Invitation from President Prabowo Brings Joy to Teachers and Fishermen from the Thousand Islands
Ahead of the 81st anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, special news reached the islands stretching along the north of Jakarta. From Sabira Island to Harapan Island, several teachers and fishermen from Kepulauan Seribu (the Thousand Islands) were given an opportunity they may never have imagined before, which is to attend the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia ceremony in person at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, on August 17, 2026.
One of those experiencing this moment is Welni Agnes, who has dedicated herself to teaching at SMPN (public junior high school) 1 Atap Dua on Sabira Island. When she first heard that she had been given the opportunity to attend the ceremony at the Merdeka Palace, Welni even thought that the news was just a joke.
“I thought they were joking because I had just been hospitalized. I thought maybe they were saying it so I would recover quickly. But it turned out to be true. So, I am very grateful because this is the first time I have been invited to attend a flag-raising ceremony. Last year, I also tried to register, but I wasn’t accepted. I would like to express my gratitude,” Welni said.
The opportunity felt even more special because the previous year Welni had tried to register herself to attend the ceremony at the Palace but was unsuccessful. Amid her happiness, Welni also shared a simple wish for President Prabowo.
“I hope that next year, perhaps some of my fellow teachers will also have the opportunity to be invited. And I hope that Mr. President stays healthy, remains strong, and doesn’t get sick. The most important thing is to stay healthy because I think leading our country is not easy,” she said.
A hope for the children of the Thousand Islands was also expressed by Ririn Yuniarsih, the Principal of SMPN 285 Jakarta. For Ririn, the Independence Day moment serves as a reminder that distance and the vast expanse of the sea should not be a barrier for a child’s future. She hopes that children who grow up and study in the Thousand Islands will have the same educational opportunities as children in other parts of Indonesia.
“Children from the islands are no different from children throughout Nusantara (the Indonesian archipelago),” Ririn emphasized.
The happiness for being invited to the Merdeka Palace was not only felt by the teachers. Fishermen from Harapan Island and Sabira Island, including Sama, Ali Kurniawan, and Najib, also welcomed the opportunity with pride.
Even Ali Kurniawan was already imagining the story he would bring home after attending the ceremony at the Palace. For Ali, the experience would become a family memory that he would want to share with his children.
“I will especially tell my family and my children that even though their father is a fisherman, I will tell them that their father once attended a ceremony at the Merdeka Palace,” Ali said proudly.
Najib, a fisherman from Sabira Island also shared the similar expression. The invitation was particularly meaningful to him because he had never imagined that a fisherman from one of the islands could have the opportunity to come directly to the Merdeka Palace on the Independence Day.
“I am very grateful to Mr. President because, when you think about it, it seems impossible for someone like us, an ordinary person like me, to be invited there. So, thank you very much. I am truly very happy,” Najib said.
Behind the simple stories of these teachers and fishermen, independence takes on a different meaning. It is not merely about ceremonies and the waving of the Red-and-White flag, but also about having the opportunity to feel present, heard, and included in the nation’s great celebration. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (JAS/AW)
