Indonesia is changing rapidly, yet many Australians know little about our nearest Asian neighbour.
Ahead of Indofest and the annual OzAsia Moon Lantern Festival, Flinders University’s Jembatan initiative is presenting a showcase of modern Indonesia via a forum for Adelaide senior secondary school students in the city.
Entitled Syariah, Soapies and Selfies, more than 40 year 11 and Year 12 students from schools including Victor Harbor and Pulteney will learn more about the issues and trends in Indonesia today.
This will be followed by a short film about Indonesia created, produced and directed by Flinders University students. Members of the public are welcome to come and take part in the forum.
Jembatan is a Flinders University 50th anniversary initiative which brings Australian and Indonesian communities together to encourage cross-cultural exchange and understanding.
The initiative demonstrates Flinders University’s commitment to its close relationship with Indonesia, forged through 50 years of strong research and teaching linkages.
Through their Indonesian language and cultural expertise, Flinders University engages the South Australian community in Indonesian activities such as:
- cultural and community events showcasing Indonesia
- Indonesian language and cultural educational activities
- educational programs, study tours and internships in Indonesia and;
- school outreach programs.
Dr Michelle Kohler, from Languages and Applied Linguistics at Flinders, says there were eight Year 12 Indonesian language programs running in Adelaide schools last year.
“We hope that this forum for youth will encourage young South Australians to imagine how Indonesia might be part of their lives, not just in the future but in the here and now,” Dr Kohler says.
“We want them to see that Indonesia is a thriving, modern, exciting place that offers lots of opportunities for young Australians.
“Indonesia has so much to offer. It’s a great place to live, create lifelong friendships and expand how we see the world – and how we understand ourselves in it. It’s that intercultural and interlingual perspective that we really want to encourage in all young people,” Dr Kohler says.
The Youth Forum will take place on Wednesday 27 September 2017 from 10.45am–1 pm. It will be held at Flinders at Victoria Square, Level 10 (rooms 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3), 182 Victoria Square, Adelaide and admission is free.
Jembatan is a Program Partner of this year’s OzAsia Festival (running to 8 October) supporting a performance of Air Bandung which brings together some of the best post-rock groups from Adelaide and Bandung in West Java, Indonesia.
The Flinders University Lantern will be carried by Flinders students at the OzAsia Moon Lantern festival on 1 October.
Also on 1 October, Jembatan will host a stall at the tenth annual Indofest Adelaide Family Day.
Flinders’ Indonesian initiatives, language, programs, study abroad opportunities will be with Indonesian craft activities for children on the day.
Flinders University is proud to be an Educational Partner of this event.