Australia and Indonesia support Youth Socialization Road Show

The Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU) and Australia will jointly support a Youth Socialization Road Show to educate voters about the upcoming presidential elections.

The road show will include a quiz show to test electoral knowledge and competitions such as short essay writing and creating election jingles, cartoons, and photos. A talk show on election issues combined with music performances by local artists will also be televised. With Australian Government aid support, the election socialization program is being implemented by the KPU, its Provincial KPU offices and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in six cities: Denpasar, Ambon, Mataram, Jayapura, Makassar, and Kupang.

KPU Commissioner for socialization efforts, Ibu Endang Sulastri said the road show aims to educate youth about how to vote and their options for the upcoming presidential elections.

“We welcome the partnership from Australia to help educate voters about the upcoming presidential elections,” Endang said. “We encourage everyone, but especially young people, to exercise their right to vote.”

Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Bill Farmer added that the road show represents both countries’ commitment to work together to strengthen voter education.

“The Australia Indonesia Partnership aims to promote successful elections in Indonesia,” Mr Farmer said. “Reaching out to encourage youth voters to actively participate in the elections is vital given the role young people play in strengthening Indonesia’s democracy.”

Australia is assisting Indonesia prepare for and hold its 2009 elections by strengthening electoral management and improving voter education.

Australia is assisting KPU develop training materials for election workers, providing technical guidance to KPU and Bawaslu (the Election Supervisory Body), supporting the restructure of the KPU Secretariat General and working with the KPU to develop voter education materials.

Assistance is provided through the UNDP Multi Donor Program – Support to Indonesia’s Democratic Elections, the Australian Electoral Commission, the Partnership for Governance Reform (Kemitraan) and the IFES.

The talk show and quiz show will be simulcast on RRI, TVRI and local television networks across the country in June, just prior to the presidential election on 8 July 2009.

KPU media inquiries:
Endang Sulastri, KPU Commissioner for Socialization Efforts (021) 3193 7223 (KPU office)

AusAID media inquiries:
Sonya Neufeld, AusAID Public Affairs (021) 2550 5609 / 0811 187 2365
Bram Marolop, AusAID Public Affairs (021) 2550 5386 / 0811 190 4823