The 2016 Mini-School of Peace

Last Updated (Thursday, 08 September 2016 17:20)

Pray and Act for the Peace of Humanity

From August 8 to 22, a group of 11 Asian youths met in the Metta Karuna Center in Siem Reap, Cambodia, for a two-week Mini-School of Peace. The participants were selected by ICF’s two project holders, CCA and APAY, with the aim of promoting more cooperation between local YMCAs and churches and the ICF national forums. The participants came from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. Eight of the participants represented the YMCAs of these countries. They were Phongnarin Suwanma and Thon Layraman from Thailand, Bappu Mree from Bangladesh, Khon Mai from Myanmar, Alva da Silva from Timor-Leste, Hong Nay Ang from Cambodia, Puansari Meilina Siregar from Indonesia and Eleazar Blando from the Philippines.

Resourcing for this Mini-SOP was provided by Hem Sopharak, Bruce Van Voorhis and

Max Ediger. Along with participatory sessions on identity; faith, religion and spirituality;

dialogue and engagement; conflict, violence and war; and involving Socratic circles, the group also visited the nearby War Museum and attended the Phare Circus.

Joining the opening ceremony, Nam Boo Won, APAY General Secretary, shared words of encouragement with the participants. Duncan Chowdhury, Executive Secretary of APAY, attended the closing ceremony. All participants have now been introduced to the ICF national forums in their respective countries, and they will now be involved with their YMCAs in working with the ICF national forums in peace-building activities in their local context.

One of the YMCA participants, Puansari Meilina Siregar, a youth representing Jakarta YMCA, has shared with us her experience, which we append below.

 

Pray for the peace of humanity, pray for the peace of humanity
Pray for the peace of humanity, humanity shall live in peace

 

This song was often sung by the 11 participants representing the YMCA and CCA who came from seven countries of the Asia-Pacific region at the Mini-School of Peace, or Mini-SOP, from August 8 to 22, 2016. The song has become the essence of the 2016 Mini-SOP, which aimed to promote justice and peace for all humankind.

 

Comprehensive Learning

The 2016 Mini-SOP was organized by Interfaith Cooperation Forum (ICF). For me, this program was an opportunity and a very rewarding experience—an interactive learning process through discussions, role plays, group work, visits to museums, etc., that helped participants to think critically and independently to discover the meaning of learning. It was thus very interesting and also fun! SOP also equips the participants with the knowledge and skills that can be applied in our respective communities. A number of topics that were discussed in SOP, such as identity, conflict, poverty, human rights, the relation between justice and peace and the importance of citizen’s participation, were very helpful to strengthen our understanding regarding peace issues in order to have a proper foundation to promote peace. Practical learning materials, like the Socratic circle dialogue and community organizing, also increased our skill in working with the community.

In addition to the material presented, interaction with other participants who differ in language, religion, culture, perspectives and habits were also very useful and enriching. Interaction among participants of seven countries opened our eyes, realizing that differences are necessities.

Staying at the Metta Karuna Reflection Center was also an experience that will not be forgotten. Two weeks staying at Metta Karuna was an opportunity to take a distance from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and to focus on the meaning of life. In Metta Karuna, we learned to appreciate the environment by experiential learning, for example, by using water wisely and recycling. We also learned to appreciate the people who work every day to provide meals for us with many of them being landmine victims of the war.

For me, SOP 2016 was a comprehensive learning process, not only cognitive development, but it also changed our way of life towards affection and having a positive attitude.

Insights and Values

Comprehensive learning at SOP was a paradigm change in my life. It helped me to focus on what is really needed to be done in order to promote peace properly and effectively.

Firstly, the importance of moving from tolerance to acceptance to engagement—the difference is a necessity! The right attitude to face differences is not merely tolerance, but also involves togetherness in harmony.

Secondly, justice for peace—indeed, efforts in promoting peace are efforts to promote justice. True peace is not just a matter of the absence of violence but is also about how people live in justice and harmony. With this understanding, interfaith cooperation is needed to spread the good fundamental values of every faith and to work together to promote justice.

Thirdly, our vision is rebuilding the structure of education, politics, law and the new economy. It changed my paradigm from just helping people to help themselves to understanding the importance of rebuilding a new society. If people are only equipped with the ability to help themselves, it is just a kind of development activity that is fragile and does not last long! Society needs to be aware of the existence of the structures and systems that will affect their lives. This vision will help us to work properly and more effectively.

Fourthly, transformative approach—this approach is done by placing the people as the subject of change to make changes in society. By doing so, they will be more responsible for the decisions that affect them, and the results will be more sustainable. Transformation also talks about self-changing. Transformation starts from us. It is a lifelong process. Transformation is hope!

 

Lifelong Journey: Act for the Peace of Humanity

After the completion of SOP 2016, we have returned to our respective countries. The end of SOP 2016 is the beginning of our long journey to promote justice and peace. May the learning of justice and peace, and the hope and prayer for peace, be manifested through action in our lives. Thus, the lyrics above can be changed to

 

Pray for the peace of humanity, act for the peace of humanity
Pray and act for the peace of humanity, humanity shall live in peace

 

PUANSARI MEILINA SIREGAR