Milda Longgeita Pinem

Indonesia continues to face significant educational challenges, particularly in terms of instructional quality, curriculum relevance, and pedagogical approaches that often fall short in promoting the holistic development of student. This paper critically examines the potential of Don Bosco’s educational philosophy as a constructive response to these issues within the context of Catholic schools in Indonesia. Using a literature review method, the study explores the core principles of Don Bosco’s Preventive System, reason, religion, and loving-kindness, and their applicability to contemporary educational concerns. The findings reveal that Don Bosco’s approach provides a holistic educational framework that integrates academic excellence with moral and spiritual formation. The Preventive System creates a nurturing environment grounded in trust, presence, and personal responsibility. It emphasizes emotional intelligence, relational pedagogy, and a strong educator-student relationship, aligning with the values of Christian personalism, which upholds the dignity and integral development of each learner. Specifically, Don Bosco’s approach offers practical solutions to current challenges in Catholic schools in Indonesia by: (1) fostering a school culture of accompaniment rather than authoritarian discipline, which helps prevent behavioral problems; (2) promoting a values-based curriculum that forms conscience and character; (3) encouraging active and compassionate teacher involvement, which counteracts disengaged teaching practices; and (4) supporting a faith-centered education that is responsive to local cultural and spiritual needs. The study concludes that the implementation of Don Bosco’s Preventive System in Catholic education offers a strategic and sustainable solution for improving both character and intellectual development, while also renewing the Catholic identity and mission of schools in Indonesia.

This article examines Christian spirituality in a global context, moving beyond the typical North-South binary. Informed by a comprehensive literature review, the study offers an in-depth examination of the domain, addressing key issues such as the commercialization, individualization, and secularization of spirituality. It delves into the transformative potential that lies in embracing global interconnectedness, alongside the significant influences of the post-Vatican II era, and the vibrant and critical perspectives brought forth by the younger generation. These elements are pivotal in redefining and shaping the contemporary spiritual landscape. Proposing a synthesized spiritual landscape that champions a more inclusive spirituality, open to dialogue and prioritizing solidarity, the article underscores the necessity for an evolved Christian spirituality in tune with the varied and interconnected global context of today. It advocates for enhanced adaptability and a stronger sense of unity among Christian communities worldwide, aiming to more effectively navigate and leverage present challenges and opportunities, thereby fostering a more robust and responsive spiritual practice.

This article explores the relevance and potential benefits of contemplative life in the contemporary world. It discusses the background of the contemplative tradition and its historical context, as well as its current role in modern society. The article also describes the methods used to conduct a literature review of relevant research and texts, as well as an analysis of contemporary applications of contemplation in various fields and contexts. Databases searched included JSTOR, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The results and discussion section of the article covers the key findings from the literature review and analysis, highlighting both the potential benefits and challenges associated with the practice of contemplative techniques in the modern world. The conclusion of this article suggests that while the contemplative life may face challenges in contemporary society, it remains a relevant and beneficial practice for individuals seeking personal growth, spiritual development, and enhanced well-being.

Purpose: The significance of well-being in social development policy and practice is increasingly acknowledged by scholars and practitioners worldwide. Nevertheless, when examining well-being within the context of Global South trends, existing conceptualisations seem to yield incongruent indicators. Given the background, this paper aims to synthesise theoretical and empirical literature on well-being to foster an understanding of well-being in contemporary Global South.Design/methodology/approach: This article reviews the now large literature on the well-being in the Global South. The article begins with a discussion of the contributions of state-of-the-art developments in well-being studies, a realm experiencing remarkable growth in social policy studies. It then turns to the prominent well-being constructs that have garnered considerable attention within the literature, with an examination of the Global North and Global South context followed by reinterpretation of these concepts to facilitate a comprehensive study of well-being beyond the realms of welfare states. Concluding the narrative, a succinct outline of potential pathways for future research is presented in the final section.Findings: The review reveals that the concept of well-being in the Global South does not necessarily deviate entirely from the prevailing belief that the region is fundamentally distinct from the Global North on a conceptual level. The authors have discovered that three core dimensions of well-being, namely objective, subjective and relational, are observable across societal boundaries due to the diffusion of knowledge and social and cultural practices that have progressively aligned them with Global North-style modernisation. An exception arises in the relational aspect, where the attainment of positive collective relationships precedes individual happiness to some extent. The paper advances a renewed perspective on well-being, portraying it as a situational, interconnected, collective undertaking and continuous process. These approaches empower the researchers to address the overarching question of which analytical foundations can most effectively uncover the intricacies of well-being in diverse and contemporary circumstances.Originality/value: This paper helps the researchers to address the overarching question of which analytical foundations can most effectively uncover the intricacies of well-being in diverse and contemporary circumstances, thereby facilitating future enhancements in social policy design.

