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YATRA 2014
7 – 20 June 2015,
Mindol Metta Karuna (Reflection Centre)
Siem Reap, Cambodia
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Table of Contents Welcome ............................................................................................................................................................ 4
YATRA ................................................................................................................................................................ 5
World Council of Churches Programme for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation ..................................... 6
The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies ........................................................................................................ 7
The Venue: Mindol Metta Karuna ..................................................................................................................... 8
Participants (in alphabetical order) ................................................................................................................... 9
Worship groups ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Lecturers (in alphabetical order) and their topics ........................................................................................... 11
Joas Adiprasetya .......................................................................................................................................... 11
Alan Amos .................................................................................................................................................... 11
Clare Amos ................................................................................................................................................... 12
Meera Baindur ............................................................................................................................................. 12
Denise Coghlan ............................................................................................................................................ 13
Courtnae Dunn ............................................................................................................................................ 13
Max Ediger ................................................................................................................................................... 13
Thavory Huot ............................................................................................................................................... 13
Emma Leslie ................................................................................................................................................. 14
Paddy Noble ................................................................................................................................................ 14
James O’Keefe ............................................................................................................................................. 15
Aziza Rattanak ............................................................................................................................................. 15
Sweta Velpillay ............................................................................................................................................ 15
Godwin Yidana ............................................................................................................................................. 16
WCC Staff ......................................................................................................................................................... 16
Peniel Jesudason Rufus Rajkumar ............................................................................................................... 16
Marietta Ruhland ......................................................................................................................................... 16
Matias Ikkala ................................................................................................................................................ 17
Programme ...................................................................................................................................................... 18
Practical Information ....................................................................................................................................... 20
Accommodation and conference venue ................................................................................................. 20
Arrival at airport and transport ............................................................................................................... 20
Contacts ................................................................................................................................................... 20
Currency, local payment and Credit cards .............................................................................................. 20
Customs and habits ................................................................................................................................. 21
Electricity ................................................................................................................................................. 21
Exposure visits ......................................................................................................................................... 21
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General information on Cambodia .......................................................................................................... 22
Immigration ............................................................................................................................................. 22
Internet .................................................................................................................................................... 22
Local time ................................................................................................................................................ 22
Meals ....................................................................................................................................................... 22
Medical notes .......................................................................................................................................... 22
Paper (or better: Paperless) .................................................................................................................... 23
Prayers ..................................................................................................................................................... 23
Programme .............................................................................................................................................. 23
Travel ....................................................................................................................................................... 23
Visa .......................................................................................................................................................... 23
Weather and climate ............................................................................................................................... 24
What you should not forget to bring along ............................................................................................. 24
Worship ................................................................................................................................................... 24
Z…ome considerations............................................................................................................................. 24
Report YATRA 2014 ......................................................................................................................................... 26
Testimonies from YATRA 2014 ........................................................................................................................ 29
Shemaelria Aponno ..................................................................................................................................... 29
Manda Andrian: ‘Walking the Talk through YATRA’ .................................................................................... 31
Rajathy Gerlyn Henry ................................................................................................................................... 31
Simi Thambi ................................................................................................................................................. 32
Yohan Krishnakumar, Sri Lanka ................................................................................................................... 33
Rev.Sanda Aung, Myanmar ......................................................................................................................... 33
Invitation Letter ............................................................................................................................................... 34
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Welcome
It is a real delight to welcome you to the second Youth in Asia Training for Religious Amity (YATRA)
programme focussing on the theme “In God’s name: Religions Resourcing and Resisting
Violence (Violence within religions and religions against violence)” !
As we embark on this pilgrimage of learning over two weeks from 8 to 20 June 2015 we pray for
God’s grace, accompaniment and inspiration to strengthen and sustain us in what is intended to
be a time of inter-religious learning and inter-cultural living. The theme picture by Lucy D’Souza
‘Walking Towards the Light’ suggests that we participate in this journey as pilgrims bearing gifts -
as individuals who bring gifts of experience, expertise and enthusiasm to share around our
common table of learning and fellowship. At the same time we participate in this journey as bare-
handed pilgrims, letting go of our prejudices and presumptions and with an openness to
encounter and embrace the new with courage and hope.
As people representing 10 different Asian countries and various Christian confessional traditions
we share the distinction of being part of a unique programme which assumes new shape each
year. This distinction comes to us with a cost and a call. The ‘cost’ is that there will be an
experimental dimension to our learning. We will experiment with new ways of thinking and
learning and try to combine the spiritual, the theoretical and the practical dimensions
appropriately. The ‘call’ is for each one of us to contribute critically and creatively to the shaping
of this year’s programme. Therefore, our participation in YATRA this year demands from each
one of us a spirit of receiving and giving. To this end let each one of us participate in this
pilgrimage with humility, hospitality and in hope.
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YATRAThe 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches held in Busan, South Korea called the churches to embark on “a pilgrimage of justice and peace.”
Recognizing the need for such a pilgrimage to have an inter-religious dimension, as well as an inter-generational one (particularly with a focus on young people), WCC’s programme on Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation has initiated a programme YATRA (Youth in Asia Training for Religious Amity). YATRA is a training course envisaged tol enable young Christian leaders from Asian churches to contribute towards the building up of just, harmonious and peaceable communities by equipping them for ministries of justice and peace from an inter-religious perspective.
The choice of name for this programme — YATRA — (which is a common term for pilgrimage in many Indo- Asian religions and languages) is intended to reflect the idea of pilgrimage.
Objectives:
YATRA will bring together young men and women between 20-35 years who are in positions of leadership within their respective churches as co-pilgrims, to:
Analyse the complex intersections between religion and politics in contemporary Asian contexts.
Build up a peer-network of enablers who can sustain and strengthen each other (through mutual encouragement, challenge and the sharing of resources) in the ministry of accompanying local churches and national councils in their interfaith engagement for justice and peace.
Conceive creative and constructive models of interreligious collaboration by offering participants opportunities for orientation and exposure to interreligious projects.
Discover both the diversity of Asian Christian experiences of living and witnessing in a multi-religious world, as well as the rich resources which different Asian religious traditions offer on questions of justice and peace.
Engage with important theological questions and Ecumenical documents relating to mission, inter-religious prayer, the Church, inter-religious solidarity, Christian witness and Christian self-understanding in a multireligious world.
The Theme
The theme for YATRA 2015 is “In God’s name: Religions Resourcing and Resisting Violence (Violence within religions and religions against violence)”. In a world which is being ripped apart by violence which takes on a religious dimension this year’s YATRA will explore how religion can not only be the cause of violence but also the reason for peace. We will not only take a critical look at religious traditions and explore how there may be violent tendencies within religions but also lift up aspects of religious traditions which promote peace and harmony in the midst of plurality. The quest will be to explore how religious traditions can help us move beyond hostility to hospitality.
The Structure of the Programme
The structure of training includes theological reflection, workshops, bible studies, and lectures by specialists from different religions, study of recent ecumenical documents, contextual analysis, exposure visits and the cross-cultural experience of living together and learning from each other.
