Poso’s Harmony Education is the Runner Up for MDG Awards

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Poso’s Harmony Education is the Runner Up for MDG Awards

Bali, 26 March 2013 – A joint initiative to renew hope and strengthen character on children in Poso, Central Sulawesi, received an appreciation from the Indonesia President’s Special Envoy on Millennium Development Goals. The runner-up award was presented in Bali, 26 March 2013. Harmony Education initiative was launched to answer Poso’s residents’ needs for reconciliation after the traumatic interfaith conflict in 1998-2000. Many are committed to build and develop the children inclusive character in their area, including religious and faith-based organizations.

Wahana Visi Indonesia – a partner of World Vision, along with the Central Sulawesi provincial government, initiated a working group to conduct a program to promote the children inclusive character in Central Sulawesi. The institutions invited to be a part of the working group were: Dinas Pendidikan Provinsi Sulawesi Tengah (The Provincial Education Bureau), Dinas Pemuda dan Olah Raga Kabupaten Poso (The District Youth and Sport Bureau), Muhammadiyah (one of the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia), GKST (Central Sulawesi Christian Church), and Tadulako University of Central Sulawesi.

After a thorough discussion, it is agreed that the best way to start rebuilding the environment which will sustain for generations to come is through education channels. It means to build inclusive values through curriculum & interactive learning process. During the initial discussion, the working group decided to name the program Harmony Education. The basic concept of harmony education is to teach children about self respect (harmony with self), how to treasure their friends despite all the existing differences (harmony with others), and how to value nature (harmony with nature).

“This initiative was launched in 2009 and still going on to this day. At first, it was piloted in 7 schools, today it has been replicated in 31 schools in Central Sulawesi. Harmony education looks at existing local values that promotes harmony values, active participation, and incorporates it to the standard national education curriculum. Through this process, harmony education contributes to strengthen local wisdom and local capacities for inclusiveness,“ said David Ola Kia, the education team leader of World Vision Indonesia.

Harmony Education resulted some positive outcomes, such as the rise of child participation in classrooms, teachers who become more confident in dealing with kids with special needs, a decrease in physical punishment for students, and also self respect among the education staffs at various level.

Seeing its impact for the society, in 2011 the government of Central Sulawesi created a supportive legal umbrella for Harmony Education through the governor regulation 39/2011 and major regulation 9/2011 about child protection and well being in Central Sulawesi. The focus is now to ensure continued scale up of the model in Sulawesi. Harmony Education was recommended for MDG Awards in Education Category by Yayasan BHAKTI.

Tjahjono Soerjodibroto, National Director of World Vision Indonesia said that harmony education is only one out of many local best practices that we can find within communities in Indonesia. It is a proof how civil society from all walks of life can contribute in their own way to enhance their well being independently.

Notes To Editor:

About Wahana Visi Indonesia

Wahana Visi Indonesia, partner of World Vision, is a Christian humanitarian organization who focuses on children well being. Wahana Visi thrives to bring sustainable changes for the most vulnerable children, family, and communities through transformational development, advocacy, and relief effort. We believe that a peaceful and just society will bring a sense of safety, opportunity equality, and happiness for its members. Furthermore on Wahana Visi Indonesia can be found on www.wvindonesia.org

For further information, please contact:

David Ola Kia, Education Team Leader World Vision Indonesia

“Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness;