Ahmad Hairul Umam, 26 years old, a full timer of Initiatives of Change Indonesia was coming to India from 13-31 January 2008 for the 40^th anniversary of Asia Plateu, an international centre for leadership training in India. He was also the representative of Indonesia team to attend the Special Global Consultation of Initiatives of Change (IofC). Together with 86 people from 32 countries Umam was delivering about the upcoming event International Youth Forum (IYF) in Bandung, 23-30 June 2008. Further more please check to report of A. Hairul Umam here

Report on 40^th Anniversary AP & Special Global Consultation
India, 13^th – 31st January, 2008

By. A. Hairul Umam

Prolog

It’s so clear to me that God led my life for taking part the Anniversary 40^th of Asia Plateau, MRA and Special Global Consultation. I am really thankful to God, for Australian and Indonesian friends who gave financial contribution and prayers to make the trip became possible. They are Rob Wood, Cheryl, Phil & Margaret Allchin, Jim & Tui Beggs, and Dennis & Helen Mayor, Lusiana, Miftahul Huda and Abdullah al-wazin who always encouraged me and gave wonderful spirit and prayers as delegate from IofC Team Indonesia. I believe without their supports this trip can’t happen. From the deepest feeling of my heart, I would like to express my gratitude toward them. Their support was really helpful. May God bless them. Amein.

Objective

v Renewal friendship and spirit working with IofC.

v Discerning and understanding how the IofC networks operate some initiatives and projects.

v Exploring the Asia Plateau as a beacon of hope and how it was built by sacrifices from people all over the world.

v Presenting and sharing IofC team Indonesia including the upward

v project, International Youth Forum, 23-30 June 2008 in Bandung.

v Learning and looking for inspirations to step forward which kinds of

v models might be appropriate for IofC Indonesia.

v Finding the common issues together with IofC networks as the challenges for the world need in 5 years.

A. Anniversary Asia Plateau 15-21 January 2008

I landed in Hindustan country, India on 14 January, 2008 mid night. James Mangte, a friend of Afl3, welcomed and put me together with Edsperito, US and Nakayama, Japan in the one taxi to continue the journey heading to Asia Plateau Panchgani. It took 5 hours to reach the place from Mumbai Airport. I was so honor and privileged when the taxi reached the AP saw three ladies of intern program already stand in front the office to welcome us. They gave joyous smile and hands to carry the luggage to the room where I will be in. Meanwhile Mike and Jean brown, Leena Khatri and two of the MRA friends cheerfully received and hug me as well.

My heart was so colorful and impressed with the hospitality of MRA friends. Thank you God sent me for the second time to the blessing place, Asia Plateau. I couldn’t believe God planned me to learn and recharge the spirit at this place and wonderful community. It was like in a dream, my heart couldn’t stop saying grateful for God and those people supported me to make the trip became possible. For me it was clear God led my life to go and join the celebration of 40^th Asia Plateau Anniversary and Global Consultation.

The next day, I offered myself to the AP community to support receptionist team. I was in change to drop the guest luggage and make sure they go to their own room. I like doing this service and welcome the guests cheerfully such as what I received from the AP family. I thought, I want to give back the hospitality by serving the guests. I was so moved and touched by the hospitality and caring done by AP friends. I felt connected with them and reminded me for the last experience with Action for Life being part of this community.

For me, this job is part of the leadership exercise, as RD Mathur former trustee of Asia Plateau said to me during the AFL3 genuine a leader is serving and helping others. I enjoyed much did this job for experiencing my leadership skills to implement in my country, Indonesia.

Program of the 40^th Anniversary AP

The formal program of Anniversary Asia Plateau was started on 15 January, 2008 at 4 pm in the Auditorium by Luis F Gome, Trustee of AP MRA India. After that, continued by informal interactive and DVD show of Asia Plateau from year to year. Suresh Katri, Niloufer and Sukanya were chairing this session. They dropped us some questions to lead the audience memory think how the Asia Plateau was built. A lot of people especially from the old generation of MRA gave few words as testimony toward people in the auditorium. Well, it was full of sacrifice from generous people with strong conviction to take part on the God plan. This is the answer of prayers from people who had big vision for the future of MRA. I am really astonished upon old people what they had done so far through MRA. They are so strong, creative, confidents giving their live for God’s purpose to find the answer for the world needs.

In general the anniversary of AP tries to address two statements: The impact of Asia Plateau and The Role of Asia Plateau in the future.