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World Council of Churches Programme for Interreligious Dialogue and
Cooperation Inter-Religious Dialogue and Cooperation (IRDC) has been an important aspect of the programmatic work and witness of the World Council of Churches. The WCC recognises Dialogue as an authentic and appropriate means of Christian presence and participation in a multi-religious world. Established in 1971 as a Sub-unit on Dialogue with People of Living Faiths and Ideologies, the WCC’s programme on Inter-Religious Dialogue and Cooperation is today considered as a transversal priority for the work of the WCC. This means that the inter-religious concern undergirds the various programmatic areas of the WCC. The WCC’s programme on Inter-Religious Dialogue and Cooperation has provided the stimulus and space for Churches to engage in theological thinking on religious plurality as well as practical action with other religious partners. There are several projects which are part of the WCC’s on work on Inter-Religious Dialogue and Cooperation. Some important projects include the following a) Strengthening inter-religious trust and respect: A project designed to explore cutting-edge issues in today's religiously plural societies, and common concerns of and friction with people of other faiths, through bilateral and multilateral encounters with different faith groups. b) Christian self-understanding amidst many religions: A project which invites the WCC constituency to consider how our multi-religious context challenges Christian theology and Christian self-understanding and impacts the way we live out our unique religious identity and calling. c) Current Dialogue: Considered to be one of the oldest and most respected international journals in the field of Christian interreligious engagement, Current Dialogue (our bi-annual journal) offers a platform for debate to those within the ecumenical movement who want to build bridges across religious divides and to their partners of different faiths. d) Accompanying Churches in Solidarity and Conflict: Various projects in which staff from IRDC work collaboratively with other programmatic areas in relation to pertinent issues - like climate change, religious freedom and human rights violations, regional conflicts (Sudan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Middle East) - with an aim to restore healing and wholeness through interreligious collaboration. Alongside these, the IRDC conducts study projects on ‘Inter-Religious and Ecumenical Dialogue’ and ‘Multiple-Religious Belonging’ and organises inter-faith training programmes like YATRA and Building an Inter-faith Community (held in Bossey annually) alongside various other consultations, seminars and conferences. In addition it regularly brings out various publications in the area of inter-religious dialogue for the benefit of a wide range of audience.
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The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) is a Cambodian based non-governmental organisation (NGO) working to strengthen strategic interventions into violent conflict by influencing theory, policy and practice. Based in Siem Reap, CPCS utilises Cambodia’s rich history and reconciliation efforts as a learning base for the region, providing insight and inspiration for peacebuilding in other conflict transformation contexts. Today, CPCS is home to a range of interconnected programs and initiatives that are rooted in ongoing analysis and promote the advancement of peace processes, research and learning.
The Centre currently provides support to peace processes in Myanmar and the Philippines. Its personnel either serve as observers to the talks and negotiations or in the facilitation of workshops and trainings on strategic planning for talks. In its peace process support work, CPCS always remains pro peace, impartial, flexible and transparent, providing resources as they are required to all parties in the respective processes. The Centre also publishes relevant research on peace talks and the lessons it learns through its involvement.
In the area of building capacities for conflict analysis and conflict intervention strategies, CPCS offers upon request, a range of short courses and workshops on topics such as trauma healing, peace journalism, peace program evaluation and strategic peace program design.
For CPCS, an important element for the promotion of Asian approaches to peace building and influencing peace building theory, policy and practice, is the conduct, documentation and publication of action research on emerging issues in peace processes and conflict contexts.
In 2013, CPCS’s activities were primarily focused on supporting the peace processes in Myanmar and the Philippines, engaging a wide range of actors including government officials, armed groups and civil society. Over the course of the year, there were several additions to CPCS staff, strengthening the organisational infrastructure and expanding the reach of work. In June, CPCS celebrated a milestone with the purchase of a tract of land in Cambodia as the future site of a peace museum.
CPCS has been WCC’s local partner in organising YATRA since we started the programme in 2014, and has
been responsible for processing visas for applicants, organising field visits, providing local resource persons,
welcoming the participants and providing logistical assistance. In short, for the WCC, the CPCS has been ‘a
pillar of strength’ in every sense of the term!
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The Venue: Mindol Metta Karuna
The Metta Karuna Reflection Centre is an interfaith centre where Cambodians and foreigners are welcomed
to spend time seeing the challenges of Cambodia through the eyes of the poor. Very quickly it is apparent
that the challenges facing Cambodia, as its people struggle to achieve a quality of life that benefits all, are
also the challenges facing the world. We see through Christians and Buddhist lenses as we view the world
from the underside of history.
The Centre comprises a beautifully designed landscape with a Reflection Pond, a Labyrinth and sculptures,
conference and seminar rooms and guest rooms, as well as administrative offices and a wheelchair shop. A
special place is the Chapel, where Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and people with a desire to seek deeper
meaning in their lives may stay and "rest a while". This chapel welcomes people of all faiths, all who seek
the meaning of life, agnostics, and searchers to spend time here in peace. Inside the chapel the symbols
from outside are there again, sometimes in different form, like the woman at the well, the refugees, the
pots, the peace prayer, "I have no foot to wash", the labyrinth, the handicapped cross, "Whatever you did
to the least, you did it to me".
Address:
Metta Karuna (Jesuit Services Cambodia),
Phum Kasekam,
Khum Srangae, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
In front of Angkor International Hospital
(About 100m off from the National Road 6-To Siem Reap Airport)
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Participants (in alphabetical order)
Last Name First Name Country Email
Mittra Elvis Bangladesh [email protected]
Palleti Solomon Santhi Swaroop
India [email protected]
Aier Imtimenla India [email protected]
Valsamma Rajan Nithin India [email protected]
Ammunubrolu Devakrupa Varakumar
India [email protected]
William Rajan Jebasingh Samuvel India [email protected]
Rumpaidus Sampari Johan Indonesia [email protected]
Risambessy Meyke Indonesia [email protected]
Kadarmanto Citta Sista Monika Indonesia [email protected]
Joseph Costaria Monalisa Indonesia [email protected]
Nyo Saw Judson Myanmar [email protected]
Aye Pan Hnin Myanmar [email protected]
Faioso Tumema Siloma New Zealand [email protected]
Fa’Afuata Ruth Ofeira New Zealand [email protected]
Hanook Milka Pakistan [email protected]
Raju Yousaf Masih Pakistan [email protected]
De Mel Crishan Dion Sri Lanka [email protected]
Panditharathne Lashika Gayani Sri Lanka [email protected]
Abraham Raichu Peter India [email protected]
Dopri Edee Miller India [email protected]
Angeles Jon Dave Ardales Philippines [email protected]
Gill Anam Pakistan [email protected]
Gill Shayan Pakistan [email protected]
Yun Juyeol Republic of Korea [email protected]
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Worship groups
Date Group members
9 June (Tuesday) Timen, Jon, Monika
11 June (Thursday) Raichu, Pan, Raju
12 June (Friday) Crishan, Meyke, Juyeol
13 June (Saturday) Nithin, Ruth, Shayan
15 June (Monday) Deva, Costaria, Lashika
16 June (Tuesday) Tumema, Elvis, Swaroop
19 June (Friday) Edee, Anam, Sampari
20 June (Saturday) Milka, Nyo, Jeba
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Lecturers (in alphabetical order) and their topics
Joas Adiprasetya
Rev. Dr. Joas Adiprasetya is now serving as the president of Jakarta Theological
Seminary, where he also teaches systematic theology and theology of religions.
