1. MY EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING
THE CULTURE OF PEACE WITH
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Irwanto
Faculty of Psychology
Atma Jaya Catholic University
Jakarta-Indonesia
FEBRUARY 21, 2013
2. I was born in Purwodadi Grobogan – a small very poor
district in Central Java island
Grobogan district, Central Java, experienced the fiercest impacts of
communist Coupe attempt = most adult males were killed
3. I was born 1957 and went to school during civil war
(communist coupe 1965). Approximately 2 million Indonesians
assasinated.
4.
5. PERSONAL IMPACTS
• There were 3 detention camps of 500-1000 communist
prisoners. I lived only 20 meters away from the two of them.
• Descendants of any alleged communist member were
outcasted – could not go to school or find a decent job. My
dad was accused, detained for two days – but could not find
enough evidence freed.
• As half Chinese and Javanese, it was difficult for me to find
the best education state university imposed unwritten
policy to allow only 3% of total admission for Chinese
descents. I was lucky to be admitted to a state university
(Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta) although I had to deal with the
name calling and other racist humiliation.
6. WORKING IN JAKARTA (1983)
• As a fulltime researcher in a Catholic University
home-based care for the poor, drug counselor
for young drug users, researcher for children in
difficult circumstances (UNICEF partner and
consultant)
• Elected a commisioner of the National Child
Protection Commission (1998-2001)
• 1998 – 2006 Indonesia fell into regional monetary
crisis leading to major political reform Fall of
Suharto Regime.
8. TIME TO ACT
SUPPORTED BY UNESCO,
UNICEF, GOVT. OF NEW
ZEALAND, AND MINISTRY OF
EDUCATION WE LAUNCHED
OUR MODULE ON BUILDING
THE CULTURE OF PEACE.
WE WERE A SMALL TEAM OF
6 TRAINERS/FACILITATORS
ASSISTED BY OVER 30
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
FACILITATORS
9. OUR WORK IN SCHOOLS AND
CONFLICT AREAS 1998-2005
OVER 450 SCHOOLS IN JAKARTA GREATER AREAS, BANDUNG HAVE PARTICIPATED IN
THE PROGRAM – OVER 1,000 CHILDREN HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE WORKING ON
PEACEFUL RESOLUTION WITH US.
10. BASIC MODEL OF OUR PEACE
EDUCATION
• TRAINING OF TRAINERS TEACHERS AD STUDENTS 3 DAYS BASIC
FACILITATION PRINCIPLES AND LEARNING ABOUT MODULE + ON THE JOB
TRAINING
• SCHOOL BASED – EACH SESSION INCLUDES (3 FULL-DAYS)
– STUDENTS, PARENTS (REP), AND TEACHERS (REP)
– MARGINALIZED CHILDREN (STREET CHILDREN, CHILDREN FROM THE GARBAGE
DUMPSITE, ETC)
• IN CONFLICT AREAS – LONGER PREPARATION, UNDERSTANDING THE
CURRENT CONFLICTS AND KEY PLAYERS, COMPILATION OF HISTORICAL
EVENTS AND LOCAL WISDOMS REASONS FOR ANCESTORS TO LIVE
TOGETHER, CURRENT POLITICAL EVENTS. 1 TO 2 WEEKS PLUS BOOSTER
SESSIONS AS NECESSARY. HANDED OVER TO LOCAL FACILITATORS.
– PARTICIPANTS RECRUITED FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS OF CONFLICTING COMMUNITIES
– CONSENTS FROM PARENTS, TEACHERS ACTED AS GUARDIANS, ASSISTED BY LOCAL
NGO
– SECURITY OVERSIGHT BY THE MILITARY
15. LESSONS LEARNT
• WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG
PEOPLE – FUN, INSPIRATIONAL, AND MORE
SUSTAINABLE
• WE NEED MORE INTERVENTION LIKE WE DID
TO PREVENT FUTURE CONFLICTS
• THANK YOU
