Atlantic Challenge USA

Greetings from Indonesia!

Last December I set out from Maine on an adventure in Southeast Asia. I recently met members of the Indonesian Atlantic Challenge rowing team. I’m writing now to ask for your help. Will you join me to support five team members to participate in the Atlantic Challenge train and competition this summer?

Atlantic Challenge USA is hosting the upcoming International Contest of Seamanship in Belfast, Maine July 21-28. They are leading a training before the contest for both the American team and a mixed International team. For more info: atlanticchallengeusa . We need to raise $5k to cover airfare for these amazing young people to join in this summers international challenge. 

The members of the Indonesian Atlantic Challenge team are part of the Maritime Challenge Program which is an extracurricular organization for the college students of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember and the Politeknik Perkapalan Negeri Surabaya. They were amazing hosts and brought me to see two of their Atlantic Challenge gigs; it was such fun to see the same type of boat that is so familiar in Maine, all the way in Indonesia. I learned that a few of their members are interested in participating in the Atlantic Challenge training and competition this coming summer. An Indonesian team participated in their beautiful, intricately carved gig during the 2002 Contests of Seamanship held in Rockland, Maine. Their presence was such a fantastic addition to the cross-cultural Esprit de Corps that occurs at these biennial gatherings. This year they do not have the funds to buy airfare. I am organizing this fundraising mission to help their team participate. Will you join me?

Airfare RT Surabaya, Indonesia to Boston, Massachusetts = $2,000.00 per person

Atlantic Challenge is an organization which promotes international cooperation and global peace-building by hosting traditional maritime skills contests and creating opportunities for cultural exchange for students through the platform of traditional maritime skills. In their words, "We believe getting young people together in boats, learning difficult manual skills, competing for shared success and living and eating together for 12 days has the power to transcend cultural, political and linguistic barriers. Indeed, this is the basis for the development of trust, connection and friendship." To learn more, check out this video: https://vimeo.com/517476460

Indonesia is a country of 17,000 islands with a rich history of seafaring technologies, boat designs and maritime culture which dates back to at least 2000 BC. The Indonesian Atlantic Challenge team includes marine engineering and naval architecture students. They have incredible skills and cultural history to share with the other nations of Atlantic Challenge; their participation would, without question, be a huge asset to the program this summer. Also, supporting opportunities for cross-cultural friendships for young people is one way to work toward future global collaboration and peace. In this current time of war, perhaps one tangible thing we can do is to support opportunities for international friendships. As the saying goes, “we’re all in the same boat”. We must learn from each other and work together.

I know how impactful this type of program can be from personal experience. When I was a freshman in college, I represented the USA on a peace-building program called, "The Voyage of Understanding.” This program, based in London, aims to help young people from diverse backgrounds develop an understanding of different cultures and religions while developing life skills such as teamwork and communication, using the platform of the square-rigged 60-meter brig Prince William. I sail-trained with Israeli, Palestinian, Indonesian and British college students. We created friendships as we taught each other songs from our childhoods, learned about each others families and shared our dreams for the future. My appreciation for the diverse ways that humans from different cultures think and problem solve was ignited. Now I want to pass that gift forward.

Won’t you consider joining me by making a contribution in any amount to help bring individuals from Indonesia to participate in the Atlantic Challenge training and contest this year in Belfast, Maine?