Culture and Modernization A visit to Gusdurian community

Tuesday, 31 October 2017
by adminstube
 
 
 
On Tuesday, October 31, 2017, with a theme of discussion ‘Culture and Modernization’, Jay Akhmad, the lighters of Ngaji Gus Dur #8 this afternoon at Griya Gusdurian Jogja, presented Gus Dur's articles written in 80-90s about ‘the position of our cultural system (Indonesia) and the influence of modernization’
 
According to Gus Dur and based onLIPI studies, there are fourteen regional cultural systems from Aceh to East Nusa Tenggara. These cultural systemsare still used in the presence of unpredictable modernity. One example, Ngada culture of Manggarai could substitute the function of legal modern court before its existence in modern era. In the context of islamic boarding school, Kyaitook part as a filter of all information input and culture rush before he disseminated to public to protect them from negative impacts. Consideringpeople’s various reactions in facing modernity, especially in Indonesia with various cultural background and society life, filtering and protection is important.
 
Modernity is very close to technology and information,and one of the products of modernity is education curriculum. Formerly, Pondok Pesantren (Islamic boarding school) had no curriculum as there was only ‘pengajian’ (reading Quran) and the santris learned something from Kyai, even their graduation depended on him. Some of them were graduated quickly, some others hadto stay longer. As time goes by, there are still Islamic boarding schools that still hold old model with no curriculum and only reading Quran. One of them is Salafiyyah. There are also semi-modern onesthat combine recitation and curriculum but some others are with modern curriculum as formal schools.
 
Now, the graduated students from Islamic boarding school are free to continue their education to higher level, even Gus Dur, the fourth president of Indonesia was graduated from Islamic boarding school. University that accommodate students from Islamic boarding school without formal school certificate is State Islamic University (UIN) of Sunan Kalijaga.
 
Next, the participants of discussion were asked to share the influence of modernity to their local cultures. Elis, oneparticipant from Sumba shared the marriage process in Sumba with number of horses as dowry, "In Sumba, we have to bring number of horses as belis (dowry) if we want to marry someone. The number is varied. To marry a royal lady, a man should prepare horsesreaching to 100 horses, however if the woman is frommiddle class, he needs 50 horses and for the lowerone can be negotiated from 10-15 horses."
 
Indah, from Medan shared Sinamottradition in Batak marriage cultures. Sinamot is also dowry prepared by the groom to bride. Formerly the form of Sinamot islivestock dan farm products, but now, Sinamot is given in amounts of money. One participant from Java did not miss the discussion by giving information about marriage system in Java which still consider the date of birth, calledweton. It is believed if weton of the couple is not appropriate, the couple can not get married. But now, most people tend to be practical and no longerto involve the calculation of weton in marriage.
 
The current manifestation of culture is the legacy of a pastgeneration. Further, it isstill possible that there is conflict between modernity and local culture. We should look back that cultural manifestation exists because of the prevailing cultural system in the local community,while the cultural system prevailing in the community came from the ideas of the people in the previous generation in order to organize life of the community. So, it is not easy for us now to trace down the background of a culture. One approach may be used is when culture appreciates human existence, it must be maintained, but if the existence of theculture does not value human existence (dehumanization), then it needs to be re-examined.
 

 

From the afternoon discussion, one thing that need to be underlined is culture and modernity should make human being more being human and not to shackle and dehumanize. (ML)

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Women as a Peace Agent

Thursday, 12 October 2017
by adminstube
 
 
 
Issues on ethnicity, religion, race and inter-group relationand religious conflicts are often blown upfor specific purpose in social life to damage society's life order. Moreover, religious issues are very sensitive that can divide this nation. Social media is often involved in such problem and bringing the issues hotter and hotter. Considering this condition many parties know how important the tolerance is and try hard how to grow tolerant attitude in daily life.
 
