Yogyakarta, 30/4/2025 – Towards the end of the last Ramadan, the social division of HMJ KAMASTAWA carried out an annual work program, namely Sosmas Berbagi. Sosmas Berbagi is an annual agenda of the social division of society which is generally carried out in the month of Ramadan every year, namely the distribution of alms to people in need in the form of consumption for breaking the fast.

This year, Sosmas Berbagi was held on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Together with members of the social division of society and representatives from other divisions, they left campus and went around Kotabaru and Gejayan. From the funds collected amounting to one million rupiah, the social division distributed it in the form of heavy meals, namely fried chicken rice and iced tea.

It was decided that the target recipients of this alms distribution were people who mostly live and work on the road. For example, online motorcycle taxi drivers, pedicab drivers, parking attendants, and others.

The journey started at around 16.40. The team that left was divided into two, one towards Kotabaru, one towards Gejayan. However, not long after, rain suddenly fell heavily. Finally, the social team was forced to take shelter on the side of the road for about 20 minutes, waiting for the rain to at least ease a little. After the rain had eased a little, the social team continued the mission, but to anticipate more rain, all members wore raincoats.

Thank God, despite the weather constraints, the social team managed to complete their work program and was welcomed by the community who received it. Hopefully, with this work program, the HMJ KAMASTAWA social team can continue to play a role as a trusted partner in non-profit social activities in the long term.

[Public Relation of Javanese Literature, Haryo Untoro]

Yogyakarta, 21/4/2025 – Warung Sastra once again served as a warm and critical space for literary dialogue during teh “Malam Buku” (Book Night) event held on Sunday, April 21, 2025. The event featured Dari Dalam Kubur autor Soe Tjen Marching, alongside Ramayda Akmal, a lecturer in the Master’s Program in Literature at Universitas Gadjah Mada, as a guest speaker. This dialogue offered an in-depth discussion on how the novel constructs a historical narrative through the intergenerational experiences of its characters.

In the discussion, Ramayda stated that the novel does not merely present a personal story but also serves as a space to articulate the collective wounds of the nation. “The stories of Carla, her mother, and her grandmother are not just individual experiences. They carry the weight of history and give voice to those who have long been silenced, “she said. Ramayda further emphasized that the novel positions the female body as a historical site that reveals systemic violence rooted in the state, race, and dominant patriarchy.

Dari Dalam Kubur specifically highlights the issue of intergenerational trauma within families affected by the political violence of 1965 in Indonesia. The novel is also marked by a retrospective narrative approach. “Ms. Marching writes from the present, with an awareness of past events, for the sake of our understanding today,” Ramayda explained. She underlined that the function of historical fiction is not merely to revive the past but to critique ongoing inequalities. When past narratives continue to echo in the present, it signifies unresolved issues that require collective attention.

During the session, Soe Tjen Marching revealed that the writing process of this novel was hindered by emotional blocks caused by trauma. “When something is too painful, our bodies block it. We think we have forgotten, but the trauma becomes even more real,” she said. She stressed that dari Dalam Kubur is not just a work of fiction, but rather a reflective space that invites readers to engage in a dialogue with the inherited wounds passed down through generations.

This discussion highlighted the importance of historical literacy, gender awareness and freedom of expression–values that serve as the foundation for sustainable development. Dari Dalam Kubur offers a space for contemplation for anyone seeking to understand how historical trauma continues to resonate in the pulse of today’s life.

[Public Relation Magister of Literature, Marsya Kamila]

Yogyakarta, April 14, 2023 – A proud academic achievement has once again been made by Hadijah Rima, a student of the Master’s Program in Literature at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), who has been selected as a presenter at the 2nd International Conference on Debate & Dialogue (ICDD2). This prestigious conference will take place in Doha, Qatar, on May 19–20, 2025, organized by QatarDebate under the auspices of the Qatar Foundation. This accomplishment stands as a testament to Rima’s perseverance and dedication in the field of debate and academic research.

