Every story shared in all the sessions of the Bandung Peace Week 2025 activities described the same common thread: that true change begins from a heart willing to learn. It all starts from within: realizing, appreciating, and making peace with oneself. Through simple conversations at every opportunity, everyone discovered something about themselves, others, and about the meaning of togetherness. From there, a new energy was born to continue igniting the spirit of peace in their respective environments.

The spirit of "inner listening" discussed made me realize that to be able to be unselfish, one must start from listening to the deepest heart's voice. One needs to recognize the wishes and needs of others, and letting go of greed or excessive ego. The example story of Aparna's grandmother who, while in a coma and when conscious, the first thing she did was ask about the condition of others, illustrates the value of sincere and deep unselfishness. This is not an easy thing, but it is a life choice that can be learned and practiced consciously.

Anne Holland emphasized the importance of bringing forth self-awareness. Through learning breathing techniques and body movements, participants were given the opportunity to distance themselves from negative emotions, then see how those emotions work within. This process provides the realization that peace does not come from the outside, but rather begins from inner self-reconciliation. Meanwhile, Judy Greenberg added that art is an honest body language. Every line, color, and shape drawn on paper is a representation of emotions that cannot be expressed with words. Through this activity, participants were invited to feel what their minds and bodies were feeling. Those feelings arise on their own because the body is an honest part of expressing one's feelings. Through drawing activities, participants learn to accept that all emotions are part of humanity that deserves to be appreciated.

Family Reconciliation in the series of Bandung Peace Week (BPW) 2025 provided a valuable opportunity to reflect back on family relationships as the first place where individuals learn what love, wounds, and healing are. The speakers and participants shared personal experiences showing that reconciliation within family is not an instant thing, but rather a long journey that begins with self-awareness and the courage to make peace with the past. These experiences are certainly felt by everyone and every family, and it is those things that mature the self and respond to the long journey in realizing peace in the family.

Every person longs to live with a meaningful purpose, yet often forgets to pause and trace back where that purpose truly begins. Purity becomes the key that keeps each step from being trapped in self-interest. It is a mirror that reveals the honesty of the heart, whether our intentions are genuinely born of sincerity or quietly clouded by ambition and the desire for recognition. When purity is present, life feels lighter, for it is no longer driven by ego, but guided by grace and sincerity.

The Bandung Peace Week (BPW) 2025 session on Wednesday (9/24) evening offered a profound experience on how true happiness is found, which is not merely through material achievements, but through full awareness present in every moment. The session opened with Tuan Anh guiding a simple yet meaningful meditation. By regulating their breath slowly, noticing each inhale and exhale, and feeling the body's gravity, participants were invited to be fully present. This practice serves as a gateway to understanding that true happiness is never far from oneself; it is always there, often just forgotten amidst the hustle and bustle of life.

The spirit that colored this Inner Listening session or Quiet Time revealed how honesty serves as the key that unlocks healing. Guided by Tuan Anh, participants from six countries were invited to pause, breathe, and listen to themselves more deeply. Quiet Time, he explained, is not simply sitting in silence, but creating a moment to slow down, connect with heart, and let the inner wisdom surface. At the core of this practice lies the courage to be honest—with ourselves first, and then with others.

In every story shared, whether from the personal experiences of Irfan Arfandi in Makassar or Obaja Gobai from Papua. I found a common thread that unites them: a journey from historical wounds toward a future of hope. This discussion session was not merely a meeting, but a space for reflection on three fundamental pillars: Trust, Peace, and Healing. These are not abstract ideals, but living conditions that must be continuously nurtured and fought for within Indonesian society. The session, held by Trustbuilding Indonesia during Bandung Peace Week 2025, carried a serious yet intimate atmosphere, inviting participants to look deeper into what it truly means to restore trus and peace.

From May to July 2025, IofC Indonesia ran a trustbuilding initiative called the Speak Up Project: Conversation for Peace.

Ciputat, August 9, 2025 — In response to the growing cases of intolerance that fuel harmful narratives against certain groups in society, Initiatives of Change (IofC) Indonesia hosted “Training of Facilitators, Trustbuilding Program: Heal the Past, Hope for the Future”, a three-day event on August 8–10, 2025, at UIN Campus. The program featured Mike Lowe, senior facilitator from IofC Australia, renowned for his extensive experience in the Life Matters Course and Inner Development Goals.