Red and White Seabed Parade with Disabilities

MAKASSAR (19 August 2020) - There are many ways that residents do to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia in 2020. One of them is raising the Red and White flag on the seabed as did one person with a physical disability named Suprigandi from Ternate, North Maluku Province.

Supragandi is one of the alumni recipients of Social Rehabilitation services at the Makassar “Wirajaya” Social Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Physical Disabilities (BRSPDF), which is a Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) under the auspices of the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation (Ditjen Rehsos) of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs.

The first child of 3 (three) siblings raised the Red and White flag on the seabed the day before the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia, namely on Sunday (16/08/2020) located in the sea waters of Ternate, Falajawa coast. Suprigandi, who is familiarly called Gandi, raised the flag on the seabed together with the team from the Ternate Diving Center.

Before diving to raise the flag on the seabed, Gandi and his team were also trained by a team from the Navy personnel base and the Association of Indonesian Divers Organizations. In order to successfully fly the flag on the seabed, Gandi and his entourage only took 1 (one) day to practice. Finally, after a day of training, Gandi and his team succeeded in carrying out the mission of raising the Red and White flag on the seabed.

He also referred to the raising of this flag as the "Underwater Red and White Parade with Disabilities". Even Gandhi also mentioned that the meaning of independence was actually equality for all.

While at Balai "Wirajaya" Makassar, Gandi received Social Rehabilitation services and focused on following electronic skills, especially for audio video services. He received rehabilitation services for 6 months. While at the "Wirajaya" Center in early 2020, he was not confident with the conditions he was in.

After receiving social rehabilitation services in Balai, he regained his confidence, even in all his daily activities he has a high enthusiasm for change and always wants to show his love for the State by diligently following all the social rehabilitation services provided in Balai, "said Gandi.

Seeing the actions taken by Gandi and his team while raising the flag on the seabed, the Head of the Wirajaya Center, Saiful Samad, was proud to see Gandi's activities in celebrating the 75th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia this year. "Alhamdulillah, this child has shown the greatness of his attitude to change and Gandi has shown us all an example of the people's love for their nation," said Syaiful with a proud tone.

Even Syaiful also emphasized, "that what Gandi has done, must be a motivation and spirit for all of us to always show our devotion to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), we love," said Syaiful.