The Maarif Institute for Culture and Humanity has named three local champions of pluralism and economic empowerment the winners of the award named after the former Muhammadiyah chairman.
The Maarif Award will be presented Tuesday to Cicilia Yuliati Hendayani, Hasanain Juaini and Tafsir in a ceremony at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Central Jakarta.
"The award goes to local figures who are doing something real to benefit people at a grassroots level. Their works have revived our optimism that there are alternative figures whom we can look up to amid the ubiquitous politicians and national figures implicated in corruption," Maarif Institute executive director Raja Juli Antoni said.
The three winners were selected from 70 candidates by a panel that included former education minister Malik Fajar, the director general of basic and secondary education management Suyanto, Clara Juwono of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, scholar Syamsu Rizal Panggabean of Gadjah Mada University, activist Ivan Hadar and Kompas senior journalist Maria Hartiningsih.
During the selection, the institute observed the candidates' activities in the field and sought the perspectives of people around them. "It's kind of a verification of the candidates' credentials," said Raja.
Cicilia, a Catholic nongovernmental organization activist, won the award for promoting the rights of people in Banyu Urip, an isolated and underdeveloped village in the East Java regency of Blitar. People in the village have lived with the stigma of being a one-time communist stronghold, consequently deprived of various economic, political and religious rights.
Cicilia founded the learning house Griyo Pitoyo (House of Faith) for peasant children, the Solidarity of Religious Followers organization to mediate sectarian conflicts and a farmers cooperative.
Hasanain is known as a progressive Muslim cleric fighting for democracy in education, including alternative education for women, in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. He also initiated a conservation movement which has turned 30 hectares of arid land into green space.
A leader of a local Islamic boarding school, Hasanain is known for his messages of environmental protection, empowerment and religious harmony through his sermons.
Muhammadiyah executive Tafsir was chosen for promoting progressive ideas running counter to conservative Islam. In educating people about Islam, he regularly talks to transvestites, drug addicts and other marginalized groups.
Last year, the Maarif award went to Maluku peacemaker Rev. Jack Manuputty and Poso peacemaker Arianto Sangaji.
The Maarif Institute was founded by former Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif in 2003 to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue and peace.
