ASEAN Youth is Connected...in New York City

NEW YORK CITY-15 Aug 2010- It is my dream to travel the world! Last month I found myself in a beautiful state of Vermont, known as a state of green mountains, farms and maple syrup, United State of America. I’m not dreaming. This is true! It is greatest gift of the year I’ve been given after working hard for 2 years traveling around Mekong + ASEAN countries. This opportunity came across; because of a good friend + meaningful work connection from Sweet Mango Tours and Gross National Happiness American Project and it was kindly sponsored by Oscars Farm Vermont. My journey was accompanied a friend from the English Crazy Club.

On the way back from Vermont, we dropped in New York City for few days before heading home to Thailand. In the arm of the Big Apple, we got a chance to meet with Bennett Haynes, a friend who worked for ASEAN Youth Movement Media Team when he was in Thailand last year. Now he is based in New York City, working for a CSA (Community Sharing Agriculture) farm, called Hearty Roots. Everyday, he gets his hands dirty, working hard on farm, waking up early to get ready for delivering healthy vegetables for communities around New York City. Recently Bennett is in Bangkok for his TEDx talk on ‘Cultivating Alternatives’, the event starts tomorrow, be sure to check it out!

I’m ASEAN youth. It is America. Now I see the world!

Follow the ventures of my dream in America atwww.fromubon2vermont.wordpress.com

Behind the Posters for Peace

Words by Jaruwan Supolrai
Photos by Max Ediger

Have you any dream you’ve been pursuing? Young people across Southeast Asia dream of a hundred different things. Some may dream of getting good careers. Some of you dream of having a big house and a luxurious car. And others may dream of being a full-time world traveler. But interestingly, this group of young activists are dreaming about peace, justice and rights for their respective regions.

AYM had a chance to interview six young peacemakers who recently returned home after taking part in three-month internship program with School of Peace in Bangalore, southeastern India. They painted and colored their confrontations and conflicts into posters for peace. Here are the good stories of the hopes and dreams behind their meaningful works of art!

Stop Violence Against Women!
A young female artist behind this poster is Haryanti ‘Rica’ Sulistyorini, 25 years old, originally from East Java, Indonesia. Her work background is women’s issues. She now works on the legal reform staff of the APIK Federation (Asosiasi Perempuan Indonesia Untuk Keadilan) in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta to promote legal reform in her country with regard to women’s rights.

The inspiration behind Rica’s art piece comes from the many cases of violence against women in Indonesia that she encounters in her work. “I see that it is very sad and painful if women have to become victims especially physical abuse and I can feel very hurt for those women.” said Rica. She hopes her poster will help raise awareness about violence against women and believes that it is the responsibility of everyone in the world to stop violence against women and to respect women’s rights.

“You can feel like women is mother of the world, you must respect because without women, we all also cannot struggle for our rights and cannot change the world.” Her hope and dream for the region is that all people can live with no rape, no trafficking of women or children, no abuse and no war. “If we live together with peace, I think we can live until one thousand years.” she ended with a big smile.

Violent Colors