Speaking in Yogyakarta on Thursday, head of the people's welfare section at Yogyakarta city government, Retnaningtyas, said that the program will pair up several villages with similar potential to encourage rapid development.
Yogyakarta city has a total of 169 villages with different potential. Currently, three villages have been selected and paired under the program due to their similar potential, which is, the use of traditional games and cultural arts as media to build children's character.
The three villages are Ratmakan, Gunung Ketur, and Keparakan. Keparakan village has a children's traditional play studio and dance studio; Ratmakan has a school that teaches manners, gamelan, and a school for afternoon parade; and Gunung Ketur village has the potential for the development of a creative house called Omah Kreatif Loji 16.
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The three villages are focusing on the same thing, which is building children's character, but not all of them have complete facilities, so they need to work together in order to support each other.
Retnaningtyas said that the Twin Village program could also function as a start of tourism, especially educational tours for school students.
The development of villages as tourist destinations is also expected to improve the welfare of the people in the villages.
Retnaningtyas said there are several more similar villages that could be paired up.
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The villages which will be coupled need not always be located close to each other, she added.
"It doesn't always have to be next to each other; however, it would be better if the locations were close together to allow for easier development," she said.
The Twin Village Program has been regulated through the Yogyakarta Mayor Regulation Number 16 of 2022.
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Translator: Eka Arifa R, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
