British Embassy Jakarta ‘Discovering Indonesian Islam’ Travel Grant

Terms of Reference

Background

Indonesia – a country of 250m people, 87% Muslim, the world’s third largest democracy, with a vibrant and free media, and active civil society –has a long history of religious pluralism, moderation and tolerance. This is rooted in Indonesia’s politics, culture and faith tradition. Indonesia’s track record offers interesting and challenging insights for leaders and practitioners seeking to counter faith-based extremism and build community cohesion. A successful modern Indonesia shows there is no contradiction between Islamic teachings and values such as democracy and pluralism.

The UK Government has recently launched a new Counter Extremism Strategy to counter extremist ideologies. British Muslim communities are working together with the authorities to work out how to prevent young British Muslims being drawn to extremist ideologies or leaving the UK to fight with extremist groups such as Daesh.

The number of people drawn to join Daesh is broadly the same from both the UK and Indonesia, but proportionately much lower in Indonesia given the much larger population.

During Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to Indonesia in July 2015, he and Indonesia’s President Joko‘Jokowi’Widodo agreed to increase their joint efforts to tackle the terrorist threat and counter extremist ideologies. The Prime Minister stressed the UK’s readiness to learn from Indonesia's experience and its approach to promoting tolerance and pluralism. The two leaders agreed to initiate an exchange programme between religious and community leaders in Indonesia and the UK to foster a better understanding of what works.

Travel Grants

The British Embassy Jakarta is pleased to announce the second round of ‘Discovering Indonesian Islam’ Travel Grant programme.

Establishing links between UK and Indonesian organisations

The grants are intended to facilitate visits to Indonesia and to the UKby British and Indonesian Muslim leaders – e.g.religious leaders, education providers, youth group leaders–to engage in discussions with counterparts, improve their understanding of Indonesia’s and UK’sapproach to pluralism, diversity and tolerance in religious life, and to identify opportunities for future collaboration. The grants are expected to contribute to develop outcomes by supporting educational link and contacts between women and young people.

The aim is to establish new or substantially deepen existing partnerships between British and Indonesianindividuals and/ororganisationsand also betweenBritish and Indonesian educational institutions committed to countering extremist ideologies,and building more cohesive communities.

The Embassy will offer several grants to be utilised by the end of September 2016. Each grant will finance minimum one week visit to Indonesia by one or two representatives from established organisations with a track record of promoting tolerance. Each grant will be worth up to £1500 (£3000 if a team of two are travelling together).

Preference is for applications that include:

  • Evidence and examples of the applicant organisation’s work to build pluralism and community cohesion,and its impact.
  • Intended / expected outcomes – vision of how this visit will help to counterextremist ideologies in the UK and Indonesia, and ideas for sustaining partnerships in the medium and long term.
  • Institutions to be visited, if there are already established links or ideas for collaboration. If not, the British Council and Embassy in Jakarta can provide some advice on potential Indonesian counterparts.
  • Social media activity to share perspectives and experiences from the visit.
  • Proposal to give a lecture or workshop to Indonesian students and/or academics on the applicant organisation’s work.
  • Travel will need to take place by the end of September 2016 and a short report of the visit should be submitted to the British Embassy Jakarta by the end of October 2016, with a further follow up report to be submitted by the end of February 2017.
  • The travel grant is not intended for personal research, but rather for establishing institutional partnerships.
  • The grant may be used for travel to and within Indonesia/UK and for accommodation. Any other costs related to the visit not covered by the travel grant are the responsibility of the applicant. Participants will have to book and pay for their own flights and accommodation. Once the Embassy has received all the receipts from the accrued costs they will be reimbursed.
  • Participants are required to have medical travel insurance. It must cover any costs that may be incurred in connection with emergency medical aid, urgent hospital treatment or transport to the country of origin for medical reasons or in the event of death.
  • Participants will take full responsibility for securing their visa to the UK and to Indonesia.

How to Apply

Please read the attached documents, complete the application form, and return it to by midnight (UK time) Monday 20 June 2016.

Expressions of interest: Student/Young Activists summer placement at an Islamic school in Indonesia

As a part of this programme, we will consider a small number of travel grants to British students or young activists interested in gaining a cultural experience through teaching English at an Islamic boarding school/university in Indonesia.

Participants will have to be between the ages of 18 to 30 and will be placed with a host family or student accommodation. Participants will be expected to blog their experience on a weekly basis. The placement will last between 4 and 8 weeks.

How to Apply

If interested please send us an email to outlining why you would like to undertake a summer teaching placement in Indonesia and your experience of blogging/video blogging. Please also send us your CV including details of any English language qualifications. The deadline to submit your email/CV will be midnight (UK time) on Monday 20 June 2016.