His current research focuses on Trinitarian theology for the interfaith context,
quotidian spirituality and theology of friendship. His most recent book is An
Imaginative Glimpse: The Trinity and Multiple Religious Participations (Pickwick
2013). Joas is a member of the Network of Theologians of the World
Communion of Reformed Churches and a member of the drafting team of the
WCC’s document on Christian Self-Understanding
Violence in Christian Tradition and History: In this session, we are discussing
how Christianity (Scripture, post-scriptural tradition, and contemporary
churches) deals with violence. It will be obvious that Christianity has not been
able to get rid off violence in its very identity. However, it is not the only story. Christianity has also been
struggling with the idea of peace and peacemaking throughout its historical course. The contestation
between violence and peace is what constitutes Christianity as a religious entity.
Violence: Right in the Heart of Christian Faith? We are discussing the motive of violence in the very core of
Christian faith, that is, the idea of atonement in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is mandatory for
Christians today to construct their own contextual atonement theories which enable them to engage with
the call for being peacemakers in such a violent world.
A Spirituality and Praxis of Nonviolent Resistance: What are the resources within Christianity which can
help focus on non-violence and peacebuilding, without avoiding the call for resisting injustice? How are
they relevant in pluralistic contexts. Also, the session with try to combine spirituality and praxis as two
elements for being an open church today.
Alan Amos
Canon Alan Amos is an Anglican priest who has worked in the
Middle East ( Lebanon and Syria ) and he has been engaged in
inter-faith dialogue, both in the Middle East and in the UK.
He has taught theology students in Cambridge and in Canterbury,
and he has also worked as a hospital chaplain in Kent, UK. He is
a musician and a composer of church music, as well as a poet.
He is married to Dr. Clare Amos.
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Canon Amos will be leading two bible studies around the theme of violence within religion and religions
against violence. The first will look at the story of Cain and Abel, Genesis ch.4, and also the story of
Noah and the Flood, Genesis chs. 6 – 9, asking what these texts have to tell us about God, human beings,
and violence. The second will explore the response of Jesus to violence, looking particularly at Mark ch.8
vv. 31 – end. We ask ourselves, how can we follow the example of Jesus ?
Canon Amos will also lead two lecture sessions , the first on preparing and leading public prayers in the
context of religious conflicts/violence, the second on pastoral ministry to people caught in situations of
religious conflict. We are asked to think about our own contexts, and our ministry to those who are
experiencing suffering and difficulty.
Clare Amos Dr Clare Amos is currently the Programme Executive for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation, at the World Council of Churches. Born in England, she is currently living and working between the UK, Switzerland and France. Clare is a member of the Anglican Church. She got interested in interreligious concerns initially through studying and then teaching biblical studies in the Middle East. She has worked professionally in the field since 2001, originally for the Anglican Communion and since 2011 for the WCC. She has (not surprisingly) a particular interest in the interface between biblical studies and interreligious concerns and has published fairly widely in this area.
Clare will hold three sessions. One will examine gender in the context of interreligious relations and dialogue. The other two sessions will focus on two pressing issues for the interreligious dialogue today: Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Meera Baindur
Dr Meera Baindur from INDIA is currently Assistant Professor at the Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities of Manipal University, Udupi, Karnataka.
A grass roots volunteer and a Hindu mendicant (Sadwi in the Himalayas for 7 years) studying traditional Indian philosophy in an ashram, Meera got a Phd in conceptualisation of nature in Indian traditions of thought; she also studied various Indian Philosophical systems including Jainism and Buddhism.
Her mission in her lifetime is to have people experience oneness with the natural world, and her vision is that of an equitable world, without borders and differences that recognizes the value of life and all that makes life possible.
She teaches among other subjects around the themes of Indian philosophy, Philosophy of religion, Hinduism, Anthropology of religion and feminist Studies. She has also been working on aspects of gender and religion, particularly related to women and sexuality and the third genders in Hindu philosophy and has given various talks to institutions and in academic courses.
Meera will hold three sessions about Indian religions, especially Hinduism and Jainism. She will also lead a prepatory session for our visit to Angkor Wat.
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Denise Coghlan
Sister Denise has been in Cambodia since 1990. Moving there was a natural progression for her after working in the refugee camps in Thailand where thousands of Cambodians fled during the Khmer Rouge era. She came to Cambodia to set up the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in the country. With a number of Cambodian staff, Providence Sisters and Jesuit priests from around the world, Denise coordinates education, health, rural development and assistance for people with disabilities programs in several provinces throughout the country. Her dream is “to do something for peace and reconciliation in Cambodia and to make a life more just” and “to help build a world that our God desires”.
Sister Denise was part of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) which, together with coordinator Jody Williams, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.
She will take us on a “Meditation Walk” around the Metta Karuna Centre with some landmarks like “The Woman at the Well”, “Earthen Vessels” or “The Boddhi Tree”, and she will tell us about interfaith work in Cambodia and her work with survivors of land mines.
Courtnae Dunn
Courtnae is the Project Officer for the Women’s Peace Leadership
program at CPCS. Originally from Seattle, USA, she has spent over a
decade involved in peace and development projects in the global
north and south with the majority of her work concentrated on
supporting the Northern Irish peace process.
In Belfast, Courtnae worked as a trainer and conflict management
practitioner and was responsible for designing and delivering capacity building programs focused on
reconciliation, human rights, civil leadership, and mediation to all levels of Northern Irish society: from the
national police force, to disengaged young people and local government officials.
Max Ediger Max was born in USA and began his work in Africa in 1966. In 1971 he moved to
Asia, where he has lived and worked ever since. Max’s work deals with slums
and poor rural communities, labor communities and women and men working
in the Red Lights districts of Bangkok. He has worked in Vietnam and Thailand,
and is now living and working in Cambodia as a coordinator of the regional work
of the Interfaith Cooperation Forum.
Max will give a presentation of the concept of pilgrimage, a key theme of the
work of WCC after the 10th Assembly held in Busan in 2013. He will also talk
about community building in the context of religious violence.
Thavory Huot A survivor of three decades of civil war, genocide and domestic violence,
Thavory Huot, from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is currently Executive Director
of KAH-Khmer Ahimsa (Khmer Peace) an organization committed to
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community empowerment, peace building, and promotion of non-violent methods of conflict resolution.
Prior to this, she was the program manager of the Peace Education and Awareness Unit of the Working
Group for Weapons Reduction. The group works to reduce weapons; promote peace and non-violent
problem solving; and strengthen the capacity of high school teachers, pedagogical trainers, teachers-in-
training and Cambodian civil society to build a peaceful and safe country. She will give a session on
Weapons Reduction in Cambodia.
Emma Leslie
Emma has worked on conflict transformation and
peacebuilding throughout Asia since 1993. While living in
Cambodia, Emma has founded numerous peacebuilding
organisations and actively supports peace processes
across the region, particularly in Myanmar and the
Philippines. In 2008 she established the Centre for Peace
and Conflict Studies where she holds the position of
Executive Director. Since 2011 Emma has been a
consultant with Conciliation Resources and a member of the International Contact Group for the peace
talks between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Emma teaches at
Folke Bernadotte Academy on UN mediation and dialogue courses, holds an honorary Doctorate in
Education from Charles Sturt University, and a Masters degree in International Development. In 2005,
Emma was one of the thousand women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Emma will share her extensive experience with us in a session about conflict resolution and peace work.
She will also give a presentation of the history of Cambodia.
