The Indonesian government has awarded the Art and Cultural Scholarship to 70 participants from 40 countries to enhance people-to-people contact between Indonesia and the international community
he Indonesian government has awarded the Art and Cultural Scholarship to 70 participants from 40 countries to enhance people-to-people contact between Indonesia and the international community.
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that through the scholarships, all participants were expected to learn about Indonesia and improve their understanding of and respect for different cultures.
"Learning a foreign language and respecting the culture of a country are not just about seeking new experiences; it also means you are building a bridge of understanding, peace and prosperity for the world," she said during the opening of the three-month program on Monday
According to the ministry's director of public diplomacy, Al Busyra Basnur, the scholarship recipients would also visit Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Surabaya, Makassar and Bali.
"In Yogyakarta, they will join an academic class on Indonesian politics, economy, society and culture. In the other five cities, they will learn traditional dances, musical instruments and local wisdom," he said.
The 2015 Art and Cultural Scholarship was awarded to participants from 40 countries, including Austria, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, the Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, the United States, Vanuatu and Vietnam.
The three-month program would be closed with a major performance, titled "Indonesia Channel", aiming to showcase the participants' understanding of Indonesia, in Bandung on June 15, Antara news agency reported.(+++)
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