USAID Indonesia Mission Director Glenn Anders recently visited several USAID-funded programs in Papua and had the opportunity to observe three SERASI grantees in action. During his February 2011 trip to the province, Mr. Anders spent time with SERASI grantees Pancaran Kasih in Jayapura and YASUMAT and YKW in Wamena, and participated in a round-table discussion with senior staff of several SERASI

Garin and other media experts were speaking at the Television Journalism Awards for Peace and Multiculturalism in Jakarta on September 30, 2010. The awards were organized by the SET Foundation under a grant from the USAID SERASI project.

Saparua Island, in rural Maluku province, has moved beyond the communal violence that plagued it over the last decade. On the surface, Saparua’s ethnicities and religions now co-exist supported by the continuing efforts of neighbors, families, community leaders, local civil society, and local government to live in peace.

More than 10 years after widespread violence plagued their province, the people of North Maluku —especially youth— still find themselves living in relative isolation. Communities are often segregated along faith lines and levels of mistrust of people perceived as 'different' remains high.

The past conflict in Maluku has eroded the traditional values of harmony and brotherhood (pela gandong) and tolerance in many communities. Over time this has impacted not only adults view of one-another but has also influenced the interaction among the next generation of people in the Maluku's - youth.