Stop the Wars!
The Interfaith Youth Peace Training on March 4-6, 2022 was attended by 16 participants along with three apprentices and two facilitators. The participants were students from various universities:
- Airlangga University Malang -1
- Bandung Social Welfare Polytechnics – 1
- Diponegoro University Semarang -2
- Gajah Mada University -1
- Indonesian Islamic University Yogyakarta -1,
- Indonesian Law College (STHI – Sekolah Tinggi Hukum Jentera) Jentera Jakarta -1,
- Indonesian National Student Movement – UII Yogyakarta -1
- IPMAFA Pati-1
- Pati Disability Community -1
- Satya Wacana Christian University -1
- Semarang University -1
- Wahid Hasyim University Semarang -2
- Walisongo Islamic University Semarang-1
- Wiyata Wacana Pati Christian College -1
Two participants canceled attendance due to Covid-19 exposure.
They are students, and some are social movement activists. They act as: companions for sexual violence survivors, Central Java Peace Ambassadors, campus activists, Interfaith Movement Activists and Qur’an teachers. This is a training that brings together energetic young people who really miss justice, peace, and respect for diversity among people and nature.
Yoga Pratama, or Bhre, an activist for the Central Java Peace Ambassador, said that in the past he always felt insecure. After practicing listening and speaking to build friendships, he didn’t feel alone anymore. He felt calm because he had friends with whom he could share stories. Previously Bhre felt that he talked a lot and listened very little, because he was the one who had suffered the most. After practicing listening he felt a calmness present.
Yuri, a feminist activist who is a companion to survivors of sexual violence, felt happy and lucky to be able to attend the training at Peace Place. Yuri found a great change in his life from the training. After returning home, Yuri really tried to be a good companion for his family and community. The most important thing for him was that he had started to stabilize his emotions and negative feelings.
Ari, a student at Jentera Jakarta Law College who assists victims of violence, came to escort his friend Yuri. But he became very interested in the training. After attending the training he felt the training was meeting his own needs, as well. He hopes to return to Peace Place to stay for a long time in order to become calmer. Ari thinks he would be able to focus more at Peace Place, and that through this be better able to shape his personal character to be ready to face the burdens he now bears.
Wilson Wani, a Muhammadiyah Youth activist in Central Java, said that he was very interested in the way the training program was presented. He found that this training was different, in that there was no ceremonial event in the opening. Wilson Wani studies Communications and said that after the training he felt more courageous to speak and his confidence had increased. He said that the natural atmosphere of the surrounding at Peace Place supports people to feel at home. Many find Peace Place a very suitable center for training and self-development, and would like to stay longer at Peace Place.
Giyarto is a college student of IPMAFA (Institut Pesantren Mathali’ul Falah) Department of Arabic and a Qur’an teacher at an Islamic boarding school in Kajen, Pati, Central Java. He said that the training was very useful for his life. Giyarto also felt very happy to be able to meet various friends. He said how this could be integrated into the way he teaches his students at the Pesantren, a school for studying Qur’an.
Jeremi Jujur (Honest) is an activist from the GMNI (Indonesian National Student Movement). UII said that after the training Jeremi felt a change, including learning to think positively when he is overthinking. Previously, Jeremi was haunted by excessive fear and now feels more enjoyment in life. After the training he felt more confident and able to carry out activities. Jeremi felt happy to be one of the training participants at Peace Place and expressed gratitude for being able to participate in the training.
These are excerpts of brief testimonies from some of the participants. What is conveyed shows that peace is possible. At the end of the training all participants were concerned about the events in Ukraine. We call for Russia and all nations: “Choose the path of non-violence, stop the wars!”