 
"Srikandi Lintas Iman Yogyakarta (SRILI Jogja) as itis called, is so encouraged to join efforts done tocombat various intolerant issues and to contribute for conflict reconciliation to maintain harmony in our surrounding life," said Fata Hanifa, one member of SRILI in her opening speech of The Role of Interfaith Women in Peace building (11/10/2017)discussion in a cooperation with PSPP UKDW.
 
 
Maria Ida L. Giguiento, commonly called Bu Deng,the training coordinator for The Peace and Reconciliation Program of Catholic Relief Services Philippines, stated, “One of the goals that SRILI is trying to build is givingcontribution to conflict reconciliation and givinginformation how importantof tolerance education".According to Bu Deng,people who want to be active peacebuilders should know exactly what conflicts they are facing about.To gain this capability requires analysis ability. For example, when someone enters university,actually he or she is going to Universal-City. So he/she has to understand the reason why he/she enters university, why he/she studies a specific subject, what he/she looks for in campus, in other word, everything should be considered. Besides, he/she also should know what is going on around him/her, what benefits he/she will get in campus andbe familiar with problems that happen in Universal-City. The presentation of her material was so simple to build women awareness to be involved in peace building. Building peace is an effort to transform issues, relationships and institution/structure; reducing possibility of increasing conflict that lead to violence. "If we want to build peace, first we should establish positive relationship with others", Bu Deng emphasized.
 
 
As time goes by, the role of women in peace-building continues to evolve,startingfrom just being an observer outside the window when men have meeting, next serving as waiter in the kitchen to take care the meal for men's meeting, then interestis growing to be involved by attending meeting held in church, village and social groups. When women areinvolved and communicate with men, there are spaces that can be used to increase women's capacity so they can claim the space controlled by men as their space as well, although it is admitted that womenstill have limitation in peace building.
 
To be active peace builder is not easy, but women are expected to do it. The presence of women are expected to reduce conflict so that conflict willnot end with violence. It starts from women’s spacewhere they are alive. (SAP).
 
 

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Book Review: ‘How to Survive   Change You Didn’t Ask For’

Wednesday, 11 October 2017
by adminstube
 
 
 
During the study process to be a scholar, there aremany possible changing conditions and circumstances that student cannot be able to reject, such as, the changing of academic system, span money because of family ability, one of beloved family members passedaway, changes the prices of daily necessities and many other changes that can not be rejected. Every change has an impact on someone whether it is a happy or sad change. The life change that gives much burden in life requires smart ability to adapt, so that one will not wreck down and difficult to rise up.
 
The review of the book having 5 chapters entitled"How to Survive Change You Did not Ask For" (10.10.2017) by Elizabeth Uru Ndaya helps students to know some tips how to react appropriately and tosurvive because of unwanted changes. This book was written by M.J. Ryan, a motivator and an initiator of Random Acts of Kindnessfrom the New York Time. Some other books she wrote are The Power of Patience, The Happiness Makeover, and Attitudes of Gratitudeand many other motivational books. In her book, the author offers how to get out from suffering more quickly by preparing the right mindset and attitude. First, when a changing happens we must accept it with a big heart. Second, if wehave been able to accept it, then we begin to develop options that can be chosen as the right solution to solve the problems. Most people failed to face changing because they are not able to develop options and using old options, so they aregulped by the changes. Third, once we find the right options and chose a solution, we have to take actionto get out from the problem. Fourth, soon after we have made an action, we must reinforce our adaptability so we will be able to predict the changes that will happen and then take the right position to deal with it.
 
 
Some of the twenty tips offered in chapter four are: speaking personally to God that you believe about the burdens, notstaying alone butfinding friends, ordoing interactionwith happy peopleto get positive energy, etc.
 
