T

en pairs of host parents, their eyes glistening with tears, hugged 10 junior high school students from nine different provinces throughout the country, who had lived with them for two weeks.

To mark their farewell with the students in a ceremony on Saturday evening, they shared stories about their experiences with the students, who joined an intra regional student exchange, called SabangMerauke (Seribu Anak Bangsa Merantau Untuk Kembali '€” One Thousand Local Children Exchange to Return) with an aim of improving their understanding of diversity, nationalism and education.

'€œI promised I would not cry tonight. However, when I see Lusiman and remember our great times of being together, I can'€™t hold my tears,'€ said Agnes Maria Trikadjaja, a Christian Javanese mother, with whom Lusiman, a 14-year old Muslim from Halmahera, South Maluku, had stayed. Agnes has been married to Djohan Pinnarwan, a Chinese descendant, for about 15 years with two sons.

During the first SabangMerauke program from June 29 to July 14, Lusiman and his nine colleagues stayed with host parents with various ethnical, religious and educational backgrounds in Jakarta. The students also did some activities, such as visiting the Cathedral Church and the adjacent Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta to learn about different religions, and went to Pecinan (China Town) in West Jakarta to experience the Chinese culture.

'€œMy family and I are very confident to teach Lusiman about tolerance over diversity because we have done it for years,'€ Agnes said. '€œHowever, it turned out Lusiman taught us more about being grateful in simplicity.'€

Ayu Kartika Dewi, a co-founder of SabangMerauke, said she was very happy about the effect of the program on everyone involved. '€œThe students have taught us a lot, especially about the importance of dreams and education,'€ she said. '€œLooking at the students'€™ spirit, I believe we are now writing Indonesia'€™s history as the greatest tolerant country.'€

Ayu said that the idea to create SabangMerauke was triggered by her experience as a voluntary teacher in a Muslim village in Halmahera, Maluku, in 2000. In the previous year, the Christian-Muslim conflict happened in Maluku'€™s capital city of Ambon.

She explained that diversity can'€™t be taught through textbooks, but it should be experienced.

SabangMerauke has received supports from various parties, including the founder of Indonesia Mengajar, Anies Baswedan. '€œI hope SabangMerauke will raise our awareness about the importance of tolerance for the maintenance of unity.'€ (JP/ian)