. That night marked the point that the enthusiasm of the early childhood education teachers in Seira knows no time limits.

This enthusiasm then spread to the early childhood education children. On Sunday, around 50 children from five preschools in Seira Village gathered for an Arts Festival. Using colored sand as their primary medium, the children painted letter patterns based on their imaginations and favorite colors. They used simple materials from their surroundings, not crayons or markers. Laughter, singing, and togetherness accompanied this meaningful learning process. Through these simple activities, the children learned self-confidence, independence, and the courage to express their imaginations.

The learning space was also open to Seira’s youth, who live amidst challenging social realities. Issues such as early marriage, premarital pregnancy, dropping out of school, and sexual violence are part of everyday life that cannot be ignored. In a reflective session, facilitators encouraged the youth to identify themselves, their potential, their dreams, and their role in their communities. The discussions were honest and touching, including sharing experiences of friends who committed suicide due to the shame of pregnancy. Through this safe space, youth learned to understand the risks, recognize forms of sexual violence, and equip themselves with ways to protect themselves. A simple yet meaningful slogan emerged: “Say no to casual sex, say yes to achievement.”

On Saturday, December 16th, the children of Seira’s learning spirit culminated in the Science Festival. Children from various levels of education invited each other to come and try each game. Through the wheel of knowledge, they learned about zoology, botany, ecology, astronomy, and the human body. The Quark Alarm taught patience and focus through the concept of energy transformation, while the Snakes and Ladders “I’m a Brave Child” game provided a fun and memorable educational tool for preventing sexual violence. Gas-powered cars and wind golf introduced the power of air and alternative energy. For the children of Seira, science no longer felt distant or difficult, but close, fun, and filled with curiosity.

Efforts to build sustainable education were also strengthened through the Basic Education and Training for Early Childhood Education (PAUD) Teachers throughout the Saparua District. Over six days, 28 teachers participated in the training, a collaboration between Heka Leka and Generasi Sehat dan Cerdas. A variety of topics were discussed, ranging from PAUD policies, classroom management, positive discipline, child development stages, to nutritional health and healthy lifestyles. Teachers not only learned indoors but were also encouraged to utilize the potential of the surrounding environment and witnessed inter-community collaboration in practice through Skype sessions with PAUDs in Bandung. The outbound activities also serve as an important reminder that teachers need to be happy to be able to educate wholeheartedly.

From teachers to children, from art to science, from dreams to reality, this entire series of activities demonstrates one thing: when learning spaces are opened with sincerity, hope grows. Seira is not just a place to return to, but a place to grow together.

Greetings, Smart Maluku!