The forum was co-hosted by Initiatives of Change-Indonesia and the Indonesian Center of Religious and Civilization Studies and took place in the historic 'Asia Afrika' building - venue of the landmark 1955 Asian-African conference. It was opened by HE H Dede Yusuf, the Vice Governor of West Java Province.
In his opening speech, K Haridas Nair, representing the International Council of Initiatives of Change, challenged the youth to become 'transition leaders' who could motivate people to think 'beyond today's boundaries of you and me, of colour, of race, religion and language- fundamental issues that are continuously exploited to divide people from people.' He went on, 'We live in an increasingly interdependent and interconnected world,' adding that climate change knows no boundaries.'

People need to change,' said Nair, 'and this factor cannot be wished away…. The problems of today cannot be changed at the same level of thinking and living that has created them. A shift in our thinking and living will provide a shaft of light filled with possibilities for the future.'

Open Space sessions opened up the agenda for the participants to raise the issues they cared about, generating 22 discussions on everything from HIV-AIDS to the political situation in Burma to 'youth and spirituality'.

Morning times of reflection opened up an inner space to reflect on such questions as ‘What kind of person does the world need me to be? Am I that person? What are the obstacles?’

To connect the big ideas about development with the realities of rural life in a developing nation, after five days in Bandung the conference moved to the village of Panawuan, where the youth were billeted among local families for two nights, making an unforgetable impression on both delegates and villagers.

To download a report of the event click here

To download the full text of the opening speech by K Haridas Nair, click here