 
The discussionparticipated bythirteen people is actually a start ofthe Survival Competency program which will be held in November. There are some stories that participants told how they survive with problems. Maritjie shared, "Two weeks ago there was a Facebook account thatpublished satirical postings by re-copying onestatus I wrote. was panicked at first and confused but when I began to be able to handle myself well,the problem can be solved gradually".  Sari also told her incident, "While I was in the process of doing campus tasks with just two-day deadline,someone stole my laptop. It's very hard time actually, however instead of complaining and grumbling, it's better to find a solution to finish the tasks on time".
 
The book review was ended with aclosing statement from Elis, "Whatever happens in life, be surethat we are able to deal with it, because we have more power than the problems that we have to bear. (SAP).

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Know more about LPDP Scholarship

Wednesday, 4 October 2017
by adminstube
 
 
 
Education is one measure of future success and it determines the progress of a nation. Because of the importance of education, people are willing to spend money  even  hundreds of millions in order to get high-quality education  so they will be able to participate as a policy decision maker. Unfortunately, the education gaps still occur in various regions in Indonesia.
 
 
Stube-HEMAT, as a youth mentoring institution invited Hamonangan Malau a student of Master of Development Economics of UGM, the Coordinator of LPDP socialization in Jogja; Daud Yaferson Dollu, a student of Master of Law Litigation UGM; and  Fridrik Makanlehi, a students of Master of Transportation System and Engineering UGM, to share and have discussion entitled ‘know more about LPDP scholarship’ on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at the Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta Secretariat. The three of them are also the recipients of the scholarship from the institution. For details about this institution please read: (http://www.lpdp.kemenkeu.go.id/profile/history/).
 
 
So far, the Institute of Education Fund Management (LPDP) has helped hundreds of children of this country to be able to achieve their dream to get higher education without worrying about the expensive of university tuition. The programs offered by LPDP varies greatly both domestically and abroad such as: 
Master & Doctoral Scholarshipss
Thesis & Dissertation Scholarships
Affirmation Acholarships
Medical Specialist Scholarships
Presidential Scholarships
Advanced Scholarship (http://www.lpdp.kemenkeu.go.id/profil/visi-misi-fokus/).
 
Among the scholarships offered, Affirmation is the most interesting scholarships. This scholarship is intended for: (1) Communities from border areas and / or disadvantaged areas; (2) Communities devoted to government institutions in border areas and / or disadvantaged areas;(3) Alumni of Bidikmisi scholarship recipient; (4) Achievers from poor families; (5) Individuals with experience and good track record in the Olympic field of Science, Technology, Sport and Art / Culture at both National and International levels (http://www.lpdp.kemenkeu.go.id/beasiswa/beasiswa-afirmasi/). In addition to scholarship Affirmation there is also East Indonesia Scholarship (http://www.lpdp.kemenkeu.go.id/beasiswa/beasiswa-indonesia-timur/ ). This scholarship prefers applicants from the eastern regions who have a dream to study abroad.  The requirements offered are also slightly simplified but the mastery of foreign languages ??or minimal English is still a main requirement for applicants. 
 
Both scholarships Affirmations or Eastern Indonesia scholarships provide opportunities for anyone who need to continue studying S2 and S3 for free. The LPDP scholarship will fund all needs from preparation to graduation. This scholarship is the best in Indonesia in terms of finance. 
 
The scholarship will open in 2018 with a quota of around 15,000 participants. David encouraged the students who attended the discussion that afternoon, "If the government has opened up an opportunity for us, please prepare ourselves to take the opportunity to become part of LPDP to build our region". 
 
"Good news for applicants who come from East Sumba Regency. Since East Sumba Regent has made MOU with LPDP to send 50 people every year to register LPDP", said Fridrik. Some tips to join the selection of LPDP such as body language, attitude, style and manners are also presented during the discussion on that afternoon.
 
Daud closed his session with a hope that among 20 participants who attended the discussion will be registered as LPDP scholarship candidates in 2018. Opportunities have been opened, so it is just  waiting for the response from young people to take part bringing this nation to have better quality. The discussion was closed by taking pictures together.(SAP). 

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