This study aims to identify various research studies on multiple dimensions of social life that employ an intersectionality approach. The approach is a framework that recognizes the multiple dimensions of social identity and how they intersect and influence experiences of discrimination, privilege, and marginalization. Using literature studies from various research databases and employing specific keywords, four dimensions of social life have been identified as dominant themes in research applying the intersectionality approach, namely education, healthcare, politics, and workplace. In the domain of education, the article discusses how an intersectionality approach can help to understand how multiple identities, such as race, gender, and class, intersect to influence educational experiences and outcomes. The article also examines the impact of intersectionality on access to healthcare, highlighting how multiple identities can affect access to care, treatment outcomes, and experiences of discrimination. In politics, the article discusses how an intersectionality approach can help understand marginalized groups' experiences in political processes and systems. The article also examines how intersectionality can influence workplace experiences and opportunities for advancement. The article argues that an intersectionality approach can help to identify and address systemic inequalities and promote greater equality and diversity in multiple dimensions of social life. The article highlights the importance of applying an intersectionality approach in understanding the complex ways social identities intersect and shape experiences of discrimination, privilege, and marginalization.

Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mendiskusikan kesendirian (solitude) di masa pembatasan sosial akibat pandemi Covid-19. Berbagai studi menunjukkan bahwa pandemi telah memengaruhi dimensi kehidupan manusia seperti kesehatan, ekonomi, sosial, dan pendidikan. Tidak hanya berbagai dimensi tersebut, salah satu perubahan kehidupan yang dialami oleh banyak orang adalah pembatasan sosial (social distancing) atau membangun jarak dengan yang lain (physical distancing). Dalam konteks demikian, banyak orang yang harus menjalani hidup dalam kesendirian (solitude). Secara umum, kesendirian (solitude) bukanlah tema yang menarik untuk diulas. Situasi tersebut bahkan lebih dilihat sebagai sesuatu yang negatif dan lekat dengan kesepian, kesedihan, bahkan ketidakberdayaan. Berbeda dengan makna negatif tersebut, artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengurai makna kesendirian (solitude) dari perspektif yang lebih positif. Studi ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi literatur. Sumber data berasal dari berbagai literatur yang beririsan dengan ilmu sosial, filsafat dan spiritualitas khususnya yangmembahas tema kesendirian (solitude). Ada tiga temuan yang berhasil diidentifikasi dandianalisis dari berbagai literatur tersebut. Pertama, kesendirian (solitude) mendorong individu manusia untuk semakin mengenali dirinya sendiri. Kedua, kesendirian (solitude) menciptakan ruang kebebasan bagi manusia khususnya di konteks relasi di dalam masyarakat. Ketiga, kesendirian (solitude) membantu manusia lebih dekat dengan alam (nature). Artikel ini ditutup dengan simpulan mengenai pentingnya mempraktikkan kesendirian (solitude) pada situasi tertentu, bahkan di luar konteks pandemi.

