[Jakarta, 15 September 2023] – The Santri Diplomacy Academy, represented by Afdhal Alfarisyi, Project Coordinator, and Adlan Almilzan Athori, Secretary General of OIC Youth Indonesia, along with Ms. Astrid, President of OIC Youth Indonesia, had an insightful audience with Ms. Ani Nigeriawati, Director of Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Indonesia, and Amb. Siti Maulidiah Nugraha, Acting Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia as well as Senior Advisor the the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. The meeting took place on September 15, 2023, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Indonesia office.
During the meeting, several important topics were discussed:
1. Reintroduction of OIC Youth Indonesia and Santri Diplomacy Academy: The delegation had the opportunity to reintroduce OIC Youth Indonesia and the Santri Diplomacy Academy to the newly appointed Director. They highlighted the significance of these organizations in promoting diplomacy and cooperation among youth.
2. Appreciation for Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The representatives expressed their deep appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, particularly the Directorate of Public Diplomacy, for their previous collaborations with OIC Youth Indonesia. They acknowledged the valuable contributions made by previous directors and director generals in strengthening these partnerships.
3. Upcoming Santri Diplomacy Academy Event: The delegation provided insights into the upcoming Santri Diplomacy Academy event scheduled for October 22 and discussed previous successful events. They emphasized the importance of such events in fostering international relations.
Ms. Astrid, President of OIC Youth Indonesia, highlighted that the upcoming program, in the form of the Model OIC International Relations Academy, is a collaborative effort between OIC Youth Indonesia, the National Youth Council of Indonesia, and ICYF Eurasian Regional Center. She also mentioned the previous co-organized events that took place in collaboration with Indonesia National Youth Council and ICYF Eurasian Regional Center in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Afdhal Alfarisyi shared the concept of the event, while Adlan Almilzan Athori provided insights into the founding of the Santri Diplomacy Academy subsidiary body, drawing from their own experiences as alumni of Islamic boarding schools/pesantren. The delegation informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials that the simulated council for the upcoming event is the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.
Ms. Ani Nigeriawati, Director of Public Diplomacy, expressed her heartfelt appreciation and commended the efforts of the Santri Diplomacy Academy team, emphasizing the alignment of their vision with the Directorate of Public Diplomacy’s goals.
This appreciation was further reinforced by Amb. Siti Maulidiah Nugraha, Acting Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy and Senior Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, who pointed out the significant presence of notable senior diplomats and high-level senior diplomats with pesantren or boarding school backgrounds.
The meeting was a significant step in strengthening the partnership between the Santri Diplomacy Academy, OIC Youth Indonesia, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It underscored the commitment of all parties involved to promote diplomacy, youth engagement, and international cooperation