Paddy Noble
Paddy Noble comes from Aotearoa New Zealand and identifies himself as
Maori from the East Coast Tribes. He’s been living in Cambodia for 14 years
working mostly in the area of Peace and Conflict Transformation, Peace
Building, and Interfaith Peace Building.
Besides this there are many other attributes that definite who he is and what
he enjoys doing. As of lately he’s been working and writing blogs, and
poetry. He enjoys spoken word poetry and tries to make it as outreaching as
possible.
At this moment he is working with the Interfaith Cooperation Forum (work in the Asia Region although they
would like to work in the Pacific too as much as they do in Asia). The two projects that he is working on are
Indigenous Spirituality and Children's Just Peace Education. They organise workshops where they bring
together young people from around Asia and the Pacific to build networks, discuss and implement relevant
workshops necessary to help them work in both fields.
Paddy is going to facilitate two sessions. The sessions focus on youth as well as youth and violence. He will
also lead a session on group building.
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James O’Keefe
James O’Keefe from Australia works as Project Officer
on the Partnership team with CPCS. Ardent about
indigenous rights, particularly those concerning land,
James previously worked as a National Registration
Delegate at the National Native Title Tribunal in
Australia. In this role, James was a primary decision
maker and case manager on applications for
Indigenous Land Use Agreements. Prior to this, James
also worked for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Sydney. He holds a degree in Media and
Communications majoring in journalism from the University of Newcastle, and a Master degree in conflict
transformation from Pannasastra University, Cambodia. At CPCS James co-ordinates exposure visits to
Cambodia for Peace Practitioners from around the region, harnessing the experience and expertise of
Cambodia and Cambodians, and sharing lessons in conflict transformation and peacebuilding.
James will hold a session about peace building in the context of Cambodia’s turbulent history.
Aziza Rattanak (Will be updated) ( Islam and gender )
Sweta Velpillay
Originally from Jaffna, Northern Sri Lanka, Sweta is Peace
Processes Program Co-ordinator for CPCS, specialising in
governance, capacity building and conflict analysis. Sweta’s role
at CPCS focuses on supporting the peace process in Myanmar by
working with the Government of Myanmar to increase its
capacities in conflict transformation, community engagement
and dialogue, and conflict sensitive journalism. Her areas of
expertise include capacity building, power-sharing, governance,
dialogue, identity and conflict analysis.
Sweta’s motivation to work in the field of peacebuilding comes from her experience of growing up amidst
an environment of violent conflict and finding spaces to engage in human rights and peace activism from a
young age. She has been working in the field of peacebuilding for 9 years and has a Master degree in
Applied Conflict Transformation. Sweta previously worked for the Government of Australia, the
Government of Great Britain and a peacebuilding NGO, managing large-scale national peacebuilding
programmes and policy formulation through her work with governments, civil service, civil society and
diaspora communities.
Sweta will hold one session focusing on the contexts of Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
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Godwin Yidana Godwin is originally from Ghana but has most recently been
living in Australia. He holds a Master degree in Peace and
Conflict Studies from the Centre for Peace and Conflict
Studies at the University of Sydney, specialising in Gender
and Peacebuilding.
Godwin has previously worked in international development, migration and youth development, human
rights and governance, women’s empowerment and social enterprise development projects in Ghana and
Australia. He co-founded G-lish Foundation, a social enterprise in Ghana that provides income-generating
opportunities for women and youth in rural impoverished communities.
WCC Staff
Peniel Jesudason Rufus Rajkumar Rev. Dr Peniel Rajkumar is Programme Executive for Interreligious
Dialogue and Cooperation. at the World Council of Churches. He is the
initiator and coordinator of the YATRA programme.
Born in India, Peniel has a PhD in Applied Theology from the University of
Kent (UK). He was a parish priest in London and later taught Christian
Social Ethics at the United Theological College in Bangalore, India, before
he came to work at the WCC in January 2013. His particular focus is on
concerns relating to Buddhism and Hinduism.
Peniel will hold an introductory session to the central theme of YATRA 2015, ‘Religion and Violence’.
Marietta Ruhland Marietta is Project Assistant of the World Council of Churches’ Programme for
”Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation”. A Lutheran, originally from
Germany, she holds a M.A. in modern languages and education from Georg
August University Göttingen, Germany. She is fluent in German, English, Spanish
and French. After many years of residence in Chile, where she worked in
schools, in training for adults and administration for various German
organizations and institutions, she moved to Geneva in 2000 and has been
administering the programme since 2007. She has been organizing the logistic
framework of YATRA, with the help of CPCS staff.
Marietta will give us an introduction to the work and organizational structure of the World Council of
Churches.
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Matias Ikkala Matias is working as an intern for the WCC Programme for Interreligious
Dialogue and Cooperation. Born in Finland, he holds a M.A. in Religious Studies
from the University of Helsinki, and belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Finland. Matias is helping with the logistics of YATRA under
Marietta’s guidance.
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Programme
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Practical Information
Read carefully from A - Z
Accommodation and conference venue
Mindol Metta Karuna (JRS Cambodia), Reflection Centre National road 6, Kasekam Village, Srangae Commune In front of the Angkor International Hospital About 150m off the road 93036, Cambodia Tel. +855 12-488.950 (Denise Coghlan) http://www.jrscambodia.org/Reflection_Centre The Metta Karuna centre is a beautiful place with garden, away from the main road. Accommodation is in
dorms of 4-6 people, showers and bathrooms are separate from the dorms. No air condition, but fans.
Mosquito nets are provided. (see also “What to bring”)
Arrival at airport and transport
Arrangements have been made to receive all guests and transfer them from the airport to the Metta
Karuna Centre. – We will be received by James O’Keefe from CPCS or one of his colleagues who will carry a
sign reading YATRA, and transferred to Metta Karuna via Tuk Tuk (local taxi). This will be a more cost-
effective (and more cultural and more fun) option than taking a bus back and forth between the centre
and the airport.
Contacts
Our main contact in Siem Reap is James O’Keefe Cambodian Number: (+855) 089 217 136 [email protected] Only text messages/SMS to the following mobiles, or emails to: Marietta Ruhland +41-79 654.02.01 [email protected] Peniel Rajkumar +41 77 939 77 58 [email protected]
Currency, local payment and Credit cards
All major credit cards are accepted for payment; for cash payments, USD (bring small banknotes!) are accepted in all shops and restaurants. Change is often given in the local Cambodian currency, called Riel. The current exchange rate is 4000 Cambodian Riel to 1 United States Dollar. Our programme is covering all your expenses on accommodation, food, exposure vists and transport in
Siem Reap. You will a need little pocket money for personal expenses only.
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Customs and habits
Cambodians are very traditional people. A common Cambodian greeting is the Som Pas. This is performed by putting your hands together and raising them to just under your nose, together with a slight bow of the head. Anger or frustration is also rarely shown and seen as unacceptable in Cambodian society. Cambodians will often smile or laugh in a confronting situation. Touching children on the top of head is also frowned upon. At religious institutions or at temples, long clothing is advised. Showing the shoulders at temples is not advised, and it is important to dress respectfully. T-shirts, long skirts and trousers are fine. It's important that participants try not to show the bottom of their feet or shoes to monks, or to face the base of their feet towards any figure of the Buddha. Everybody should bring fairly modest clothing that covers their shoulders and upper arms. For shoes, flip
flops or sandals would be appropriate for the “Climate Heroes” monastery as you will surely need to
remove your shoes on a regular basis walking in and around the monastery. Women should also try to
avoid making any physical contact with monks as this will make them uncomfortable. As a sign of respect,
participants should also perform the Som Pas greeting when they meet the monks. Please also note that
when meeting monks, the Som Pas should be higher, with the ends of your fingers coming up to the top of
your nose or between the eyes. A typical greeting for a monk is to perform the Som Pas and say "Twai Bon
Kum".
