UOB Indonesia and Ganara Art launch the Creative Digital Pod to bridge the digital divide for underprivileged children

Jakarta, 25 November 2021 – UOB Indonesia and Ganara Art have launched the Creative Digital Pod, an online visual arts learning programme to make art more accessible for underprivileged children and bridge the digital divide for online education. This programme is also part of UOB My Digital Space, which equips children with digital literacy skills and learning tools. Participants of the Creative Digital Pod will be provided with mobile internet devices, personal computers, and creative kits that include paper, stationery and painting materials so that they can express themselves creativity through drawing, painting and making crafts.

Since 2016, UOB Indonesia and Ganara Art have supported the education of more than 2,000 underprivileged children across Indonesia through a variety of art programmes. These comprise critical thinking and social inclusion for high school students around Jakarta and surrounding areas, as well as creative classes run by various UOB Painting of the Year alumni artists at orphanages in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Bali. Art activities encouraging creative mindfulness were also held in 2019 for hundreds of children impacted by the tsunami in Palu. The collaborative efforts by UOB Indonesia and Ganara Art have created a positive social impact by nurturing children’s artistic skills and promoting creative thinking for a better future.

As part of the Creative Digital Pod visual art programme, UOB Indonesia and Ganara Art will run a series of art workshops for more than 100 orphaned children over a period of six months. These sessions will be held at the Benih Kebajikan Nusantara Al Hasyim Foundation and Tanjung Barat Orphanage located in South Jakarta. They will be conducted by Ganara Art teachers, UOB Indonesia volunteers and 2021 UOB Painting of the Year winners. They are Ms Meliantha Muliawan, UOB Painting of the Year winner, Mr Chris Fernand, Most Promising Artist of the Year, as well as Ms Karina Budiati Yuwono and Ms Irene Febry, the Gold and Silver winners respectively in the Emerging Artist category.

Maya Rizano, Head of Strategic Communications and Brand, UOB Indonesia, said, “Art has the ability to unite, to heal people and to transform lives. With COVID-19 affecting communities globally, we believe that art is one avenue for children to express themselves creatively and confidently. Our collaboration with Ganara Art is part of the UOB My Digital Space under the overarching UOB Heartbeat Corporate Social Responsibility programme, that provides underprivileged children with access to learning by bridging the digital divide.”

Tita Djumaryo, Founder of Ganara Art, said, “Children are among those who are significantly affected by COVID-19. They have experienced a change from face-to-face learning to online learning, with limited learning facilities and a lack of opportunities for creative and playful activities. We are pleased that UOB Indonesia has continued to step up to help children in need, bringing greater purpose to society. We believe that collaborative efforts are instrumental in shaping children’s creative minds amid the current challenging situation. We also hope that the Creative Digital Pod will inspire the orphanage’s children to realise their creative potential that has always been the core value at Ganara Art.”

Samanta Elsener, a child and family psychologist with an extensive background in creative learning and who has been partnering with Ganara Art, said, “Art plays a key role in the process of mental recovery in children. Through various tools in art activities, children can process complex feelings and find relief without using verbal expressions. With professional assistance, art can also be a medium to train children to increase their focus during their learning process and form a proactive behaviour.