Young Indonesian Muslims Visit Australia on Exchange Program

A delegation of young Indonesian Muslim leaders will leave for Australia on Sunday as part of an exchange program aimed at sharing personal experiences and strengthening mutual understanding among the people of both countries.

Khariroh from Jakarta, Nihayatul Wafiroh from Banyuwangi, Elis Zuliati Anis, and Norma Sari from Yogyakarta will live and travel around Australia for about two weeks.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty said he hoped the visit would contribute to a better understanding in Indonesia about multiculturalism in Australian society and the importance of Islam in Australia.

“Islam in Australia is a dynamic, evolving story with a rich history, and one of which our country can be extremely proud,” the Ambassador said.

“Australia’s 400,000 Muslims, made up of over 70 different ethnic backgrounds, and drawn from more than 120 countries – including Indonesia – are a valuable and vibrant part of the social and cultural fabric of the success of contemporary, diverse Australia.”

The bilateral Muslim Exchange Program aims to provide opportunities for emerging leaders in the Indonesian Muslim community to share ideas with Australians of Islamic and other faiths. Participants will meet with people from Islamic organisations and Australian Muslim artists from the “You Am I” exhibition in Melbourne sponsored by the Islamic Council of Victoria and Victoria’s Hume City Council.

This delegation is the second out of three from Indonesia who are scheduled to visit Australia under the Australia-Indonesia Institute Muslim Exchange Program in 2011.

In May, five young Muslim leaders from Australia will visit Indonesia to see for themselves Indonesia’s diverse, democratic and tolerant society and to meet community, education and religious leaders, academics, government officials and media representatives.

This Muslim Exchange Program was established by the Australian Government through the Australia-Indonesia Institute in 2002.

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