Jakarta - They come from different countries and represent different cultures, but they have one thing in common: They all love Indonesia and its unique culture.
The 51 recipients of this year`s Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarships were received by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda during an official ceremony at the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta on Monday.
Hassan commended the program participants, who come from 30 countries, for their interest in Indonesian culture and people.
"This program shows our commitment to cultural cooperation in the region to strengthen relations among people from different backgrounds," Hassan said.
"I believe friendship is the backbone of peace and prosperity."
The scholarship program, which was initially offered to citizens of Southwest Pacific Dialogue (SwPD) member countries in 2003, has been expanded, thanks to growing interest from several countries.
This year, recipients come from SwPD, ASEAN, ASEAN+3 and Pacific Islands Forum countries, as well as Azerbaijan, India, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Dao Trang Phuong Thao from Vietnam, who speaks Indonesian, said she was interested in broadening her understanding of Indonesia, especially given its large Muslim population.
"I am a journalist and I think learning about the culture and people of a big nation such as Indonesia will enrich my point of view and experience," she said.
During their three-month stay in Indonesia, the program participants will stay at four locations -- Bandung (West Java), Denpasar (Bali), Solo (Central Java) and Yogyakarta -- where they will study local music and dance, as well as various aspects of Indonesian culture and language.
"I am a big fan of (traditional) gamelan music and I really love the harmony and diversity of Indonesia," said Bryan Thomas Camphire, a participant from the United States.
Camphire, a musician from New York, said he was interested in Indonesian art because it was embedded in the culture and was an inseparable part of daily life, whereas in the United States art was perceived more as a commodity.
"I do really appreciate it and want to learn more," he said.
Zheng Ying, a participant from China, said Indonesia had always been part of her life because both her parents came from Indonesia.
"My parents are Indonesian Chinese who moved to China 40 years ago. So I was introduced to Indonesian culture when I was very young and feel really excited about learning more by joining this program," said Zheng, who speaks a little Indonesian.
According to the Foreign Ministry, 229 participants from 34 countries have received the scholarship to date, which is sponsored by several institutions, including the Culture and Tourism Ministry and USINDO. Lilian Budianto
Source: http://old.thejakartapost.com (August 06, 2008)
