On August 25, more than 60 Global Connections Indonesian teachers and librarians from Jakarta, Java and South Sumatra attended a two-day workshop, "Learning to Live Together Among Different Cultures and Religions." Hosted by ECA's grantee, iEARN, in cooperation with UNESCO and the Ministry of Education, workshop sessions focused on issues such as biases, stereotypes and prejudice to encourage acceptance and respect of diverse cultural groups. Guest speaker Peggy Pusch, Executive Director of SIETAR USA, initiated a dialogue about "melting pot" and "salad bowl" metaphors, highlighting commonalities between Indonesia and the United States regarding their multi-ethnic character. iEARN trainers led sessions about how religious and ethnic perceptions and stereotypes impact classroom teaching and learning. Working in small groups, Muslim and Christian educators discussed the benefits of student-centered teaching approaches, practiced listening techniques, and "learned more about themselves through learning about others."

Teachers and schools in the United States interested in collaborating with schools overseas through the Global Connections program should contact Tina Habib.