The experience of togetherness in Stube HEMAT activity brought deep understanding for us. Honestly, in the beginning I joined it because my bestfriends also joined the Stube HEMAT activity. However, at the end I did not think about something wasted after following it. This activity brought us in a collective discussion related to religious diversity. From elementary to high school, I lived in a majority faith, because I studied at Catholic school. Tolerance from one to another is always felt, especially faith. We learned that being religious is not only Chatolicism but also perspectives of other religions in Indonesia. So, it cannot be denied that in general, we are taught to understand each other without seeing ourselves as a better one.

This activity rebuilt memories of a sense of togetherness that I rarely felt in my four years of study in campus. The discussion with Hendra P. Luat Sihombing from Catholic youth (OMK) illustrated that mutual respect between religious communities in Catholic church is always felt, it can be seen from the holy events celebrated by Catholics, such as Easter and Christmas, Banser (security body) from Muslim youths took part to supporting the event security besides the police. Hendra P. Luat Sihombing was the speaker in the first session of discussion held by Stube HEMAT Bengkulu on August 22, 2020 at Adeeva hotel. The sense of tolerance in Bengkulu is still well respected, although it cannot be denied that the formal permission when build the place of worship is still difficult, based on several cases that have occurred in Bengkulu. One important point that we got from the discussions with our Catholic youth friends, that we can take part in colouring the nation, become friend to everyone, appreciate the important times of our friends who have different religions and respect whoever around us.

This activity also carried out a discussion with Arnold Hok, the representative of Buddhayana youth in Bengkulu city by visiting directly the Buddhayana monastery. The main point obtained during the discussion was how the Buddhists reflected their grateful for life on their worship by respecting other living beings and all creations. It can be seen clearly through the inscription on the organizational structure board, namely ‘Sabbe Satta Bhavantu Sukhitatta’ which means ‘may all living beings be happy’.  We toured the monastery which has five floors, from the first floor where the statues of gods or Buddhist religious figures placed as a form of respect, prayer candles to pray for their deceased ancestors, and offerings as a form of gratitude for the crops they have harvested. Then, the second floor is a large place of worship, with three big statues of Buddha. The third floor contains rooms for monks who visit to Bengkulu to attend Buddhist’s holy events. The 4th and 5th floor are used as a warehouses and a rooftop having direct views to beach and Fort Malborough. Togetherness in diversity, what an unforgettable memory.***

(Marta Yuli Kristianti Tambunan, participant in Multicultural and Interfaith Dialogue training, Multiplication Program of Stube-HEMAT in Bengkulu).