Indonesia

putri

Putri Pamela Powell works on developing her narrative in a digital storytelling training in the AFSC Area Office of the Carolinas

Putri Pamela Powell is one of the Youth Cultural Media Project interns in AFSC's Greensboro, North Carolina office. Watch the meaningful short digital story she created reflecting on her journey from Indonesia and her understanding of herself as a Muslim young woman.  

Watch her story here:  http://youtu.be/TzK_ZFsST6E  

Peaceful Islam: Ramadan and Nationalism

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Numerous acts of intolerance in the name of Islam that have happened recently motivated this program on Peaceful Islam: Ramadhan and Nationalism. Supported by youth communities in mosques from 5 villages, religous talks and communal fast breaking with the theme: Islam as the Pioneer of Peace in Indonesia, invited Muslims from grassroots communities to strengthen universal values of peace in their communities and lives.

Numerous recent acts of intolerance in the name of Islam motivated this program on Peaceful Islam: Ramadhan and Nationalism.

Life in Indonesian villages is traditionally peaceful—hospitality, mutual cooperation, and tolerance among residents were historically the norm in the country’s multicultural communities.

But acts of intolerance and violence in the name of Islam—the country’s majority religion and one that teaches peace and tolerance—are on the rise.

In a defiant response, youth from village mosques in Yogyakarta asked their neighbors to join them during Ramadan for an artistic exploration of the gender issues and multiculturalism that are under attack.

Ignition of the Peace Torch

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Lighting the Peace Torch during the Archipelago Cultural Festival.

Hundreds of people gathered recently in the Tegal Terban field of, Yogyakarta, Indonesia to watch the Archipelago Cultural Festival. It featured numerous cultural performances by students and groups from all over Indonesia, and culminated in a commemoration of the Youth Pledge Day celebrating unity and nationalism.

The youth group Archipelago Rainbow Circle, Terban village residents and Jorje TV Station collaborated to produce the festival.

Guyub Harmony through Art Performance

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After waiting patiently for hours, hundreds of local residents – youth, children and elderly – packed the town hall of Mantrijeron  to watch the Javanese traditional drama from Kethoprak.

Indonesia Staff Visit Greensboro

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AFSC Indonesia staff visits North Carolina: --They speak to classes at New Garden Friends School --They go on a Quaker Historical Tour with Max Carter of Guilford College's Friends Center --They participate in a "Democracy Chat" --They visit the International Civil Rights Center & Museum --They attend a rally about a proposed landfill site and subsequent City Council Meeting

For AFSC’s Area Office of the Carolinas, this year’s Peace Day was much more than a one-day ceasefire. Peace, for us, rather than an absence of violence, is about building community through cultural sharing, celebrating diversity, and developing personal relationships based on respect and trust.

In Greensboro, our Day of Peace was a two-day tour of the city for a visiting delegation from AFSC-Indonesia. We used their visit to highlight aspects of Greensboro’s culture and activism.

Peace Torch

Youth from different faiths, together lift the peace torch and wish for peace in Archipelago.

For 15 years, Protestant Church leaders in Kupang, West Timor, Indonesia have organized an Easter Parade the day after Easter Sunday.   The parade which includes floats, singing and dancing, has become both a local celebration and a tourist attraction.  Thanks to the energetic and creative organizing of young people, this year’s parade was unique.