Having been actively involved in Arabic-language debate since 2020, Rima has an impressive track record in various competitive forums. She previously participated in debate competitions organized by QatarDebate during the 2021–2022 period, an experience that broadened her perspective and honed her argumentative skills. The selection of her research paper to be presented at ICDD2 was the result of a highly competitive process, with over 300 abstracts and 100 full papers submitted by academics and practitioners from around the world. Meeting rigorous academic standards and undergoing thorough review by experts, the paper she began writing in August 2024 finally earned international recognition after passing multiple selection phases and was officially accepted in 2025.

QatarDebate, the main organizer of this conference, is Qatar’s national debate center established by the Qatar Foundation in 2008. This institution serves as a platform for promoting a culture of critical thinking, open dialogue, and constructive debate both in the Arab world and internationally. With the vision of “Enriching Dialogue, Empowering Minds,” QatarDebate equips young generations with in-depth argumentative skills and facilitates exploration of global issues from broader perspectives. As a part of the Qatar Foundation—a non-profit organization focused on education, research, innovation, and community development—QatarDebate strives to make a meaningful impact at local, regional, and global levels.

ICDD2 is a continuation of the inaugural conference held in 2023 and aims to strengthen interdisciplinary academic networks in the fields of argumentation, rhetoric, linguistics, dialogue, critical thinking, education, and Islamic philosophy. By bringing together scholars, practitioners, and debate and dialogue enthusiasts, the conference serves as an important forum for advancing intellectual discourse on a global scale. Its organization also highlights the growing expansion of debate and dialogue culture within modern academic contexts, which has developed significantly over the past decades.

In addition to her accomplishments in debating, Rima is also active as an academic translator, working with conference documents translated from Arabic to English, English to Indonesian, and Arabic to Indonesian. She frequently participates in various academic competitions and has received multiple awards. This year, she earned the prestigious LPDP Scholarship (PK 222) to continue her studies at UGM’s Master’s Program in Literature—an achievement that further solidifies her status as a talented young academic.

In an interview, Rima expressed her gratitude and disbelief at her achievement. She admitted that she never imagined her journey in Arabic-language debate, which began in 2020, would take her to the international stage. “It started as just trying out competitions, but it brought me this far,” she said. Rima also shared the major challenges she faced, including debating against native Arabic speakers. “I felt insecure and almost gave up, but I kept learning and sharpening my argumentation skills,” she explained. She emphasized that perseverance and genuine dedication to one’s field are essential, as opportunities often come from unexpected places. “If we are truly diligent, there’s always a way—and that’s where all the possibilities begin,” she concluded.

With her success in this academic event, Rima not only brings pride to UGM but also strengthens Indonesia’s representation in the international academic arena. Her participation in ICDD2 is expected to contribute significantly to the development of debate and dialogue studies, and to inspire younger generations to continue creating and exploring their academic potential at the global level.

[Public Relation Master of Literature, Anisa Dien Rahmawati]

Studying abroad is a dream for many students including one from English Studies Program UGM, Benedicta Angie. Since childhood, she had been curious about how people live their lives abroad. As a result, she had been actively searching for an opportunity to study abroad. Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA), a program that is funded by the government that gives both vocational and undergraduate students a chance to study abroad in great universities across the world for one semester, was the perfect opportunity for Angie to make her dream come true. After a long selection process, Angie was successfully enrolled in IISMA fully funded program at Korea University, Republic of Korea (South Korea). 

During her stay in Korea University, Angie was enrolled in four courses: Media and Popular Culture in Korea, Criminology, Beginner’s Korean II, and Introduction to Applied Linguistics. One of the most interesting things she spotted while studying in Korea was the Korean students’ competitiveness. Angie realised this difference when she compared her learning experience in Criminology class, which is dominated by Korean students, with other classes that are mostly taken by international students. 

“In class, the local students were not very active in asking and answering questions, they are rather very quiet. But after going through the midterm exam, you can feel how serious they had been studying,” she stated, “Our professor curved our final grades, and must I be honest with you, it was very hard to keep up with them. The contrast is very visible to me, because in other courses, where most students are international students, the class dynamics and competitiveness are not different from the one that I have here in UGM.”

Overall, Angie enjoyed her academic journey in Korea. The classes were fun albeit challenging, and the professors were very helpful. She was a little bit disappointed because she was unable to join any clubs due to her short visiting period. However, she was still able to socialise and made friends through project groups and the buddy association gatherings. 

