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YOGYAKARTA CITY, Indonesia – The Southeast Asian Youth for Humanity (SEA Y4H) network, comprising young people from major cities in Southeast Asia, recently concluded its Strategic Planning Workshop in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia, from April 26-29, 2024. The workshop brought together at least 27 delegates representing various religions and faiths from cities including Bangkok, Davao, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and the host city, Yogyakarta.

Five young leaders and mentors from Kuala Lumpur City who are engaged in interreligious dialogue (IRD) joined the delegation starting with City’s Head Coordinator Mr.Krishna Krish, an activist-writer-speaker from People’s Unity Hub (TEMPAT), Mr. Awang Ilham, Senior Programmes Associate from Architects of Diversity Malaysia (AOD ), Ms.Zhafirah, Research Associate from Razak School Of Government (RSOG), Mr.Amar Masuri, President of GEMA Youth Organisation (PEMUDA GEMA) and Mr. Mohamed Nazri Prem Nasir, Unity-Welfare Exco of University Malaya Student Council (UM). 

The SEA Y4H network, which was established in May 2023 during the Southeast Asia Dialogue Cities Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, organized by the KAICIID International Dialogue Centre, aims to promote peacebuilding through intercultural, interfaith, and interreligious dialogues. The network will be officially launched in September 2024 in Davao City during the second Southeast Asia Dialogue Cities Conference. It is being led by Kenny Lloyd Angon as its Lead Convenor.

Nazri , a young participant from Kuala Lumpur City, expressed his gratitude to the SEA Y4H network for creating a platform where young leaders from across Southeast Asian cities could share their experiences in interreligious dialogue.

“Even though the workshop was just three days, but we gain so much of knowledge, experience and exposure. We had a meaningful long interactive conversation with our speakers and co-delegates from other countries in ASEAN. What’s the inspiring thing is that, the delegates sync IRD with other dimensions of dialogue such as cultural or in ways that they implement their peacebuilding and PCVE strategies. Indeed, there are many ways on how they incorporate IRD into our work”, Nazri said during an over the phone interview with storiesoftm.

Organized in partnership with GUSDUrian Network Indonesia and supported by the KAICIID International Dialogue Centre, the workshop provided a platform for young people to consolidate concerns related to youth engagement in interfaith dialogue. Participants identified activities and developed a strategic action plan for the network’s next one to three years, focusing on collaboration with other sectors, including women, religious and government leaders, and the academe.

As part of the workshop, delegates visited cultural and religious sites in Yogyakarta City, including the Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, Gereja Hati Kudus Yesus (Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus), and the GUSDUrian National Secretariat Headquarter.

In her statement, Vera Ferreira, KAICIID head of regional programs, emphasized the crucial role of young people in strengthening interfaith dialogue in Southeast Asia. She highlighted the need for youth engagement in promoting social cohesion, supported by policymakers, civil society leaders, and religious actors.

“As we see the number of young people in Southeast Asia moving to cities in search of education and economic opportunities, rapidly developing areas will continue to need interfaith and intercultural facilitators, bridge builders, to support social cohesion, combined with efforts of both policymakers and civil society leaders, including religious actors in the cities,” Ferreira said.

Paku Alam X, vice governor of the special region of Yogyakarta, commended the active engagement of young people, stating that their involvement is crucial in achieving global goals for freedom of religion and belief. He emphasized the importance of collaboration across all sectors of society.

He said that this gathering of young people in the region “is not only a showing of active engagement by members of society to collaborate with the government, but also an authentic expression of the recognition that young people cannot use their age as an excuse to be indifferent and uninvolved.”

“We must recognize that, despite all current commitments and efforts, the level of acknowledgment and respect for freedom of religion and beliefs in practice remains to fall below of global goals. “It is crucial to acknowledge that, just like in fulfilling other aspects of human rights, the involvement of all sectors of society is essential,” Vice Governor Alam X added.

The workshop concluded with a commitment to support ASEAN programs that empower youth to promote peace and foster dialogue in the region. The network plans to conduct another workshop on media and communications in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, towards the end of the year to enhance the capacity of young leaders to communicate their programs and advocacies.