Electricity
Make sure to bring an adaptor to connect your devices (laptop, phone ) to Cambodian outlets!
Cambodia 230
V
50
Hz
Type A Electrical
Outlet
Type C Electrical
Outlet
* Some outlets in Cambodia are a combination of Type A and C and can
accept either type of plug.
In some hotels, Type G may be found.
Exposure visits
In the spirit of connecting our programme to the local context of Cambodia, we are planning at least two
exposure visits. The first brings us to Angkor Wat. Another trip (with overnight stay) is planned to two hours
north of Siem Reap to meet Buddhist monks who are running an Eco-project protecting the forests
http://climateheroes.org/portfolio-item/bun-saluth-guardian-cambodian-forest/
On Sunday, 14 June we will be attending local worship in the Methodist Church in Siem Reap, where our
YATRA 2014 participant Rev. Ly Sopheak is the pastor.
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For all these visits, make sure to bring equipment as mentioned under “Weather” and “What to bring
along”.
General information on Cambodia
For some general information on the Kingdom of Cambodia , you can consult among many other websites
www.tourismcambodia.com For Angkor Wat http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668
Immigration
You have all received an invitation letter for visa purpose, issued by our partner organization, the Centre for
Peace and Conflict Studies. The letter may be helpful to explain the reason of your travel at any moment if
you were asked for it. Please make sure to have it with your travel documents.
Those of you who require pre-approved visa (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka citizens, and Indian nationals)
are receiving a special document from Immigration. Don’t forget to bring it with you! Just for clarity, this
is not a visa, but just evidence that we have advised the department of the arrival of participants from
countries which require visa.
All participants will still need to get a visa stamped in their passport on arrival at Siem Reap Int. Airport. If
you have done the visa application online, bring the document which you received electronically. If you
have not applied online, it is important to have USD in cash and a passport size photograph with you as
you enter the country.
Internet
WiFi/Internet access is available in most parts of the centre.
Local time
Cambodia Standard Time is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+7).
Meals
In general, our meals will be taken at the Metta Karuna Centre. On some days, we will organize special lunch/dinners outside, at a restaurant or as picnic. Please inform us before your arrival about any compulsory dietary restrictions/allergies you suffer from, if you have not already told us.
Medical notes
WCC has concluded a group insurance for all conference participants which covers medical emergencies and treatment of injuries suffered in accidents. Please make sure to bring with you all prescription medicine you may be taking regularly. The availability of
expired or counterfeit medicine is a problem in Cambodia. You should be up to date on routine vaccinations
while traveling. Cambodia does not require any particular vaccination certificate. There is no risk of yellow
fever in Cambodia.
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It is also advisable to bring diarrhoea medicine. The best way to avoid travellers’ sickness is to drink bottled
water. Drinking from the tap in Cambodia is unadvisable, even for brushing your teeth. Wiping down
utensils and the opening of canned drinks and bottles is also a good way to prevent becoming ill. The Metta
Karuna Centre is providing drinking water, and you should make sure to drink a lot of water – not only
when thirsty. If you have a refillable bottle, bring it!
Paper (or better: Paperless)
We have been trying to establish a “paperless meeting policy” for WCC meetings over the last years. This means that whenever it is possible, we want to avoid making photocopies. We will not make photocopies of documents that have been sent electronically. If you need copies, please print out and bring with you. Also, all new documents during the course will be shared electronically for those who have access through a personal device. Those who need paper copies are invited to let us know in advance, to allow us to prepare the number of copies needed for a certain session. All participants are encouraged to make their contributions/presentations available electronically by sending them - if possible prior to the meeting - to [email protected]
Prayers
Please ensure that you have communicated with other members of your group responsible for daily
prayers and have prepared the prayers BEFORE coming to Siam Reap.
Programme
The tentative programme sent out at the same time as this practical information, is likely to be modified
and further details will be updated and communicated on a day to day basis. Please ensure that you have
communicated with other members of your group responsible for daily prayers and have prepared the
prayers BEFORE coming to Siam Reap.
Travel
Make sure you have all relevant documents with you: e-ticket, flight itinerary, boarding pass (if you do
online check-in), passport, invitation letter, and in some cases: letter issued by Cambodian immigration
office.
If your travel encounters problems, delays, cancellation of flight: please contact first the airline office to
get a solution, and then send us a message about any change (see contacts).
This applies also if for personal reasons you miss any of your flights. Please be aware that usually we
purchased the most economic tickets available, which means they are not refundable. In order to ensure
the return (which can be automatically cancelled if you do not show up for your outward journey!), contact
the airline immediately.
If you miss your flight due to your personal (ir)-responsibility, our budget does unfortunately not allow us
to replace your ticket. The WCC insurance which we contracted does not cover these costs!
Visa
See Immigration.
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Weather and climate
Temperature During the day temperatures reach between 30 and 35°C, the nights are a little cooler, but the high humidity is likely to increase the feeling of heat. Rain At this time of year it is advised to expect rain every day, although this is not likely. The rain usually comes at the end of the day but can be very heavy. Good shoes are recommended as not all streets in Siem Reap are paved. There are many dirt roads which can turn very muddy very quickly. Rain coats can be purchased at most roadside stands for less than one dollar. Mosquitos Personal insect repellent. It is now the beginning of the wet season in Cambodia which means mosquitos are more prevalent. There is no need for malaria pills as Siem Reap and other major cities are malaria free. However, dengue fever remains a small but potential risk. The best way to guard against this is repellent and long, loose clothing.
What you should not forget to bring along
“Dress code” for our meeting is casual and comfortable (shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops). You may want to have
something less casual for Sunday worship.
Sheets, towels, mosquito nets and soap are provided at the Metta Karuna Center.
Please bring:
- Bible (paper or electronic) - a symbol object from your context - your regional / native dress so that we can have an inter-cultural ‘fashion show’ at the end of the
cultural night; and any typical snack/sweet etc you would like to share. - Any musical instrument (a guitar will be available) - writing pad, pens etc for personal use, and a (Paper) notebook to be used as journal - An adaptor for your plugs (see Electricity) - Flip flops - for general walking and for visiting religious centres particularly monasteries and
memorial sites as participants will be required to remove shoes. Flip flops make this easy! - Firm shoes for walking in mud or forest areas - Light headscarf to cover shoulders or head - Sunglasses / hat - Sunscreen / Anti-septic or anti-bacterial cream / hand sanitizer. - insect repellent - small backpack for personal items during exposure visits. - Re-fillable water bottle (optional)
Worship
We will attend Sunday worship at Siem Reap Methodist Church, where YATRA 2014 participant Rev. Ly
Sopheak is a pastor. Also, we will have a moment of sharing in bible study and spirituality in the mornings
after breakfast and in the evening before dinner. Don’t forget your Bibles!
