Australia Offerss Exchange Program to Indonesian Young Muslim Leaders

Jakarta (Antara) - The Australian government has announced that applications are now being sought from young Indonesian Muslim leaders to take part in the 2014 Muslim Exchange Program (MEP). "This is an important opportunity for young Muslims in Indonesia to promote interfaith understanding, cooperation and mutual respect and celebrate the diversity of both countries and their similarities. Participants would become international representatives for Islam in Indonesia," Dr David Engel, the Charge d'Affairs at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, said in a statement. Dr David Engel, encouraged high-calibre, young Muslim leaders to apply for the chance to represent Indonesia in Australia and to learn more about Australia¿s multicultural society. Applications close on Thursday, 23 January 2014. "Two groups of five young Indonesians will be in Australia for two weeks during the first half of 2014. They will visit Muslim communities and organisations, as well take part in Australian cultural activities," he said. A group of young Australian Muslim leaders will undertake a similar program in Indonesia. The Muslim Exchange Program builds links between Muslim communities in Australia and Indonesia and is funded by the Australian Government through the Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII). The AII works to foster greater understanding and people to people to people links between Australia and Indonesia. Paramadina University is the coordinator for the selection process for Indonesian participants and has been doing so since the program began in 2002. (*)