Aliansi Remaja Independen (ARI or Independent Youth Alliance) is a youth-led organisation by and for youth aged 10-24 years old. ARI is registered under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights as a non-government organisation (NGO) in 2012. ARI is the only independent youth-led organisation in Indonesia without any affiliation to other organisations including political or religious parties. Based out of Jakarta, ARI has developed 5 branches in 5 provinces namely West Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi. ARI also has around 120 registered members whose role is to ensure ARI’s mission is implemented through a network of more than 10,000 young volunteers.

ARI strongly values meaningful youth participation, youth-adult partnership, gender equality, diversity, inclusivity, human rights and child rights. ARI’s vision is “Empowered youth, able to be equal, independent, responsible, their rights are fulfilled and able to participate actively in Indonesia’s program development.”

ARI has three focus areas: Health, Education, and Employment. These are achieved through three core programmes
1. Educate, empower and facilitate network by and for youth
2. Provide inputs and conduct advocacy activities to ensure government programmes and policies are for the best benefits of youth.
3. Educate and mobilize the community to ensure the realisation of good quality youth.

Through the years, ARI has implemented activities that advance the cause for youth community. Among others, ARI was the only youth-led organization participated in the judicial review of marriage law in 2014. ARI was one of the youth-led organization that represented Indonesia in High Level Political Forum (HPLF) in 2017 to review achievement of national voluntary review. ARI has also mobilized thousands to celebrate youth’s diversity and promote Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in a biennial event called “Youth Health Celebration”.

Cases of religious extremism have rapidly increased in Indonesia over the past couple of years. This has eroded the values of diversity and pluralism, negatively impacting religious and sexual minorities. Religious extremism greatly affects the youth as it could shape their future ideologies and world views.

Aliansi Remaja Independen(ARI)’s objective for this project is to improve the capacity of youth (15 -24) so they can be positive agents of change to suppress religious extremism. The project enables ARI to:

1.Strengthen the capacity of selected ARI members on the understanding of religious extremism and how to tackle it;
2. Develop a support mechanism and tools to enable young activists to empower other youth in suppressing religious extremism;
3. Raise awareness and build a network to gain support from other youth and prominent religious figures/leaders.

ARI members undergo a training of trainers to strengthen their capacities in meaningful youth participation, advocacy, and gender equality. Learning resources are developed for online sessions with youth activists from various religious and gender backgrounds. Continues dialogue and networking identifies opportunities for collaboration, especially in a roadshow to raise awareness in religious schools. A report is shared with government ministries and other religious groups to advocate for adoption of best practices against religious extremism.