Pramono Emphasizes Importance of Creative Spaces for Children

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung expressed his high appreciation for the talents showcased by students in the 2026 Hanjaba Literacy Competition and the Provincial-Level Writing Competition.

I believe events like this are excellent for stimulating, engaging, and encouraging our children

Pram emphasized, such competitions are vital for fostering confidence and encouraging children to present themselves in the public sphere.

He made these remarks after presenting awards to the winners of the two competitions at the Great Hall, Jakarta City Hall, Thursday (9/3).

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"I believe events like this are excellent for stimulating, engaging, and encouraging our children to have the courage to step up and perform," he expressed.

Organized by the Jakarta Library and Archives Agency (Dispusip), Hanjaba 2026 drew 1,640 participants, ranging from elementary to senior high school students.

Pramono is confident that these young talents are the high-quality human resources that will build a resilient and vibrant Jakarta.

"It is precisely this that convinces me that Jakarta is truly rich in human capital—our children are our greatest resource," he explained.

He emphasized that Jakarta is dedicated to opening as many doors as possible for student learning. Beyond providing learning spaces, the city is actively channeling aid through KJP, KJMU, and certificate clearing programs, with plans to launch LPDP scholarships next year.

"We want to ensure that children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the same opportunities to pursue their education overseas at top-tier global universities," he continued.

By providing these programs, he hopes to dismantle the barriers of disadvantage facing many Jakartans. Closing his speech, he issued a collective call to action for everyone to contribute to the city's progress.

"I truly believe Jakarta will flourish as a world-class city if everyone—mothers, fathers, and our youth—comes together to take part in its transformation," he concluded.

According to Nasruddin Djoko Surjono, Head of Jakarta Library and Archives Agency, the Hanjaba competitions are more than just a contest, which is a vital momentum to ignite a love for reading and offer children a space for creative expression.

As Jakarta approaches its 500th year, the theme 'Jakarta in Memories and Hopes' was chosen to mark this historic milestone.

"We want to encourage children to look back at Jakarta through their own eyes and experiences, while simultaneously projecting their hopes for the future city they envision," he explained.

This year, Hanjaba saw a high level of enthusiasm with 1,640 registrants. After a rigorous selection, 488 finalists were shortlisted to showcase their talents on August 20, 21, and 24, 2026.

The event offered seven diverse categories to spark creativity, ranging from drawing and poetry recitation to storytelling, comic strip making, pantun, English speech, and photography.

He hopes the program provides a vital space for Jakarta’s youth to grow—not only by reading and thinking but also by having the courage to dream and shape the future of the metropolis.