BANDUNG, 7-8 June 2010 -- The forty students who joined the Global Peace Volunteer Camp in Bandung last month will never look at the world in quite the same way. They came away with a different, more hopeful vision.

Lembang, the site of the camp, is a beautiful mountainous area, an escape from the bustle, noise, and grime typical of growing cities in the developing world. Living simply, without cell phones, TVs, I-Pods, or other entertainments, the students focused for two days (June 7-8) on inner essentials. They learned about and discussed the challenge of becoming young leaders who could live for the sake of others and give substance to the vision of One Family Under God.

After a few icebreaking exercises, the students, from Telkom University, Institut Teknologi Bandung, and Universitas Indonesia, learned about the importance of balancing heart and mind to build an excellent character, and of establishing families built around true love. Speaking on ‘Building a Nation of Prosperity, One Family at a Time,’ James Poon explained the difference between true and false love, and how good families formed the foundation of national prosperity. One student, Ayu Okvitawanli, observed that this perspective was a totally new discovery for her.

Later the students dug into the messages they had heard, through group discussions, followed by skits they produced based on what they took from the talks. They broke into pairs and bonded with a partner through the Heart-to-Heart session, where each student shared their life story in a reflective atmosphere. More vigorous, physical team-building followed in the early morning cold through Unity Ball. Each team had to cooperate to hit the ball in the air 50 times without allowing it to touch the ground.

The rest of the second day saw the students putting the lessons they had learned and the spirit they had engendered into practice through a variety of service projects in the local area. They were happy to offer their help if only for a day but more importantly they learned something of the harsh realities of many people’s lives and the fortitude with which they endure them.

One group of students helped out a lonely grandmother still forced to work for her living. She was overwhelmed that anyone should think of her and help her. Blessing the students effusively as heaven sent, she told them they were all potential future leaders of Indonesia.

The camp welcomed some international GPFF visitors, Dr. SuThye Teh from Malaysia and Mr. Jin Soo Kim from the USA. Dr. Teh explained about the upcoming Global Peace Festival Asia-Pacific to be held in Indonesia in October. NU, the largest Muslim civic organization in Indonesia, with 60 million members, is one of the many partners working with GPFF on the festival.

Dr. Teh also outlined the series of projects and programs underway leading up to the festival and told the students how they could work with other Global Peace Volunteers to attract people to it. Mr. Kim told the students he was inspired by their energy and through them saw a bright and hopeful future for Indonesia.

The camp, brief though it was, certainly planted a seed. It gave the students there a glimpse of how they, as young leaders, could serve as catalysts to help their nation along the path to greater peace and prosperity. Most of them want to come back and do it again and bring their friends with them.