VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, A.M. Fachir Fachir officially opened the Indonesian Art and Culture Scholarship Program (BSBI) 2019, Friday (10/5), at the Pancasila Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The theme of the 2019 BSBI is "Mosaic of Indonesia." The message to be conveyed from the theme is the diversity of the archipelago in terms of culture, religion, and other beliefs, including human life, procedures, mindset and habits of people who are tolerant and managed aligned to become one of the nation's assets.

This year BSBI is participated by 72 participants from 40 countries. During 16 times, BSBI activities have produced 848 alumni from 74 countries who are friends of Indonesia and also helped promote Indonesia in their home countries.

Priority countries for 2019 BSBI participants are ASEAN member countries, ASEAN + 3, SwPD, PIF, a number of European, Asian, African and Interfaith Dialogue Partner countries. There are 3 new countries in the 2019 BSBI, namely, Gambia, Portugal and Colombia. In addition, there are 6 Indonesian youth from Papua, South Sulawesi, East Kalimantan, Central Java, DI Yogyakarta and East Nusa Tenggara.

For 3 months, BSBI participants will train in partner studios and universities of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, namely Semarandana Art Studio - Bali, Kazaki Art School - Makassar, Veterans National Development University (UPN) - Yogyakarta, Gubang Art Foundation - Kutai Kartanegara, Sanggar Sayu Gringsing - Banyuwangi and Syofyani Studio - Padang.

The curriculum that is taught primarily is Indonesian, cultural arts and religious harmony, social activities and local wisdom. In that time frame, participants will have the opportunity to know and feel the atmosphere during Religious Holidays in Indonesia, such as the Day of Vesak, Ramadhan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha and the celebration of the 74th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia.

Records of creative activities and promotions of BSBI alumni in their home countries for Indonesia include being a dance / choreographer teacher, holding photo painting exhibitions, gastronomic promotions, making Indonesian friendship ties with their home countries, and making songs and video clips for social media.

Indonesian Art and Culture Scholarship (BSBI) is one of the soft power programs of the Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) which is aimed at building people to people contact, interaction between communities, especially international and national (Indonesia) youth through arts and cultural media.

The BSBI program is oriented towards efforts to establish a positive image of Indonesia - introducing, promoting and fostering love for Indonesia. The intended program produces friends of Indonesia, the ambassador of Indonesia and builds an Indonesianist network. (Source: Directorate of Public Diplomacy)