Breaking Down The Wall (BDW)

Program Summary

Breaking Down The Wall (BDW) is a program designed to encourage dialogue and understanding between two communities within school and university environments.

Program Objectives

BDW serves as a platform for two different region communities to meet, learn from each other, listen, and create a sense of safety by sharing experiences.

Program Background

Nurturing religious tolerance and reducing prejudice are among the goals of the BDW program, and the experiences of participants from Solo and Palu provide evidence of this. Yusuf, a Muslim student, participated in the Tauhid Parade, and Rio, a Christian student, participated in the Cross Procession.

For them, participating in these activities is a way to demonstrate their love and fanaticism for their respective religions. They need to show that their faith is more vital than others.

Yusuf and Rio's stories illustrate feelings of insecurity and prejudice towards people of other religions. Against this backdrop, PeaceGen initiated the Breaking Down the Walls (BDW) program.

Program Details

Breaking Down the Walls program is part of peace education, where students from two previously brought together schools have undergone learning about the 12 Basic Peace Values (BPVs). As a follow-up activity, they are encouraged to practice these values in real life.

In Muslim and Christian schools, students and teachers are brought together to understand and learn about life. Occasionally, students from Muslim schools visit Christian schools, and vice versa.

Various activities such as board games for peace, cultural arts, and sports performances have brought together these two different schools and communities.

Program Implementation

The BDW program began in 2009 and has been replicated in various locations. From 2019 to 2020, BDW was conducted in Solo and Palu with the assistance of Agents of Peace (AoPs) from each region.

In Solo, we collaborated with the Muhammadiyah SIMPON School and the Regina Pacis Ursulin Middle School. Meanwhile, we partnered with the Muhammadiyah High School and the Christian Senior High School Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Tengah Imanuel in Palu.

In 2021, Bandung and Makassar had the opportunity to build bridges with schools of different religions. These activities were still held with adjustments for the COVID-19 pandemic.

We focused on the 21st Century Teacher Training, which would learn to optimize Distance Learning Methods while nurturing religious tolerance as its core value.

SMP 8 Muhammadiyah Bandung and SMP Kristen Yahya Bandung conducted school visits in Bandung. Students from SMP Kristen Yahya once welcomed students from SMP 8 Muhammadiyah with prayers.

Program Team:

• Miftahul Huda (Project Coordinator)

• Nurhayati Syafii (Community Officer)

Program Timeline

The BDW program ran from November 20, 2019, to October 6, 2022.

Program Results

Overall, we received several positive feedback regarding the BDW program from participants, such as:

"This 12 Basic Values of Peace (BPV) training changed my character and negative mindset. The 12 BPVs are beneficial in daily life. Especially the Values 'Self Acceptance' and 'No Suspicion, No Prejudice' that helped me change." - Rebecca Haposan Xonia Sinaga

"From this event, I experienced the change to understand someone before judging them negatively. I also became happier and did not judge someone based on their economic status and social class." - Joel Filipus.

In addition to the above participant testimonials, we also measured the level of benefit received by BDW participants through feedback surveys as follows:

Beneficiaries

In the BDW implementation period of 2021-2022, we had 166 beneficiaries consisting of students and accompanying teachers.

Impact Measurement

From 3 to 4, students' knowledge about understanding and appreciating the traditions, cultures, beliefs, habits, and noble values of others increased.

Project Resources

One of the local media outlets that has covered the BDW activities is https://pasjabar.com/2022/03/26/bdw-day-3-smp-di-jawa-barat-kolaborasi-melawan-intoleransi-di-sekolah/

Conclusion

The BDW program aims to foster tolerance and break down the walls of differences among young people by creating a space for interfaith encounters. If you want to organize training activities like the BDW program in schools, universities, or communities, you can contact us at [email protected].