Australia-Indonesia Institute starts taking applications for 2025 Muslim exchange program
Program aims to promote intercultural understanding, community connection through direct dialogue, interaction
CANBERRA, Australia (MNTV) – The Australia-Indonesia Institute has started taking applications for Australia-Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program (AIMEP) 2025, reports Australian Muslims Times.
The AIMEP is a unique opportunity for young and emerging Muslim leaders, community changemakers and activists in Australia and Indonesia to participate in an international visit program of cultural, religious, and intellectual exchange.
It offers a unique focus on Muslim community experiences – reflecting the fact that Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country, and Australia has a steadily growing Muslim community, many of whom have lived in Australia for generations.
Indonesia and Australia are next door neighbours, yet their citizens often know very little about each other. The AIMEP has worked towards bridging that gap for over 20 years.
It promotes intercultural understanding and community connection through direct dialogue and interaction. The program provides delegates with a deeper understanding of our two countries’ cultures and societies, while building strong and lasting networks of friendship and connection between emerging leaders.
The AIMEP is a flagship program of the Australia-Indonesia Institute, one of a number of cultural councils established by the Australian Government to support people-to-people links between Australia and countries in the region.
The program is open to a wide range of emerging Muslim leaders, changemakers and community activists aged 23-40 who are actively contributing to their community in fields like education, advocacy, social justice, youth empowerment, interfaith, mental health, poverty alleviation, social entrepreneurship and more.
This year, 7 Australian and 12 Indonesian young leaders will join a 5-week online program of exchange and dialogue – discussing key social issues together with fellow delegates and key experts.
Everyone will then meet in Jakarta, before participating in an immersive 10-day travel program to their neighbouring country where they will experience each other’s culture and society.
Ruhee Meghani, a 2024 AIMEP alumna, reflected: “From the outset, I expected AIMEP to be insightful, but it truly redefined my understanding of cross-cultural exchange and partnership. Every phase was structured to ensure maximum engagement.”
James Phillips, a Queensland-based AIMEP 2024 alumnus, said, “AIMEP 2024 was mind-blowing in a positive way – it’s an experience I will never forget.”
Maulina Sari, a 2024 alumna from Aceh, Indonesia shared, “AIMEP is a really enriching and inspiring program. It gave me the opportunity to learn about Indonesia-Australia cultures, our relationship, the Islamic context and approaches to address community challenges.
The program also reinforced my commitment to creating positive change for myself and my own community, equipping me with valuable networking and tools for leadership and collaboration.”
The program will begin in August 2025.
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