Z…ome considerations
You are likely to encounter begging in Cambodia. Friends International, an NGO based in Cambodia working with disadvantaged children, advises visitors not to give money to children as doing so often contributes to
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continuing the cycle of poverty by building a reliance on begging. You may also be asked by children carrying babies to purchase baby formula or milk. This is unfortunately a scam, in which the child will then re-sell the milk or formula to the shop in which it was purchased for a commission. If asked, it is advised to politely say no and continue walking.
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Report YATRA 2014 A Critical and Creative ‘Move-ment’ in the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace
Dialoguing to Make a Difference
“The program has just sown the seeds of justice and peace in each young participant; the harvesting season
is soon to come!” These were the words of hope of one of the participants of the YATRA (Youth in Asia
Training for Religious Amity) course, a first-time initiative of the WCC’s program on Inter-Religious Dialogue
and Cooperation.
Inspired by the Busan assembly’s mandate to embark on a Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, YATRA
2014 (as it popularly came to be known) brought together 31 young Christian leaders from 15 different
countries of Asia for a transformative journey of inter-cultural living and inter-religious learning. Held in
Siam Reap, Cambodia from the 8-21 June 2014, YATRA 2014 focussed on the theme ‘Together towards
Justice and Peace: Walking the Talk in a Multi-Religious World’ as it sought to equip young church leaders
for ministries of justice and peace from an inter-religious perspective. It needs to be pointed out that the
name of the programme YATRA (which is the common word for pilgrimage in several languages and
religions of Indic origin) was intended to resonate with the WCC’s Post-Busan focus on a ‘Pilgrimage of
Justice and Peace’. The uniqueness of the programme lay in its potential to make an inter-religious, inter-
cultural and inter-generational contribution to WCC’s ‘Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace’ by inviting young
Christian leaders to explore how churches could further justice and foster peace in a increasingly and
inevitable pluralistic world. (http://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/young-christian-leaders-from-asia-begin-
201cyatra201d-in-cambodia)
Choice of Venue: Cambodia – Where issues of justice and peace intersect with inter-religious concerns
Siam Reap, Cambodia offered the ideal setting for a programme which focussed on inter-religious concerns
and issues of justice and peace. From an inter-religious angle Siam Reap (where the iconic Angkor Wat
temple is located) bore testimony to the collision and coalescence of two great Eastern religions -
Buddhism and Hinduism as well as the Vaishnavaite and Saivaite traditions of Hinduism. From the
perspective of justice and peace, the Metta Karuna Reflection Centre - an interfaith centre of the Jesuit
Relief Services which sees the world using Buddhist and Christian lens and from the underside of history
provided an appropriate location for this sort of training. The centre is prophetically engaged in working
with refugees, survivors of landmine blasts and people with disabilities. Founded and run by Sister Denise
Coghlan from Australia, whose work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines won the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1997, the centre opened the participants’ imagination to issues of justice and peace through
its staff, its services and its rich symbolism. (http://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/a-place-of-learning-for-
young-asian-christians-metta-karuna-reflection-centre)
The participants
Aged between 20-35 the participants of YATRA came from 15 different Asian countries - Bangladesh,
Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines,
Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. All were recommended by their churches, theological colleges,
Student Christian Movements or regional ecumenical councils. While most were students of theology or
ordinands, the group was comprised of young professionals from a variety of backgrounds including
27
economics, pharmacy, hotel administration and designing. This mix brought in different perspectives which
further enhanced the learning process.
Teaching and Methodology
The course was based on a methodology which combined instructive and interactive class-room based
models of learning with empirical field-based models, alongside the overall cross-cultural experience of
living and learning together. The facilitators of the programme came from the Buddhist, Christian and
Hindu faiths and from countries where Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam were the majority
religions – Australia, Cambodia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland,
and the United Kingdom. A broad range of topics were covered by the lectures.
The topics covered in the lectures included the following:
General Topics:
- Youth in Multi-Religious Asia: Problems and Promise
- Religions Working Together for Justice and Peace
- Affirming Plurality and Networking for Peace
- Interfaith Work in Cambodia
- Interreligious Engagement in a Globalized Asian Context
Inter-Religious Reflections on Select Issues:
- Religions and Gender Justice
- Religious Resources for Economic Justice
- Religious Resources for Ecological justice: Overcoming Systems and Cultures of Greed
- Interreligious Engagement for Addressing Ecological Debt and Promoting Eco-justice in the Asian
Context
Introduction to Justice and Peace in Different Religious Traditions
- Buddhism, Meditation and Healing
- A Radical Orthopraxis in Asia: Buddhist-Christian Dialogue and Action in the Theravada Countries
- Hinduism and Social Justice: Bodies and Texts
- Nature and Religion: the Sacred and the Profane in Hinduism
- Ethics for a Changing World: From Alternative Traditions and Religions (Bishnoi Faith and Nayavada
Jainisms)
- Buddhism and Weapons Reduction in Cambodia
Christian Engagement in Inter-Religious Issues: Ecumenical Texts and Theological Questions
- Christian witness in a Multi-Religious World
- Together in Prayer or To Gather to Pray? Multi-faith Prayer
- Christian Self Understanding in Pluralistic Contexts
- Theology of grace: Protestant perspectives in interreligious encounter
- ‘Generous Love: The truth of the Gospel and the Call to Dialogue - an Anglican Theology of inter
faith Relations’
- Equal citizenship: Cornerstone in Building Just and Peaceful Societies
Along with this participants had an overview of the Cambodian context and history through field visits to
historical religious sites such as Angkor Wat, Bayon and Thom Prom, films on the conflict history of
Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime, visit to the Siam Reap war museum and interaction with a
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former Khmer Rouge Soldier who serves as a guide, and interactions with Tun Chunnareth – Cambodian
landmine survivor and a prominent spokesperson of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, who
accepted the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on behalf of the campaign along with Sister Denise Coghlan.
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/cambodian-landmine-survivor-shares-his-struggles-for-
peace
In order to gain an understanding of the practical ways in which inter-religious engagement can be
involved in transformation an overnight field exposure visit to the Lutheran World Federation’s Life with
Dignity Project based in Battambang province was organised. Participants were split into three groups
which visited three different projects. The 3 projects included a) Land Rights Project - where participants
met with communities, Community based officers and activists learning about land conflicts on the basis of
illegal occupation b) Village Partnership Project - which sought to enhance village development in a
sustainable and self-reliant manner by improving the Village Development Committee’s capacity in
planning, resource mobilization and project implementation of different projects. c) Partner Households
Project – where the poorest households within the community were formed into a group of partner
households to facilitate mutual encouragement and offered financial support which enabled them to
improve their livelihood through the implementation of a family development plan. There was space for
participants to reflect upon their experiences and learning through a reflective weekly journal, multi-modal
group reflections on field visits
Spirituality: Morning and evening prayers were a regular part of the schedule. Each day began with
morning prayer and a bible study. From an inter-religious perspective bible study leaders looked at the
book of Jonah, Hagar, Ruth and the story of the early church in the book of Acts as a ‘community on the
move’.
Participants organised the morning time of prayer as small groups using their creativity and gifts in an
enriching manner. During one of the morning worship services, current social networking language was
inter-woven into the liturgy in a refreshing manner by the participants as they resolved to remain ‘logged
in’ to God’s concern for the world by ‘un-tagging’ themselves from dominant cultures of exploitation,
accumulation, violence and indifference and ‘share’ God’s love and compassion.
