


Jeff Wolfanger
May 17, 2022
Indonesia
Categories:
Equality, Discrimination, Youth, Inclusion
Young people in Indonesia are making positive changes in their communities. Here is a story about Jessica Gunawan. Jessica is a young woman in Surabaya, Indonesia, who felt compelled to address class, race, and religious intolerance among her peers.
Jessica was inspired to do something after being criticized for making friends with a Hindu student. Jessica had met and befriended students of all faiths and backgrounds as a child. A devastating bomb attack in 2018 by radical fundamentalists near her school was the catalyst for action. Jessica understood that children are not born with racial and cultural prejudices. Instead, children learn these beliefs and behaviors from adults. She saw adult prejudices in her society permeating her world, her school, and her peers. Jessica knew change was possible, but only if she took action.
"She could no longer sit back watching her friends be torn apart on the playground or witness discrimination spill over into the classroom. Unsure how to move forward, clarity came from a teacher. He challenged Jessica to reflect, "What is your motivation, and what do you want to do?" Jessica felt intimidated by such a broad question. She was used to adults telling young people what to do rather than adults asking young people what they want to do".
Eventually, she spoke up and said she "was tired of seeing pervasive discrimination among young people, mimicking the intolerance among adults." At 13, Jessica launched Be One in Diversity, a movement to foster tolerance, acceptance, and diversity by engaging young people of different backgrounds. She knew it would be difficult to change such entrenched attitudes, so she decided to use her passion, environmental conservation, as an entry point for tolerance. She partnered with the environment team at her school and invited different groups of people to participate.
From the article: "Rather than hosting serious interfaith discussions, she breaks down prejudice barriers by encouraging young people to work together on a common issue, such as a forest and spring water conservation project. These activities create a positive association between students as the shared experiences highlight their similarities over their differences".
Jessica realized that if young people lack the power to make a positive difference, they will ignore social issues and normalize intolerance. Polarized politics and religious differences were driving a wedge in society. The nearby bombing attack demonstrated that young people mimicked religious intolerance seen in some adults.
Jessica emphasized collaboration in her Be One in Diversity efforts. She partnered with student leaders from other clubs to host workshops, discussions, and events centered around entrepreneurship, the environment, community engagement, and social justice. Slowly, she saw tolerance starting to build again.
Jessica engaged students from other schools to celebrate diversity with a unique approach she calls the "kindness virus." Jessica contacted a friend from the neighboring Dulink community to run the Be One in Diversity Movement in Islamic boarding schools. Together, they partnered with Majlis Ta'lim Al-Islamiyah Muhajiri, a religious community, and communities outside Surabaya, to expand their initiative".
Jessica's story is a powerful example of what can be done in our hometowns worldwide to overcome prejudice and discrimination. The elements are simple.
1. Design a project or program where everyone has a vested interest in a positive outcome. The natural environment is a broad category with many possibilities. STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) projects, festivals, design competitions, music, and food-related ventures deserve some thought, too, among many ideas.
2. Then find people from diverse backgrounds who are willing to work with you. Generally, young people are optimistic and ready to explore beyond cultural and racial boundaries set up by adults. Senior citizens may be a valuable resource too.
3. Solicit help from socially-minded organizations and businesses that may be willing to sponsor projects and programs to maintain momentum.
Racial, cultural, and religious discrimination, sexism, and homophobia are major concerns raised worldwide, according to im4u.world's Global Survey Report 2022. Please consider what you can do locally to make a difference.
Photo by firman faithful on Unsplash.
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Catalog #:
0422.106.01.051722