The vision of “one family under God” is not a distant utopian concept; it is a vision that has become very real in regions around the world. In Indonesia, it has inspired an ongoing movement of volunteers and residents to see their neighbors as family members despite their differences of culture, socio-economic status, and religion. University students and professionals partnered with Global Peace Foundation to develop a series of educational art and English programs to strengthen community bonds and promote moral and innovative capacities in youth and families.
Building on the unique peacebuilding model of bridging diverse communities through “one family under God,” Life Park projects aim to strengthen the family unit, an institution that is the building block of healthy societies, by involving all community members, fathers, mothers and children in the education and service projects.
One of the recent volunteers, Ayu Nastiti, was elated about the opportunity to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a teacher as a volunteer in the program. Despite the fact the facilities had limited supplies, including not having enough whiteboards and blackboards, there wasn’t a lack of enthusiastic students, who would rather learn English or art at the project facilities on weekend mornings than spend their free time watching TV or playing games. Ayu, impressed by the students’ dedication and the enthusiasm from the volunteers, said, “I learned to be grateful there, thankful for what I already have, grateful to see that there are still many good people who care about education.”
As another aspiring teacher, Eka Ramadhani said, “Life Park Project taught me a lot of new knowledge, new friends, and new methods to be applied when I become a formal teacher in the future. Through the Life Park Project activity, I understand that togetherness, socialization, and smiles are very valuable and important for children and the community in Flamboyan Flat.”
Novyani Nurhayati aspires to help children from low-income families in Indonesia receiving equal opportunities for education. Novyani shared, “By joining Life Park Project as a volunteer has been a life-changing experience for me. Not only I can help taking action from a small scale, but also I can meet people with the same vision as I do. Meeting those children also taught me how to be grateful to myself.”
Embracing a vision of “one family under God” has a very real transformative effect on society. If we want to start making a difference in our world today, this is where we start.
How are you building one family under God?
The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God. GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peace building models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.