A collaborative research study between the Department of Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the Department of Anthropology at Padjadjaran University (UNPAD) is currently underway (May – October 2024) focusing on eating habits and food-giving traditions for toddlers. The research, titled “Eating Habits and Food-Giving Traditions for Toddlers in Efforts to Prevent Stunting in Rural Sundanese Areas,” is being conducted by two researchers: Dr. Atik Triratnawati, M.A. from UGM and Erna Herawati, S.Ant., MA., PhD. from UNPAD. They are academics with extensive track records in anthropological research, particularly related to public health.

This study focuses on the eating habits and food-giving traditions for toddlers in Cileles Village, Jatinangor District, Sumedang, West Java. The village was chosen as the research site due to its paradoxical condition: despite having good access to natural resources and healthy food, it still has a relatively high stunting rate. This phenomenon indicates issues in consumption patterns and food-giving traditions. One interesting early finding is the high consumption of aci (tapioca flour)-based foods, which are suspected to contribute to the high stunting rate. Aci-based foods are often given as main meals, not just snacks, even to toddlers.

The main objective of this research is to enhance understanding of the eating patterns and food-giving traditions that can influence stunting in rural Sundanese areas. The study also aims to identify and promote local foods with good nutritional content while minimizing the provision of foods that can cause stunting. This research has broader implications in efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) points 1, 2, and 3, which are No Poverty, Zero Hunger, and Good Health and Well-being for all ages. By improving the nutrition of toddler food and educating the community about the importance of healthy eating patterns, it is hoped that significant improvements in the health and well-being of the people in Cileles Village and other areas with similar issues can be achieved.

The research involving Dr. Atik Triratnawati and Erna Herawati is expected to make a significant contribution to efforts to address stunting in rural Sundanese areas. By highlighting the importance of understanding eating habits and food-giving traditions and identifying healthier local foods, this study aims to encourage positive changes in community eating patterns. The output of this research will be published in a scientific journal in October 2024, making the results accessible to various interested parties, both academically and practically. Thus, it is hoped that this research will not only provide new insights but also serve as a foundation for more effective health policies and programs in the future.

Author: Afif Naufal Widiadi

The waste emergency that occurred in Yogyakarta and its surrounding areas due to the closure of the Piyungan Landfill (TPA) which experienced excess capacity had a negative impact on environmental problems, including in Naga Asri Permai Housing, Kwarasan, Nogotirto, Gamping, Sleman. Garbage that is not transported for a long time creates an unpleasant odor that pollutes the environment and invites insects, especially flies, to come and breed. Some residents also take the initiative to burn garbage in residential areas so that the burning smoke pollutes the air which can endanger health.

This problem has been going on for a long time and is likely to continue considering that until now the local government has not been able to overcome this waste emergency problem. For this reason, it is necessary to think and act together at the lowest level, namely the community, to help overcome this problem. If so far the handling of waste has only focused on downstream in the form of final disposal, it is necessary to think about how to deal with it from upstream. together to tackle it from upstream, namely households as waste producers.

Households as the largest producers of waste need to be involved in efforts to control and manage the waste they produce. The movement to reduce or minimize waste production through waste sorting actions, the 3R Movement (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), and others, at the household level. Socialization activities need to be encouraged to raise awareness that the waste problem is a shared responsibility starting from oneself, family, immediate environment to the surrounding environment. For this reason, Stedi Wardoyo, S.S., M.A., lecturer in Japanese Language and Culture initiated socialization activities and waste handling simulations as a first step to raise awareness of residents in the smallest environment, namely Dasa Wisma A Housing Naga Asri Permai, Gamping, Sleman, which totals 14 heads of families.

Activities in the form of lectures and counseling related to waste management in the household scope. On the occasion, there was also a demonstration of processing organic waste into compost and bio-enzymes by environmental and waste processing practitioner, Mrs. Neni Widuri Lestari from Guwosari Training Center (GWTC) Pajangan, Bantul.

