KREASI participated in the second Festival and Expo of the Madrasah Literacy Movement (Galatama II) by presenting an educational booth showcasing good practices and literacy works by children from Pulau Morotai. The booth was presented by KREASI Morotai, implemented by Stimulant Institute, at the Galatama Expo in the courtyard of MTs Negeri 1 Kota Ternate on 8 July 2026.
Among the materials displayed, a collection of storybooks written by children from Pulau Morotai attracted the attention of visitors. The KREASI booth provided a space to showcase children’s learning outcomes while sharing experiences from efforts to strengthen literacy in supported schools.
Galatama is an annual festival organized by the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of North Maluku Province as a platform for madrasah students to express themselves, compete, and receive recognition for their talents. Galatama II took place from 6 to 8 July 2026 in Kota Ternate and featured various fields, including religion, language, numeracy, and traditional dance.
One memorable visitor to the KREASI booth was Head of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Office of Halmahera Tengah District, Hasyim Hi. Hamzah. Hasyim, who is familiarly known as Acim and previously served in Pulau Morotai, said he was surprised and proud to see the books written by children from Morotai.
“Morotai has changed significantly. Honestly, I am surprised, proud, and moved. Children from Morotai can produce writing as good as this. As someone who once served in Morotai, I had never seen anything like this before, particularly in education,” Hasyim said.
He explained that during his tenure as Head of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Office in Pulau Morotai, he had never encountered books written by children like those displayed at the KREASI booth. The changes he witnessed two years after leaving Morotai encouraged him to learn more about KREASI.
“I want this program. How can we make it happen? Do I need to send an official letter to the ministry? I am confident that the Head of Halmahera Tengah District would be very pleased if this program were implemented in our area. Moreover, our area is a mining region, and the children need to be reached,” he said.
Hasyim expressed this request several times to KREASI representatives. The visit demonstrated how children’s works displayed in a public space can help introduce good practices and open opportunities for collaboration to improve the quality of education in other areas.
In Pulau Morotai, KREASI is managed by Save the Children and implemented by Stimulant Institute. The program focuses on improving the quality of education by strengthening literacy, numeracy, and character education, including by building the capacity of teachers, school principals, and the local education ecosystem.
One of the schools supported by KREASI since 2025 is MIN 2 Pulau Morotai. At Galatama II, the school won first place in English Speech, Arabic Speech, and Hifdzil Qur’an. Pulau Morotai was also named Best Literacy Agent in recognition of its efforts to strengthen the literacy movement in the area.
Galatama II was officially opened by Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, at Ngara Lamo Field, Kota Ternate, on 6 July 2026. The opening featured a traditional ceremony and the setting of a MURI record through the writing of 3,519 anaphora poems on the theme of ecotheology by teachers and students.
In his remarks, the Minister of Religious Affairs emphasized that literacy is a foundation for building a religious, critical, and globally competitive education ecosystem. He also praised Galatama as an initiative originating from North Maluku that helps bridge the geographical challenges of the archipelago. He encouraged the event to continue and develop into a national literacy movement.
The Galatama II activities involved 3,519 participants in the Mass Literacy Movement, 197 students in the Kota Ternate-level competition, and 51 of the best students from various areas who competed in the North Maluku Province-level final.
The festival concluded with the Galatama II Expo, featuring 20 booths from education institutions, community organizations, and micro, small, and medium enterprises. Through its participation, KREASI not only showcased the literacy works and practices of children from Morotai but also created opportunities for exchanging experiences and building collaboration to expand the benefits of quality education to more children.
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KREASI (Kolaborasi untuk Edukasi Anak Indonesia) adalah program peningkatan kualitas pendidikan dengan memperkuat literasi, numerasi, dan pendidikan karakter. KREASI di Pulau Morotai dikelola Save the Children dan diimplementasi oleh Stimulant Institute, dengan pendanaan Global Partnership for Education (GPE) serta dukungan Pemerintah Kabupaten Pulau Morotai dan Mitra Pendidikan Indonesia yang dipimpin Kementerian Pendidikan Dasar dan Menengah (Kemendikdasmen) dan Kementerian Agama (Kemenag).
Penulis: Ayutama Putri Jordy | Editor: Andika Ramadhan | Foto: Ayutama Putri Jordy/KREASI/Stimulant Institute/Save the Children