Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Opened Stay AWAY Campaign

UPH, Lippo Village – In its effort to build a qualified young generation, Universitas Pelita Harapan is launching a ?Stay AWAY Campaign?, which was inaugurated by the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare, Dr. H.R. Agung Laksono, Monday (18 / 1). UPH Rector, Jonathan Parapak, revealed that since it was established, UPH has been consistently applying the non-smoking environment on campus. The purpose is to create a healthy and comfortable environment for every person in UPH campus. Being strict with the commitment, any students violating the rules will be strongly warned, or even dismissed from UPH as the maximum penalty.

In his speech, Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare expressed its support to UPH. “There are needs to socialize, as well as put this campaign into actions, and promote it to schools. I am of course delighted and very supportive, because it is impossible for the government to do all this alone. This is important, because most young people do not realize the dangers that exist in their relationships.? The research on HIV/AIDS has shown as many as 42 cases only, while actually there almost 300.000 people are infected with HIV. It?s time for a national movement to reduce HIV to zero point”, he said.

In relation to Floorball which becomes a part of the Stay AWAY campaign activities, the Minister said, Indonesia as one of the major countries in ASIA should be able to catch up with other countries in the field of sports. In addition to being healthy, exercise is also useful to prevent young people from doing things that could destroy their futures.

Floorball from Sweden is played by 6 people, and will soon be promoted in Indonesia. According to Prof. Toho Cholik Mutohir ? Chairman of IFA (Indonesian Floorball Association), this sport does not only rely on physical activity alone, but can also foster sportsmanship. “Floorball is a miniature of life. There are a lot of values in the game which are meant to prepare the young generation to be strong physically, mentally and spiritually. It will be very beneficial to the nation, “he explained.

In this series of Stay AWAY campaigns, UPH invites teachers and high school students from Jabodetabek area on a two-day program to join a floorball training by IFA team. These sports activities are expected to be useful for the participants, and can be socialized into their schools respectively, which in turns will reduce the chance of students doing negative things. (sar)