ASEAN Delegates Explore Indonesia’s Religious Literacy Model for Social Cohesion

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Six delegates from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam visited Jakarta to study Indonesia’s Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (LKLB) Program, an initiative by Leimena Institute aimed at strengthening social cohesion through education and community-based solutions.

Executive Director of Leimena Institute, Matius Ho, explained the purpose of the exchange. “We want to share the experience we have in Indonesia because the Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy Program is designed to build social cohesion and is closely related to our nation’s efforts in managing diversity,” he said on Friday, August 21, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

“We want them to see that based on what they learn from Indonesia, there are good practices useful for their countries, and from there we can build cooperation," he added.

The ASEAN delegates, mostly from government institutions, observed how Indonesia has trained more than 11,000 teachers and educators through LKLB since 2021.

The program has also expanded to cultural and social training for civil servants. Matius noted that the Immersion Program has been held four times since 2025, with 24 delegates from Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos, and Vietnam participating.

Former Foreign Minister and Senior Fellow of the Leimena Institute, Alwi Shihab, emphasized LKLB’s role in fostering tolerance and cooperation.

“It begins with personal competence, meaning we truly understand the essence of our own religious teachings in viewing others who are different. For example, Islam never teaches intolerance; in fact, Islam encourages cooperation,” he said.

He recalled that LKLB was born out of concern over high levels of intolerance among religious teachers, revealed in a 2019 survey by Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta.

Researcher Yuyun Wahyuningrum at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, highlighted ASEAN’s interest in the program. “LKLB is not only practical but also doable, meaning it can be applied in different social contexts,” she said.

“LKLB is hard work, collective work, continuous work, and expansive work. Because everyone is different, and contexts differ, it must be carried out continuously. This is what the Leimena Institute has been doing--not only with religious teachers in Indonesia but also with key actors outside Indonesia," Yuyun concluded.

ASEAN has already adopted LKLB into its Community Vision 2045 Blueprint, under the socio-political and socio-cultural pillars, to promote social cohesion, peace, and sustainable development. ***