Besides in-class activity, Angie did many activities to immerse herself in South Korean culture. She visited many palaces, museums, art galleries, and festivals. Most of those places were free of charge, especially on Chuseok (Korean thanksgiving). The people were also very welcoming. Despite the language barrier, they tried their best to understand the foreign students.

From the exchange, aside from academics and multicultural insights, Angie learned to be patient to herself. This is a valuable insight that she would not have gained if she had not studied abroad in Korea. She stated, “Being in my comfort zone in Indonesia has made me forget that everyday is my first day of living. Sometimes I forget that as a human, I will make mistakes, there will be discomfort, and that life is not perfect. I learned so much that if I want to move forward, I must be patient with myself and enjoy the process.” 

After finishing the exchange program, Angie planned to finish her studies in time and enroll herself for a master’s degree abroad. In the meantime, she was eager to help friends who hope to go abroad by giving them advice that can help them with the preparation process. Aside from that, she also planned to use the knowledge she gained from the exchange program, especially Korean language, to fulfil her dream as a translator.

[Bachelor of English Literature, Sekar Ajiningsih]

One of the English Studies Program students, Azizah Putri Chandra Kusuma, spent a whole semester at Siena, Italy as an IISMA awardee. IISMA is a study abroad exchange program held by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), which offers students to study in highly reputable universities from all around the world for one semester.

Azizah was eager to participate in this program because going abroad has been her dream since she was young. Due to financial reasons, she never had been able to take it into action. Upon discovering IISMA, Azizah thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to accomplish her dreams due to the great range of expenses the program offers. After going through a rigorous selection process, Azizah was finally declared as one of the awardees.

Azizah was very enthusiastic about the opportunity of studying abroad in Italy. She said, “Studying in Siena, Italy, as an IISMA awardee has been nothing short of transformative. Being in Italy means that the experience will be beyond just attending classes. It’s about immersing myself in a completely different academic environment and embracing the beauty of Italian cultures.”

During her academic journey in Italy, Azizah had an opportunity to collaborate with many other international students. This opportunity broadened her perspective and improved her communication skills. Besides the opportunity to study with many students from all over the world, Azizah also found the education system in Italy particularly interesting. In Italy, students have to take an oral exam in addition to the typical written exam. The oral exam is a one-on-one session with the professors discussing what students have learned during the class.

Beyond academics, Azizah also spent her time immersed with Italian culture. Siena was full of charming medieval streets and architecture rich in history. Azizah was particularly fond of Piazza del Campo. She used to sit in its front yard to have discussions with friends while enjoying local cuisines, such as pizza or gelato. Azizah noted that Siena differs in atmosphere from other big cities in Italy—it offers warmer and more intimate ambiance. The locals were friendly and welcoming towards Azizah, despite her struggles at communicating with the Italian language.

For Azizah, IISMA was a life-changing experience that had taught her valuable lessons inside and outside of the classroom. “Studying in Siena with classes that are mostly beyond my study field in English Literature has given me numerous insights that taught me to analyze topics from multiple perspectives and engage in discussion with confidence,” Azizah stated, “I also learned to appreciate cultural differences and embrace diverse environments, which also taught me the importance of cultural sensitivity or understanding that what is normal in one culture may be different in another.”

Azizah also noted that the exchange experience had increased her independence and resourcefulness. She also realised that her stay in Italy has also helped her improve her proficiency in Italian. Azizah was grateful to be participating in IISMA, which had become a journey of self-discovery as a learner with a mission to be an ambassador of Indonesian culture.

After completing IISMA, Azizah planned to apply what she had learned during her exchange program in her academic and professional journey. For short-term planning, Azizah was excited to help fellow students who also want to study abroad but unable to afford preparation courses by being an IELTS mentor without charging a fee. For long-term planning, Azizah hoped to enrol in a master degree program abroad in order to further broaden her horizons. She mentioned, “Ultimately, this exchange has given me the motivation to pursue bigger goals, and I am excited to know where this experience will lead me next.”

[S1 Sastra Inggris, Sekar Ajiningsih]