The Impact of Asia Plateau

We have a session to explore this issue at the big forum and family group. At the big forum, we heard inspiring stories from speakers who came from different backgrounds, profession all over the world. Most of them involved with the Asia Plateau in different years. They shared their heart feelings, how Asia Plateau totally gave them spirit and challenges by applying values at their own live to make a difference.

After hearing from the speakers, we split out at different group based on the family group. At this session, every single of the member of family group has a chance to express his or her feeling of the impact of AP.

I was so lucky since my family group is so diverse, they are from India-Kashmir, South Korea, Australia, France, and Indonesia. I heard from Mother Park as one my family group, she shared her feeling when came for the first time to Asia Plateau. She felt so impressed with kindness and treatment of Asia Plateau family that made every single of visitors became so privilege.

The Role of Asia Plateau

Many expectations came up from the participants to see how the Asia Plateau take more role and extend its impact to the diverse communities beyond India and neighboring countries. I have a thought as well seeing the process and the way how AP operates its initiatives for many years, for me AP could be the hub of moral transportation that bridge people from middle east, western people in bringing hopes and spirit of change to the world. This glimpse thought is being thought as well by friend of Australia, Lon Lawler during his quiet time. Of course, AP as one of the biggest centre of MRA in the world has plenty experiences for 40 years and abilities to this expectation as well as spreading a mission of God. AP is God’s gift for the world.

To explore the expectations and some thoughts, we also heard from Rajmohan Gandhi, K. Haridas, Nakayama, Viswanathan, Niketu Iralu, RD Mathur and etc to look at AP in the next coming years based on three key words; Reconnection, Reengagement and Revision.

Listed statements below are few words from them how they want to see AP in the future:

v AP could improve quality and quantity

v Be strong for the weak

v Include all people / non elite

v Don’t leave Africa behind

v Ap can be a place of retreat and spiritual renewal

v Centre of any kind of training activities

v A spiritual networks for global transformation

v Global resource and community

v Providing young generation to take experiences living with IofC community

Personal Reflection

My heart was moved with the conviction of old people in MRA took sacrifice in taking part of God plan, spending their time, thought, energy and money to build Asia Plateau. I saw clearly how God mobilized them to answer the world needs through different kind of services to give hope and enlighten people with creative group such as called Film for freedom, Sing out, Song of Asia etc. AP is one the example of their achievements; it came from collected contributions from around the world. I saw there is a clear vision and thought behind of their commitment to use their life under God calling.

Sitting together and hearing from old people about their last experiences involving with IofC always challenges my life. And then, I was thinking about my team in Indonesia. I have few number young and energetic teams, could they be mobilized as well to follow inner voice and create something different for my country? Then in my quiet time, small voice answered yes possible, we can do and make different for Indonesia in the future. Revolution starts from small number not big group.

The speech from RD Mathur was so powerful and touching my heart. He said many times, he doesn’t want to see the next generation with heavy pocket but empty soul and don’t stop young people think and create big dream. He always concern for the future of young generation and give challenge as well. For me RD Mathur is good example how he uses his life confidently, even he is old enough but his vision, thoughts and caring for the youth to respond world needs is amazing. He is so astonished and inspired me a lot. I am personally learning much and respecting toward him.

So, what I need to do from this inspiration change the way how I think and follow the way of old people of MRA in term of thinking to see the future and fully obedience for God’s calling. Be confident and more trust of the miracle listening inner voice. As David J. Schwartz author of several motivation books said, believe releases creative powers, disbelief puts the brakes on. When you believe something is impossible, your mind goes to work for you to prove why. But, when you believe, really believe, something can be done, your mind goes to work for you and helps you to find the ways to do it.

B. Special Global Consultation 23-30 January 2008

It is a meeting held every two years and a forum to coordinate among IofC networks around the world. There ware 86 people from 32 countries representing from their own team came for this forum to discuss and share the thoughts to search common issues that potentially might be answered by IofC. At this forum we also select two new members of International council, Hennie De Pous from Netherlands and Lorne Braun from Canada replacing Mike Brown, Australia and Chris Evans UK which end their services next October 2008.

Seven days hearing and working together with amazing people representing different group of IofC team gave plenty lessons for me and for the team Indonesia as well. Here, we shared and thought what kind of strategies should be taken by IofC to answer the current world needs. A lot of world issues need to respond, such as Environment, materialism, government, sustainable development, leadership training, family issues, Human dignity, peace building, etc.

