A number of speakers including Toto Rahardjo, Community Development Facilitator from the Indonesian Society for Social Transformation (INSIST) Yogyakarta were present as speakers in a webinar on marginalized communities by the UNESA LPPM Gender Center.
Unesa. ac.id, SURABAYA–Surabaya State University (UNESA) through the Gender Center, Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) held a webinar entitled "Organizing Marginal Communities" on Friday, October 4 2024.
Representing the Head of LPPM, Sjafiatul Mardliyah said that this activity focused on issues faced by marginalized groups. Also, discussing how appropriate organizing strategies can increase the active participation and welfare of marginalized groups in a sustainable manner.
"This webinar is the start of a longer process in ensuring that the voices and potential of marginalized communities can truly be heard and realized it in real action," he said.
In the material session, resource person Rofik Jalal Rosyanafi, lecturer in Extra-School Education at UNESA, discussed in depth the characteristics of marginalization in society. According to him, groups experiencing marginalization generally suffer from discrimination and subordination, sharing a sense of collective identity and common burdens.
Marginal groups also often have distinct physical characteristics that are disapproved of by dominant groups, and various social rules limit who is considered "included" or "excluded" in society.
"These groups usually have low or no access to the resources they need," he explained.
He also outlined several main causes of marginalization, including because of the high levels of poverty and unemployment that hit marginalized groups. Apart from that, negative stereotypes that are often attached to marginalized groups further worsen their conditions, coupled with cultural factors and policy monopolies controlled by dominant groups.
All of this will ultimately weaken the human resource potential of marginalized groups.
UNESA lecturer, Rofik Jalal Rosyanafi examines the factors that cause marginalization of some community groups, and efforts to overcome them.
As a recommendation To alleviate this condition, he emphasized the importance of an approach through non-formal education. He suggested relevant skills training for marginalized communities, inclusive and functional literacy programs, as well as efforts to increase community capacity through lifelong learning.
"Awareness-raising and advocacy programs are very important so that marginalized communities can better understand their rights and be actively involved in the social development process," he concluded.
In the next session, Toto Rahardjo, Community Development Facilitator from the Indonesian Society for Social Transformation (INSIST) Yogyakarta, said it was important to build relationships with the community. This is also the first step in the community organizing process.
He emphasized that building friendships or camaraderie with the community is the main key to understanding their conditions and needs. The team must also be willing to learn from their lives, not come with pretensions of being leaders or elders.
"The most important thing is to believe that the community has the potential and ability to develop itself," he said.
The community development process must start from what the community itself has, so that every empowerment effort can be more relevant and appropriate to local conditions. The organizing process begins with an approach, then continues with facilitating the process of designing strategies, mobilizing action, and building an organizational support system.
"We need to understand the perspective used by society in looking at problems, so that the solutions provided are truly appropriate and effective," he stressed.
The ongoing discussion not only opens up new insights , but also motivate participants to play an active role in supporting the organization of marginalized communities through an inclusive and participatory approach. [*]
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Reporter: Mohammad Dian Purnama (FMIPA)
Editor: @zam*
Photo: Tim UNESA Public Relations
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