Read Story, Tondomulyo, 19 February 2023
There are two Power of Goodness teams in Java, one in Peace Place Pati, Central Java, consisting of Wiwit, Udin, Risa, Farid, Petrus, Nanik and one in Jogjakarta consisting of Ruwaidah, Arif, Ista, Dion. These two teams help each other in terms of content and strategy.
Regular training of interfaith youth at Peace Place Pati makes a major contribution to the strength of the core Power of Goodness facilitators in the region. Several participants became AVP-Creating Cultures of Peace facilitators, which prepared them to lead teams independently.
The journey that started in September 2022 provides a lot of learning in personal life by finding many new insights in life to make a culture of peace and justice work.
This is a reflection of the team’s journey:
The Power of Goodness interactive materials can be used for all age groups and backgrounds. It brings people closer together by helping them become friends and understand each other. It helps us reflect on the goodness and value of humanity in general. Stories and questions help us to reflect on life according to individual experiences.
In doing the Power of Goodness, we can practice patience and listen well. We practice dialogue and begin to understand each other. It also helps us acquire skills in reading and analyzing situations.
Facilitators and teams train responsibility and activeness in carrying out tasks. Teams practice feedback among ourselves and see good things happen.
With children, we consider their developmental needs according to their age and personalities which enables us to meet their needs better.
The Power of Goodness removes barriers caused by rigidity, prejudice, and lack of confidence. It opens us to understanding others without contradicting our cultural differences or beliefs. We train ourselves to be open to transforming power in every situation.
The Power of Goodness has a simple agenda format which can be adapted to routine activities for children’s study Quran groups, extra-curricular activities at schools, interfaith dialogue groups, cross-culture and religious youth meetings, group prayer group activities for church congregations and also communities that are meeting to become stronger together, and even for early childhood in learning activities.
Through stories we can reflect on the values of goodness and experiences of the Power of Goodness that we have. We also practice fairly with equal time given as we talk and listen to each other. We are also always reminded about the agreement to make a commitment to train in our daily lives.
Gajah, Burung, Pohon. Batangan School Student, 22 October 2022. Photo : Wiwit