Well, we start praying to God and asking guidance to priority the issues that all need to answer soon. After praying, every single of participants gave the respond on above issues based on their capabilities by using role what need to start, increase, stop or decrease regarding with some experiences on projects or values being done by initiatives of change globally.

Chris Evan from International council in his sharing said, let try to look this world needs through God’s eyes, how God views and priority these issues. For me name of God was so powerful in my heart when every time participant of Special Global Consultation mentioned God in every situation and before making decisions. I felt so moved and touched to give space for God takes part in my thoughts and guides me to solve the world problems.

Regional Team Meeting

It is a meeting based on the region. The purpose is to coordinate and support each other as a network of global family. At this meeting we shared some issues and looked at some initiatives being proposed by each team. The meeting was preceded by in puts as listed below:

v Are there particular initiatives already need to support?

v How to be better collaborative each other, country, overseas?

v Are there other group that don’t know IofC yet and how to include them to work together?

The issues came up at this meeting are, how the region can support full time workers, International Youth Forum in Indonesia, APYC in South Korea, and set up collective funds to support some initiatives or projects from the region team, and see the possibility to organize next APYC in Pacific countries.

We also agreed to restructure and extend a region from Action in Asia to Asia-Pacific coordination. And then we offer to those from this region willing to in change and take responsibility to coordinate and do follow up some issues above with IofC team in region countries. Finally, we found six people committed to take this offer, they came from combination senior and junior people; Nakayama, Japan, Shou Feng Taiwan, Yeon Yuk, South Korea, David Mills and Rob Lancaster from Australia.

Under 40 meeting

Young energetic generations around 30 people from different part of the world who have same calling to work under IofC mission but never meet each other resembled in Mami Room, shared their feeling, struggling and understanding how IofC meant to them. We have two meetings first facilitated by Uncle Suresh Khatri, he said as one of the old generation he was so anxious to see the future of IofC and how youth thinks this challenges to step forward on the sustainable development. He raised issues what kind of commitments and support needs from youth regarding of mentoring. He emphases youth should speak louder.

The second meeting was facilitated by Nigel. At this meeting, we heard from heart to heart based on the youth perspective. We shared freely and let others know better understandings who are we and what kind of struggles facing in each country. Han Ting shared her feeling what does meat IofC to her? She said there are three things in IofC: Spirituality, calling for commitment and mentorship. These make her so touched why she keeps being part of this IofC’s work that she couldn’t find at other community.

As the conclusion of the under 40 meeting, We as the young generation agreed and committed to keep in touch and do support each other in wider support in term of spirit, prayer, projects and even financial contribution.

Personal Reflection

Being part of this process, bring me together to understand and think more seriously about the world needs. I am also touched with the way how senior of IOFC friends take seriously and apply their life to search and follow God plan. When we discussed global warming and climate change, then the question address to me what kind of role as personal to respond this situation? So, I realize that I can take part as well to solve this problem since personal changes lead to whole global changes.

As delegate from young team Indonesia, I saw there is hope to pass the challenges in term of keep running IofC works beyond upon my capability. Special global consultation strengthens my friendship and widens the views of IofC networks. I learned much with the atmosphere and spirit of IofC in deciding some things critical to search God’s willing. At every moment of silence and struggling we face together with SGC participants, I felt God really present and took part in this community. I am feeling so important at this meeting since people gave me a support and courage to work together. I am not alone still having friends who can hear my feeling and give a support. Yes, I will continue this journey with IofC.

Epilog

I really appreciate and grateful with your thoughts, prayers and financial assistance to make this trip comes to be. I am feeling so confident with your support to work and share with you all. I learned much from this wonderful and blessed meeting.

A. Hairul Umam

a_umam@yahoo.co.uk

Mobile Phone: +628138397184

• APYC 2006 Report (16 pages, 2MB PDF)

Background

The Asia Pacific Youth Conference (APYC) began as an initiative of Moral Re-Armament, now known as Initiatives of Change. The first APYC was held in 1990 in Taiwan, inspired by the vision of a Chinese from Taiwan, to bring together youth from around the region to learn from the experiences of those who had successfully taken action to overcome conflict and confront corruption. The concept was developed in order to offer practical ideas and encouragement to these youth who want to use their lives as change-makers addressing social issues in their countries and the region.

In subsequent years, APYCs were held in countries including Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Japan, Philippines, and Cambodia hosted by Initiatives of Change together with representatives of other organizations.

