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Home > WCO Programs > Special Programs >Indonesia Report |
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Rebuilding CULTURE in Banda Aceh, Indonesia |
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2. Aceh Cultural Institute |
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 Fortuitously, in the summer of 2005, prior to our planned departure for exploratory research in Aceh, WCO received a document from the Aceh Cultural Institute informing their recent founding in June and of their mission to provide a space for cultural reconstruction and cultural rehabilitation programs. Founded by former Indonesia Minister of Human Rights, Hasballah Saad, the Aceh Cultural Institute (ACI) envisioned "a free learning space accessible to all levels of Acehnese society" and stated that "given the destruction of this extremely rich cultural heritage in the tsunamiˇ¦the Center's founder wished to create an educational center in Banda Aceh for the study of Acehnese history, language and culture".
 ACI seemed a good potential partner for WCO as WCO's intent was to work with local cultural groups and nongovernmental organizations (NGO) to create a cultural center designed by and for the people of Aceh. WCO desired to assist in the construction and creation of a cultural center but also understood that the purpose and meaning of such a cultural center would be truly fulfilled when it is run by the local community members, with programs designed by and for the local community members.
We began corresponding with the Aceh Cultural Institute in preparation for our August arrival. Our plan was re-adjusted so that we would spend 2-3 days in Aceh, meeting with ACI founder, Hasballah Saad, and board members as well as touring the region to better understand its current situation, and another 2-3 days in Jakarta meeting with UNESCO and UNDP country offices to discuss about possible ways of coordinating their cultural reconstruction/rehabilitation efforts with local NGOs and WCO's cultural rehabilitation efforts in Aceh.
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