Religious Leaders Prospective Study in 11 Countries RI

A total of 15 future leaders of Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Buddhism, and Hinduism from eleven countries received scholarships to study for seven weeks in Yogyakarta. They came from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Indonesian Arts Scholarship Program - 2012 Future Leaders Faith (BSBI FFL) was opened by Kusuma Habir, Director of Public Diplomacy at the Foreign Ministry of Indonesia Jakarta, May 21, 2012. "This program is to introduce the Interfaith Dialogue among candidates for religious leaders in the Asia Pacific region," said Kusuma.

According to him, this scholarship is an implementation of Semarang Action Plan to the Regional Interfaith Dialogue-6, held in Hyderabad on 11-15 March 2012 by 14 countries. They are ten members of ASEAN with Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Timor Leste.

"The program is also to encourage the candidates to expand the network of religious leaders, exchange views on current issues that occur in society from the viewpoint of various religions, as well as expand their horizons to enhance mutual understanding among religions," said Kusuma.

Nurwahyudi Azis, Head of Sub Directorate of Social and Cultural who handles the event, explained that the program is a collaboration BSBI FFL RI Foreign Ministry with State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. During the seven weeks the participants will be given the opportunity to study at university.

Activities in the form of seminars, discussions with various religious institutions, education, and NGOs, as well as visits to various houses of worship. They will also learn some of the local culture.This scholarship will be terminated with Channel Indonesian activities to be held in Solo on July 14, 2012. They will join the BSBI Regular program participants who attended 50 youth from 37 countries and is currently being held in Bandung, Solo, Surabaya, Denpasar and Makassar.

During the three-day orientation period, the participants BSBI FFL get a briefing materials about the development of cooperation in the Asia Pacific region, Indonesia's efforts in creating harmony in religion, the role of media in creating religious tolerance, the basics of Indonesian language, and a visit to Taman Mini Indonesia beautiful as well as various places of worship.