People participating in APYCs have had an involvement in different practical initiatives on a humanitarian, non-political and interfaith platform. These are a few examples:

In Taiwan, local youths took part in a national “clean election” campaign to offer an alternative to the usual forms of corruption such as vote-buying.

In Indonesia, conference delegates decided to develop a centre in order to meet and work together more effectively. They have undertaken to help develop constructive communication and relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous Indonesians. They have organized a number of meetings between different ethnic and faith communities in Jakarta and intend to continue these activities in the long term.

In Cambodia, youth delegates from Battambang decided to rent a house as a hub for their activities. These have included initiatives to tackle environmental problems, offering tuition to poor children, and relationship-building between the city and the villages around it.

Objectives

The APYCs offer young people aged 18-35 from the Asia Pacific region the opportunity to dialogue with those from neighbouring countries, build friendships and create networks for peace.

• To build relationships of trust and mutual understanding through dialogue based on an appreciation of each other’s faiths, heritage and cultural diversity;
• To learn from the life experiences of those who are addressing issues including corruption, communal conflict and poverty;
• To address the root causes of social issues through personal change that deals with conflict in the individuals own lives;
• To develop projects for peace-building within the region

Finance

Participation in an Asia Pacific Youth Conference for many will not be possible without financial assistance from outside sources. The cost for one participant varies according to their airfares. Since South Korea is hosting this year, participants from other countries will need to come by air. The return airfare from south-east Asian countries is about US$800. A contribution of US$400 can cover the full conference fee of one person.

The APYC international organizing committee in different part of Asia (and the world) is trying to raise needed funds. This year the organisers would also like to see more people joining APYC from other parts of Asia and the Pacific.

The conference budget (apart from travel arrangements) is approximately US$34,000. Any assistance we can receive from either individuals or organisations will be greatly appreciated.

Secretariat

APYC 2008 – Korea

Address: #B02, 1-62 Bookahyun-dong, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-865 South Korea

Phone: +82 2 6403-8878

Fax: +82 2 392-8878

Contact persons (mobile phone):

• Yeonyuk Jeong +82 (0)10 2380 0994
• Chaenam Kim +82 (0)11 9082 5037
• Jisun Jung +82 (0)19 385 5223
• Minhui Na +82 (0)11 9875 0752

For More information please click here: http://www.iofc.org/en/conferences/apyc/overview/

International Youth Forum

The Role of Youth: Action on Millennium Development Goals

toward a Peaceful World

An opportunity for those aged between 18 and 30 years old, from all over the world, to actively participate.

Initiatives of Change Indonesia and Centre for Religious and Civilization Studies, are jointly hosting an International Youth Forum (IYF) 2008 on the theme The Role of Youth: Action on Millennium Development Goals Toward a Peaceful World.

Initiatives of Change Indonesia (IofC-Indonesia) is a part of the global network of Initiatives of Change, which is committed to building trust across the world’s divides. It comprises people of many cultures, nations, beliefs and backgrounds who are committed to transforming society through changes in individuals and relationships, starting in their own lives. To achieve its goals and ideals IofC Indonesia has been conducting workshops and conferences on youth leadership and multiculturalism.

Centre for Religious Studies is an Indonesian based organization which committed to creating a peace and civic culture among Indonesian people based on religious and humanitarian values. To achieve that CRCS-PSAP has been conducting some workshops and publishing books about peace education and civic culture.

These two groups have come together to hold the IYF in 2008 which seeks to involve 300 participants with ages ranging from 18 to 30 from all over the world to actively participate in the program. These individuals will include people of various ethnic backgrounds, gender, religious communities, civilizations and nationalities. The program will be held in Bandung from June 23rd to 30th 2008.

The program perspective will discuss and elaborate the Millennium Development Goals and formulate a strategic action plan toward a peaceful world. The long-term goals of this program are:

• to promote a mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among interfaith, international, and inter-civilization youth leaders in the world
• to bring clarity of divisive issues and help forge greater understanding towards peace
• to create a peace network among world youth leaders.
• to provide creative space for peace thoughts, interactions, and social movement
• to comprehend and create a strategic action plan and recommendation on achieving MDGs 2015

Brochure (2.2Mb)
Application form
Invitation letter
Deadline for applications: 15 May 2008

For further information please visit our official website at iyf.psap.or.id and our blog at www.iyf2008.blogspot.com