Jakarta, Indonesia ― June 25, 2010 ― Diversity, harmony, and unity were celebrated in style at a dynamic cultural performance featuring talent from across Indonesia on June 5, 2010 at the Hard Rock Café in Jakarta. SERASI Punya; Berbeda Tetapi Harmonis was sponsored by USAID/ SERASI. The daylong celebration and workshop for participants was timed to coincide with the MTV EXIT campaign, a concert series and multimedia initiative to raise awareness and increase prevention of human trafficking and exploitation in Southeast Asia.

SERASI Punya brought together SERASI grantees who have worked in the arts during the past year to participate in a workshop led by celebrated Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho, with Indonesia’s young advertising entrepreneur Yoris Sebastian as guest speaker. Participants engaged in a day of learning around the theme of peacebuilding, coupled with lessons in entrepreneurship. SERASI coordinated with MTV EXIT to further educate participants on the threat of human trafficking in Indonesia. After an intensive day learning, participants shared their talent with one another and a packed house of guests, performing compositions celebrating peace and diversity. The line up included a series of short films from InfoAceh (Aceh); Malukan traditional music played on totobuang, hadrat, and sawat instruments; original songs by the winners of the SERASI Pamona Idol contest (Central Sulawesi); traditional music performed by acclaimed Acehnese folk musician Rafly (Aceh); performances by Hidung Merah Circus (Jakarta); and songs performed by Box Band (Central Sulawesi), Fortuna Band (Jakarta), and Endah N Rhesa (Jakarta).

“This event brings beneficiaries together to share their work, experiences, and best practices in implementing programs built around native culture that help to mitigate conflict and engage the communities in which they live in peacebuilding activities,” Leila Abu Gheida, a USAID Senior Peacebuilding Advisor in Jakarta explained. “Communities living in harmony are stronger communities that are better equipped to collectively work to prevent conflict and guard against outside threats like human trafficking.”

“This event is a chance for SERASI to showcase the talent of its grantees, while engaging them in serious work on topics of peacebuilding and trafficking. They have proven themselves to be groups that can unite their communities through their artistry. We hope they will return to their homes and continue to educate their friends and neighbors, including the threat of trafficking,” explained James Grall, SERASI’s Chief of Party.

SERASI is a USAID funded project focused on creating stable, democratic communities. It is implemented by International Relief and Development.