Name of Organization: Pusat Studi Antar Komunitas (PUSAKA) - The Center of Intercommunity Studies.
Form of Organization: Foundation
Date/Place of Establishment: Established in December 1, 2000 and registered to the notary on 14 December 2000 in Padang, West Sumatera.
Address: Jalan Purus I No 8 A Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia, 25118.
Telephone: (0751) 894042
Facsimile: (0751) 35568
Email: pusaka_padang@yahoo.com
PUSAKA is a non governmental organization who pays a great deal of attention on humanism issues. It was established due to three main concerns: racial and religious discrimination, exploitation of people and dehumanization practices. The practices have caused injustice, poverty and backwardness.
PUSAKA is determined to address the issue by promoting pluralism and tolerance as well as facilitating inter-ethnic dialogue. PUSAKA is involved in research activities aimed finding solutions to racial and religious conflicts. PUSAKA is actively mediating conflicting parties to reach peaceful agreement.
The agenda is elaborated into several action plans including: sponsoring dialogue among different religious followers and racial groups, holding campaign against racial and religious discrimination and conducting regular discussions. Other programs include conducting research, establishing network and establishing a community radio.
To execute its programs more effectively PUSAKA has established cooperation with other NGOs such as community for religion and peace IAIN Imam Bonjol (Padang), Panca Dian Kasih Foundation (Jakarta), Institut Pluralisme Indonesia (Jakarta), Komunitas Sutan Agidio and Serikat Seferin (Padang).
PUSAKA has established relation with funding agencies such as the Catholic Relief Service (CRS), Tiffa Foundation (Jakarta), YAPPIKA (Jakarta) and the Asia Foundation.
At present PUSAKA has established very closed relation with interfaith alliances in Indonesia), Center for Research and Development of Human Resources/P3SD (Padang), People Mandate Foundation/ Y-Far (Padang), Yayasan Tambo (Bukittinggi), Yayasan Madani (Payakumbuh), and Yayasan Petaka (Pesisir Selatan).
In carrying out its programs PUSAKA faces several obstacles including: first, inadequate support from majority population, in this case, from Islamic community on the need to maintain religious harmony. Second, it has not sufficient money for the continuation of the organization’s programs. Third, it faces less reliable and authoritative sources who can promote pluralism and democratic ideas.
If there is an offer of funding, PUSAKA will use it to improve capacity building. It is planning to establish a permanent sources of funding by which it can finance its programs. |
