Info Konsumen – Visions of Peace Initiative (VOPI) once again hosted the Golden Rule Interfaith Youth Conference at MAN 13 Jakarta, reaffirming its commitment to promoting peace, tolerance, and mutual respect among Indonesia’s younger generation while continuing the legacy of its late founder, Prince Dr. Damien Dematra, widely known as the Prince of Peace.
The conference brought together six interfaith leaders and hundreds of young people from diverse religious backgrounds. The distinguished speakers included Syarif Hidayullah representing Islam, Rev. Samuel Martinus Riwu representing Christianity, I Wayan Sarjana representing Hinduism, Chandra Natawijaya representing Confucianism, Venerable Eddy Sastro representing Buddhism, and Ki Bambang Sumantri representing the Sunda Buhun Indigenous Belief community.
Through open and interactive discussions, participants explored the meaning of tolerance, the importance of peacebuilding, and how mutual respect can be practiced in everyday life within Indonesia’s diverse society. Young participants were also encouraged to share their perspectives, ask questions, and exchange ideas on fostering harmony across different communities.
The conference opened with a screening of the award-winning documentary The Golden Rule: Do Unto Others…, produced by Princess Cheryl Halpern, Princess Natasha Dematra, and Alex Dolginko. The documentary highlights the universal principle of the Golden Rule—”Treat others as you wish to be treated, and do not treat others as you would not wish to be treated.” This timeless message continues to serve as the foundation of Visions of Peace Initiative’s programs promoting peace through education, the arts, and interfaith dialogue.
As a symbolic expression of hope for a more peaceful future, the event featured the release of white doves, representing peace, unity, and harmony among people of different backgrounds. The ceremony was followed by a Peace Declaration, jointly proclaimed by the six interfaith leaders as a shared commitment to strengthening tolerance, interfaith friendship, and religious harmony throughout Indonesia.
This year’s conference continues the vision established by the late Prince Dr. Damien Dematra, who dedicated his life to advancing peace, tolerance, and humanitarian values through education, the arts, interfaith dialogue, and humanitarian diplomacy. Today, that vision lives on through the work of Visions of Peace Initiative, with the Interfaith Golden Rule Youth Conference standing as one of his enduring legacies for future generations.
In her remarks, Princess Natasha Dematra, Executive Director of Visions of Peace Initiative, stated:
“The Golden Rule Interfaith Youth Conference is one of the legacies established by my father, Prince Dr. Damien Dematra. He believed that peace begins within every individual and must be nurtured from a young age. Through this conference, we hope to inspire more young people to embrace dialogue, respect differences, and become ambassadors of peace within their own communities.”
Visions of Peace Initiative was founded by Princess Cheryl Halpern and the late Prince Dr. Damien Dematra as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace, tolerance, and humanitarian values through the arts, education, and intercultural dialogue. To date, the organization has received 12 Nobel Peace Prize nominations in recognition of its contributions to building a culture of peace both nationally and internationally.
Through its programs, VOPI continues to encourage young people to embrace the Golden Rule as a universal principle for building inclusive, compassionate, and respectful societies. The Interfaith Golden Rule Youth Conference serves as a meaningful continuation of Prince Dr. Damien Dematra’s vision while empowering the next generation to become leaders of peace.
Through this conference, Visions of Peace Initiative hopes to inspire more young people to become agents of peace, strengthen the values of tolerance, and build bridges of understanding across cultures and religions, contributing to a more peaceful world for future generations.
