One Leap to Learn Diversity

With Amartya Playgroup and Kindergarten

Tuesday, January 16, 2018 was a memorable day for the students and facilitators of Amartya Playgroup and Kindergarten (KB/TK) located at Banuwitan, Baturetno, Banguntapan, Bantul as they made a visit to Javanese Christian Church (GKJ) of Mergangsan to know about church, a worship place for Christians and Christmas day.

This activity is a manifestation of the long thoughts of Eko Prasetyo and Irma Mulyani, the initiators of KB/TK Amartya as an inclusive school and Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta as a network of Eko Prasetyo, one of SMI (Social Movement Institute) initiators moving together in the field of youth education and campaigning diversity and peace.

Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta as an institution mentoring students studying in Yogyakarta from various regions in Indonesia, supported the initiative of introducing diversity and fostering tolerance in Indonesia with its diverse culture, religion and language, especially since early age children through a real interaction or ‘experiential learning' on diversities.

On that day, twelve students and four facilitators visited GKJ Mergangsan and enthusiastically heard the explanation from Rev. Hendra Kurniawan, S. Si, one of the pastors at GKJ Mergangsan, about Christianity, church and Christmas Day. There were various innocent expressions from the students when they were entering the church, such as a curiousity about many chairs in the church, but no chair in mosque, there were also gamelan instruments and other musical instruments inside and they were glad to see the Christmas tree closer.

"I responded well and appreciated the visit by KB/TK Amartya because it will open the children's perspectives to live in religious tolerance. In addition, I saw good response from the teachers to establish togetherness, "said Rev. Hendra Kurniawan, S.Si.

Irma Mulyani, one of the facilitators, the founder of KB/TK Amartya expressed her grateful feeling for the support and assistance given to her group so that the visit to GKJ Mergangsan could be realized and became a new experience for the students and facilitators of KB/TK Amartya. Finally, they could visit the church and know more about Christmas day.

It is true that the experience of direct interaction will raise one's awareness toward diversity and maintain harmony. (TRU).