This research aimed to understand the breastfeeding practices of mothers in Karo lands, North Sumatera, Indonesia. This research used ethnographic approach with data collection methods including participant observation, formal interviews and informal interviews. This research involved 27 participants. The research presented how Karo women's experiences of breastfeeding are influenced by three main institutional structures: the state, religion, and ethnic tradition. This study identified three essential points related to breastfeeding practices in Karo lands: First, Karo mothers in the breastfeeding practice become an agency in negotiating the practical and discursive dimensions of breastfeeding in relation to the state and the church. Second, it is related to Karo culture in which mothers have a special treatment in Karo community, mostly because they are breastfeeding. Third, it is related to the continued influence of Karo culture in which the breastfeeding practice is influenced by the central figure of Karo community, i.e. the grandmother. This research provided a new knowledge about ethnic women’s experiences in the breastfeeding practice. Further, the research needs to be enriched with the experiences of voiceless women in breastfeeding practices.Studi ini bertujuan untuk memahami praktik menyusui para ibu di Tanah Karo, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia. Penelitian mengunakan pendekatan etnografi dengan melakukan teknik pengumpulan data seperti observasi partisipan, wawancara formal dan percakapan informal atau perbincangan sehari-hari. Penelitian melibatkan 27 informan. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa para ibu dipengaruhi oleh negara, agama, dan tradisi etnis. Studi mengidentifikasi tiga temuan esensial terkait dengan praktik menyusui para ibu di Tanah Karo. Pertama, para ibu menunjukkan sisi agensi atau kemandirian terkait praktik menyusui khususnya di hadapan kebijakan negara dan agama. Kedua, terkait dengan kultur Karo, para ibu memperoleh perlakuan yang istimewa, khususnya karena sedang menyusui. Ketiga, masih terkait dengan kultur Karo, praktik menyusui para ibu dipengaruhi oleh figur sentral yakni nenek. Studi ini memperkaya kajian terkait pengalaman perempuan dengan latar belakang etnisitas. Penelitian lebih lanjut perlu dilanjutkan dan diperkaya khususnya terkait dengan pengalaman perempuan marginal atau minoritas dalam hal praktik menyusui.

This article discusses Sandra Harding's idea of strong objectivity. The idea is a response to the problems faced by feminist methodology which stands between objectivism and subjectivism. Objectivism is the conventional methodology that views the research process must be objective and value-free. Meanwhile, subjectivism privileges the role of the subjects and values. However, the objectivity within the conventional methodology is normally biased with the interests of the dominant group, while the subjectivity is seen as vulnerable being trapped into relativism. The subjectivity cannot also determine which knowledge is valid. Using the method of literature study based on Sandra Harding's works, there are four contributions of strong objectivity to feminist methodology. First, the feminist methodology will be more creative instead of normative. Second, the feminist methodology will be more sensitive concerning the backgrounds, interests, and objectives of the research subjects. Third, the feminist methodology must be more aware of the diversity of society as the context of research. Fourth, the feminist methodology will strengthen its objectivity starting from the perspective of marginalized women.

Artikel ini membahas kritik terhadap epistemologi yang selama ini dipengaruhi dan bias Barat. Tujuan dari artikel ini adalah mengungkap sisi diskriminatif dari epistemologi tersebut. Dengan menggunakan studi literatur, ada dua hal yang menjadi fokus utama. Pertama, sisi diskriminatif dari epistemologi Barat tidak bisa terlepas dari modernitas yang lekat dengan kemajuan dan kebaruan. Watak demikian pada akhirnya mendiskriminasi cara mengetahui dari masyarakat tradisional atau kelompok etnis tertentu. Kedua, wacana pembangunan menjadi jalan untuk mengembangkan epistemologi yang bias Barat. Wacana ini menjadi alat untuk menguasai kembali negara-negara Selatan atau bekas jajahan melalui justifikasi epistemologi yang khas Barat. Kesimpulan dan saran dari artikel ini adalah sikap kritis ilmuwan yang perlu dihadirkan untuk mampu melihat varian epistemologi lainnya yang sesuai dengan konteks masyarakat tertentu, tentunya tanpa menolak begitu saja semua standar keilmuan Barat.