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Jakarta Post

Ambon teachers promote peace, heal trauma of past conflicts

Life in the inter-religious program for Muslims and Christians teachers and students has helped heal trauma that still exists in Ambon, Maluku, after religious and communal conflicts that claimed thousands of lives from 1999 to 2004.

Ahmad Junaidi (The Jakarta Post)
Ambon
Thu, August 25, 2016

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Ambon teachers promote peace, heal trauma of past conflicts Teachers Muhammad Yusuf Laga (left) and Yeny Liklikwati talk at the International Conference on Inclusive Religious Education in Ambon, Maluku on Thursday. The teachers there have helped rebuild peace among Muslim and Christian teachers and students in Ambon, after previously suffering religious and communal conflict during 1999 to 2004. (The Jakarta Post/Ahmad Junaidi)

Ambon, Maluku

Life in the inter-religious program for Muslims and Christians teachers and students has helped heal trauma that still exists in Ambon, Maluku, after religious and communal conflicts that claimed thousands of lives from 1999 to 2004.

"We build peace here through life in the program, starting with the involvement of teachers," said Heny L. Likliwatil, a teacher from state junior high school SMP Negeri 9, on the second day of the International Conference on Inclusive Religious Education held in partnership between the Netherlands and Indonesia in Ambon on Thursday.

The program, which started in 2013, Heny said Muslims teachers from SMP Negeri 4 would stay at residences of Christian teachers from SMP Negeri 9, and vice versa, in an effort to rebuild mutual understanding.

SMP Negeri 4 teacher Muhammad Yusuf Laga said the program was being continued by involving students.

"When we announced the program, almost all the parents disagreed," Yusuf said.

He said after joining the program, the students even asked to stay longer and participate in the program again. 

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