The participants had the opportunity to participate in the Sunday morning worship service in the Siam Reap
Methodist Church. This exposure helped build initiate new ecumenical relationship between the World
Council of Churches and the Methodist Church in Siam Reap which is not yet a member church of the World
Council of Churches. During the service as the congregation sang lines ‘No weapon fashioned against me
shall prosper’, it brought a whole new perspective to the ‘healing power of the scriptures’. In a context
where in the bodies of landmine victim, one can see living reminders of the results of human-made
weapons on a day to day basis, these words were the language of hope. They communicated the power of
the Christian scriptures to inspire and sustain human flourishing beyond the tragic effects of war. They also
communicated the resilient spirit of the Cambodians who refused to be deterred by adversity and were
determined to bear witness to the sustaining and renewing hope of Christ.
In conclusion, this whole experience of living together and learning from the other was an edifying
experience which not only fed the minds of young people with religious inspiration and spiritual
imagination from the rich religious traditions of Asia but also created a hunger for peace and justice in
contexts of religious division, identity-based discriminations, ecological destruction and economic
deprivation. For a group preparing to embark on the pilgrimage of justice and peace the YATRA course
provided intellectual, practical, ethical and spiritual pathways to walk the talk of peace and justice not
alone, but alongside people of other faiths and all people of faith.
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Testimonies from YATRA 2014
Shemaelria Aponno
Dear YATRA participant of 2015, I’m Shemaelria Gracelea Aponno, from Indonesia, a participant of YATRA
last year. Before i went to Siem Reap I felt nervous and afraid. Could I felt comfortable in there? Or how
could I be a good friend during the course? Actually it was my first time attending an international event.
On 8th june 2014, I had a flight with my friend from Indonesia, to Siem Reap International Airport but had a
stopping by first at Singapore Airport. I felt like a stranger because that was a strange land also. Anyway, at
Siem Reap International Airport there were YATRA participant from another country.
During the two weeks, we learn about interreligious dialogue. On the first day, I demonstrated a symbol
from my province, Mollucas, eastern part of Indonesia. In Moluccas, there is an interconnection among the
villages there due to their history. For example, a village – Christian village have a strong relationship with
Muslim village because in the past, both of them came hand in hand against the colonialism. This is called
Pela (relationship among the villages in Mollucas). Pela can built is family relationship also. In the past, the
christian village ancestors was a brother of the ancestor of Muslim village. Both of the family relationship is
Called “Pela and Gandong”. Gandong itself means “womb” and it will be extended for brother. Brother
from one womb. Simply, Gandong is the brotherhood itself.
After attending YATRA Course, i am proud to be a part of Youth pilgrimage to promote justice and peace.
My perspective had been opened and enlightened. I was interested in some discussion about Buddhist
perspective. I think we should humbly try to learn from another religion. I believe that every religion teach
us to be wise, and to be a peacemaker. Paul Knitter, who wrote a book “Without Buddha I Could Not Be A
Christian”, said “if you want justice, work for peace!” I agree with him. For me, peace can be present if we
are doing justice first. The world is our home, so being a peacemaker making us friendlier each other. He
added “what the future is, or will be can be known and be realized by what is going on right now.”
We don’t talk about exclusivism because we live with other, our neighbour. We ought to talk about
pluralism because we are surrounded with other religions. So we (also church) need to accept diversity
(religion for example) and it’s a step in starting to making the interreligious dialogue. Dialogue begins when
people meet. Dialogue depends upon mutual understanding and mutual trust. Dialogue makes it possible
to share in service. Dialogue becomes the medium of authentic witness.
Back to the course, I and my friend learn about ‘Buddhism, Meditation and Healing’ By Chea Vannath. She
tells about the connection meditation and healing. The Buddha Gautama realized that the three root
causes of all defilements are from craving and aversion. Gautama also realized that the “Four Noble Truths”
are (1) the fact of suffering, (2) the origin of suffering (craving), (3) the cessation of suffering, and (4) the
path leading to the cessation of suffering, which he called the “Noble Eightfold Path”.
The “Noble Eightfold Path” is: (1) Right Viewpoint - Realizing the Four Noble Truths, (2) Right Values -
Commitment to mental and ethical growth in moderation, (3) Right Speech - One speaks in a non-hurtful,
non-exaggerated, truthful way, (4) Right Actions - Wholesome action, avoiding action that would do harm
to oneself or others, (5) Right Livelihood - One's job does not in any way harm oneself or others; directly or
indirectly (weapon maker, drug dealer, etc.), (6) Right Effort - One makes an effort to improve, (7) Right
Mindfulness - Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness, and (8) Right
Concentration – the State where one reaches enlightenment and where the ego has disappeared.
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These are what i mean about learn from another religion. There is always a positive aspect that we need to
learn and practice. Sometimes we (i mean church also) need a silence moment. The Buddhist can help
Christian to have more mystical experience. Paul Knitter affords us about the sacrament of silence. For Him,
it’s the sacrament of silence or sacrament of meditation. By the sacrament of silence, the kinds of spiritual
practices that make use of silence- both verbal and mental- in order to hear the deeper, inner meaning of
the words we say we believe. Silence. The sacrament of silence seeks to administer a way of knowing that
goes beyond thoughts and words. For me interreligious dialogue have two steps, the first is passing over
and the other is passing back. Passing over is the way to know what is the positive aspect from other
religion and passing back is what the relevant thing that we recreate for our tradition based on what we
learn from the other.
After Yatra Course I went to my community and shared about what i had learned at Siem Reap. My
community is the Student Christian Movement Branch in Ambon, the capital city of Mollucas. The Student
Christian Movement is one of the Youth ecumenical organizations in Indonesia that serves as a venue for all
the Christian students to learn about organization and develop themselves. I am a member of Indonesian
Christian Student Movement branch in Ambon since 2008.
I will tell a little more about my province to you. In 1999 there was a riot in my province. The riots
happened for about five years, from 1999 until 2004. That was a tragic event. The result of the riots caused
so many refugees, and they were being forced to come out of their village. They lived at camp and losing
their family. This experience cannot be erased because they were the eye-witnessed at the moment of the
slaughtered and murder of their family. So, it’s was a traumatic experience. There are two largest religions
in my place, Muslim and Christian. There were terror, violence, murder and burning of people, houses
between two communities. So for a long time the church had done many tasks to stop the riots and
recovery of the Christian people. The condition will be safe and people in my place were thinking on how to
finish the conflict. People in Moluccas are still trying to rebuild peace in both communities. I and my friend
at my local communities is a represent of the people of the world, Asian World especially. So if we building
peace generation through young peacemakers in a little action help the world to be home for all human
being.
Everything I learnt at YATRA is always useful for my community, the youth organization at my home town.
We still continue to recovery our condition after the riots. I think, one way to recovery is having a positive
way to meet our neighbour and making starting the interreligious dialogue. We ought to prepare our
perspective and making a space to healing our wounded because of the war; because peace is the only
way. As the church we are more open to plurality, because plurality is a part of God’s design creation. So
that we need to celebrating it by becoming more sensitive to the riches contained in each element of the
plural society.
Last, I was lucky to share and learn about justice and peace at YATRA. Another benefit during the Course, I
have more friends from another country especially in Asia. Our friendship until now and as Asian people, I
think we have hospitality. And it needs to appreciate by all of us. Thank you for anyone who helped me to
be there, especially to Peniel and Marietta.
