David Rampisela

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Starting Point

Like many other communities in Ambon, Maluku Youth Creative Hub was founded under a different name: Paparisa Ambon Bergerak. This interethnic community was established in 2012, but its activities ceased following the passing of its founder. In 2023, it was rebuilt under a different name—Maluku Youth Creative Hub (MYCH)—although the spirit remained unchanged.

MYCH emerged under the patronage of the State Intelligence Agency, adopting a similar model that was previously initiated in Papua. The agency recruited 12 young activists experienced in fostering interethnic alliances among youth and empowering them through economic and socio-cultural programmes. David Rampisela, a young entrepreneur with a decade of experience in youth activism, has recently been appointed as the head of MYCH.

Peace Journey

MYCH is structured into five divisions: Agriculture, Creative Economy, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Socio-Cultural, and Sports. Each category serves to enrich the communal life of Ambonese youth. They have conducted cultural review discussions on Ambonese pop culture products, formed agricultural groups in various villages, organised several sports competitions, and initiated an annual pop-up market where various SMEs promote and sell their products. 

David expressed his wish for Ambon to become a more lively and viable city for young people to develop their potential. Compared to Jakarta, the capital city where he attended university, securing funding for youth events in Ambon is challenging. There are limited opportunities for youth development, particularly in circumstances where local government officials do not demonstrate consistent support.

David spent many of his twenties in Jakarta, but his heart always belonged to Ambon. He’d like to think of it as tough love. He loves the city and its people, even though he still believes that the Ambonese youth need to build strong will and critical awareness. Many of them joined communities solely to enhance their CVs, whereas David noted that genuine participation requires compassion. He encouraged youths to enjoy the process, reflect within themselves, and collaborate to develop a youth-minded community.

During his tenure as the Head of MYCH, David sought to bridge the gap between officials, youths, parents, and their young adult children. He jokingly said that parents need to realise their children can succeed without working as public servants, as many Ambonese parents still deem a career in the government office the pinnacle of success.

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Success Stories

One of the highlights of MYCH’s success was smoothly arranging the Pattimura Street event, an SME fair where small, local businesses could participate in selling their products. The event lasted two days each, with the first fair featuring 20 SME tenants and the second hosting as many as 44 tenants. During the event, it was estimated that the total transaction value for the second fair reached 400 million rupiahs. A total of 12.000 visitors attended the fair, which was situated in the heart of the bustling city of Ambon.