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Manda Andrian: ‘Walking the Talk through YATRA’
Dialogue is not the only way to solve the problem but at least it becomes a small step to build
understanding. In order to build dialogue among the religions YATRA called young people from Asia
countries to get involve in 2 weeks programme that has been held in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was become
one of my wonderful experiences in the ecumenical and interfaith journey. In these 2 weeks I’ve learnt a lot
of things. Sometimes i feel surprise, sometimes i feel sad, sometimes i lost my confident, sometimes i feel
challenge, and many other things that i felt during the programme, but all of those feeling has been enrich
my life & strengthen me to continue my work building an interfaith dialogue and become a peace builder.
Through the exposure that we experience, look to the real society context, and learn the struggling
they have to faced, realize me more that we, as a young people should be involve and take a part for social
justice. It also made me realize that every place has different struggling; therefore we need to learn about
the real context and issues and not to forget them as a tool to build dialogue and basic awareness to the
grassroots. It was also great to hear the story from one of the landmine victim who survive in his conditions
and do many positive things rather than complain his life or being apathy toward life.
Another important thing that I’ve learnt during the programme is how we interpret the Bible (or
our Holy books) with the different point of view and being open minded. It is one of the most important
thing when we starts to build dialogue with other faith. One that we should not forget is how to implement
and adjust what Bible said with the present context. Sharing experience from other participants from
different country & culture has made me realize that many, many things we should to solve and overcome.
Now, after one year pass I still continue my work in interfaith dialogue & ecumenical. We design a
programme to build basic awareness in my local church. Besides that, I also continue my networking and
cooperation with our brothers and sisters from different faith. I wish by understanding each other, there
won’t be any prejudice and it can decrease the tension in society.
Rajathy Gerlyn Henry
To,
Yatrans of 2015 29th May 2015
From,
YATRA Veteran Gerlyn ;)
Hey everyone! First of all, congratulations for getting here, I know for some of you, it’s been a long journey!
Before I came to YATRA, I was so nervous because it had only been one year since I joined the ecumenical
movement and everyone around me, I knew was so smart. And after I got there, I realized that they were
TEN times smarter that I thought they were. Ten times smarter, ten times more passionate, ten times more
justice oriented and ten times more Godly than I ever though! YATRA served as a milestone in my faith
journey. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was challenged to change the very way I understood God and
Gods of Asia. Each day brought a new challenge to my faith and my understanding of justice and peace.
Listening to dialogues about gender, heteronormative tendencies, patriarchy, genocide and so much more
brought us closer as youth from different nations into a space of learning and understanding. It broadened
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my horizon and brought to us as a whole, grassroot analysis of the issues we face in the South Asian
context.
Coming from India, one of the most diverse countries with so many sects, languages, and sub-cultures, one
of the things that struck a chord with me personally was the way Jesus was contextualized in Cambodia. It
enabled me to look into my own country and find ways in which Jesus could be identified with the common
man. This changed the way I looked at almost everything. Everyone, every instance and every interaction
had a new profound meaning.
Since YATRA, I have been to the Face2Face program of the CWM, I have been admitted into Theological
education, and right now, I am sending this reflection from the World Student Christian Federation in North
America. YATRA enables you to branch out and take risks. It leaves you with a longing to take action, it
challenged my passivity and made me a person of systemic change. I’ve come across the world, and I still
remember where YATRA changed who I was.
I encourage you today be open to being challenged, open to questions and open to listening. Let what you
see and what you experience change you. Look around and see the environment from which people have
risen. Take a deep breath, because you are standing on redeemed land.
Have a great two weeks of adventure!
P.S. wear sun screen when you go to Angkor Wat, it gets sunny!
Simi Thambi My Image of Interreligious Dialogue
To me the different religions of the world are
like different types of fruits on one tree..
The fruits on this tree come in different
flavours, shapes and sizes but they belong to
same tree. This tree serves the purpose of
giving comfort and shade to people when it
gets too sunny. It is the life giving comfort
tree that bears different fruits to satisfy the
different kinds of spiritual hunger of those
who come to it.
If my favourite fruit on this tree is Orange and
your favourite fruit on this tree is banana that
does not mean I force you to like Orange. In
other words, I need not force my religious
belief on you just because I think it is good.
The fruits on this tree come in different tastes
to meet the likes of all who come to the tree.
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Yohan Krishnakumar, Sri Lanka "YATRA is awesome. YATRA gave me a vast understanding of the religions and work together for justice
and peace for a religious amity. The experiences at fieldwork were so exciting and life changing. There were
a lot to learn in every step I took. Best of all is the bond of friendship from around the world. YATRA is the
best and the most unforgettable."
Rev.Sanda Aung, Myanmar
I have great memories of the time I spent in YATRA at Siem Reap, 2014.We visited places like the WAR
museum and Temples. I had great experiences with historical facts.
1. What was your experience last year at Siem Reap , including maybe how you felt before you went there:
-I have the rich experience from participants and lectures for example; I was privileged to make fellowship
with youths and lectures as well as I learnt different views from lecturers especially on Gender and religion
and Interreligious Engagement in a Globalised Asian Context .I love the way of Bible study from the book of
Jona by Rev. Dr Peniel. I felt that Khmer people’s life styles might be different before I went there but there
are many similarities in life style e.g cloths and culture.
2. What has changed for you through YATRA.
As I learnt theology for some years in Seminary, I love learning the contextualization. For example I
understood that the painting wall and other symbols (in chapel and compound) in peace and conflict centre
make more Khmer people to know well the loving God in their lives because its symbols and pictures are
contextualized there. That experience reminds me to apply what I have in my context.
3. What impact YATRA has had on your work and/or involvement with your (local) church.
As I am the youth president in Diocese of Sittwe, I could teach the youth in my diocese about what I learnt
and experienced from YATRA, especially on Gender and religion, preaching way of the Book of Jonah (by
Rev. Dr Peniel)
4. Please tell us about anything that you organized or worked on as a consequence of the YATRA course.
Early in the month of July we invited matriculation exam passed students to attend the Monsoon training in
where we teach and train them for one month how to live harmony with other faiths and to be a good
Christian. In that training I will share again what I had experiences of YATRA, 2014.
Thank you.
34
Invitation Letter
Subject: Letter of Invitation for YATRA participants
Dear participant,
Based on the above subject, I respectfully invite you to participate in the Youth in Asia Training in
Religious Amity (YATRA) programme for young leaders from Asia.
This programme will take place at the Metta Karuna Reflection Centre in Siem Reap, Cambodia,
from the 8th
to the 20th
of June 2015.
We hope you will be able to participate in this programme and we look forward to your response.
The costs for food and accommodation are covered by the co-organizer World Council of Churches,
based in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Council of Churches has also contracted travel insurance
for medical emergencies for all participants.
The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) is home to range of interconnected programmes
that promote the advancement of peace processes, research and learning.
CPCS creates opportunities for peace practitioners, students, academics and analysts to access
information and resources that are contextually grounded; and supports people in country and
conflict situations through network support mechanisms and consultancy services.
We look forward to welcoming the above-mentioned individual to Cambodia and request all
relevant authorities to kindly provide any essential documentation that may be required.
Sincerely,
James O’Keefe
Program Officer (Policy and Public Relations Support)
Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