Monday, May 20, 2024, UGM Vocational School together with UGM Innovation and Creativity Center (GIK) opened the INOVOKASIA 2024 Festival held from May 20, 2024 to June 1, 2024, at the UGM Vocational School. The increasing challenges of vocational needs in the future, this festival is present as a place to introduce the important role of Vocational education in the general public, including students, in the field of knowledge and skills to accelerate change and innovation in responding to technological developments. In its series of events, the INOVOKASIA 2024 Festival presents exhibition exhibitions, various competitions such as photography and poster design, workshops, talk shows, master classes, seminars, Talent Day, Movie Day, Sekip Walk, and music performances.

The festival was opened with remarks from the Dean of UGM Vocational School, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Agus Maryono, IPM, ASEAN Eng, who said the role of information technology to accelerate all knowledge that can be distributed so that change can occur. He also emphasized that Vocational students are ready to fill innovations, manufacturing works, cultural works, economic works, health works by joining hands with all faculties related to GIK. The hope of the innovation is to make Vocational School a “lighthouse” for other vocational schools by applying the movement method that has been applied by UGM Vocational School, so that one change has an impact on other changes. This model has spread to all students and lecturers, to accelerate the pace of change starting from the pattern of thinking to become more responsive to change.

In the next moment, the speech was continued by Garin Nugroho, Chief Program Officer of Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas UGM, who emphasized the importance of vocational education for the future, especially for Generation Z to answer future challenges through increasing skill capacity for the Generation Z population which amounts to more than 60% of the total population in Indonesia. On the same occasion, Garin also said the INOVOKASIA 2024 Festival invited Vocational schools across Indonesia to map the ecosystem and challenges with the aim of preparing the next generation of Indonesia.

In line with Garin Nugroho, Aji Wartono, Head of Experience at Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas UGM, also supported the organization of this festival as a place to prepare students to be able to jump directly into professional industries with vast potential and future opportunities. Aji reminded that Indonesia still has 150 manufacturing companies, the number of existing manufacturing companies is still relatively small, so further opportunities for the development of the manufacturing industry are wide open.

The opening event of the INOVOKASIA 2024 Festival can be a reference for the Faculty of Humanities UGM. Improving the quality of education and expanding student experience to prepare for the world of work according to changing industry needs is one of the goals of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM to always respond to changes accurately and precisely through industry cooperation.

Yogyakarta, Tuesday, March 26, 2024 – The Arabic Literature Study Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) together with Dompet Dhuafa Yogyakarta held a talk show themed The Struggle of Palestinian Women and Children Amid the Israeli Onslaught. The event was held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Room 709 Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The event was attended by more than 100 participants consisting of students, lecturers, and a team from Dompet Dhuafa. The activity began with the opening, singing the national anthem Indonesia Raya and Gadjah Mada hymn, remarks from Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum. as Head of the Arabic Literature Department of UGM, remarks from Imam Hidayat, S.Pd.i, M.Pd. as a representative of Dompet Dhuafa, presentation of material guided by the moderator, question and answer session, closing, and ended with donations for the Palestinian people.

The main speaker of the event was Miss Fatma Alghusain, Executive Director of Amna Carefund. Miss Fatma is a female activist in Palestine who works to help the Palestinian people, especially women and children who are victims. In this event, Miss Fatma shared the spirit of struggle and resistance of the Palestinian people amidst the Israeli onslaught.

The current situation in Palestine is getting worse, especially after the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza and Rafah. Palestinians face difficulties in accessing health services as well as damaged infrastructure and lack of shelter due to the blockade and genocide carried out by Israel. In addition, they also lack proper food, water and clothing supplies. This is very much felt by Palestinians, especially pregnant women and children.

Thus, this event is expected to make a valuable contribution in strengthening solidarity and awareness of the urgency of the struggle for human rights, especially in conflict-affected areas such as Palestine.

Posbindu PTM is one of the promotive and preventive community-based health efforts in the context of early detection and monitoring of NCD risk factors which is carried out in an integrated, routine and periodic manner. Posbindu PTM activities are basically community-owned activities that are fully implemented from the community, by the community and for the community, one of which is the community in the academic environment of Higher Education. Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM takes a role in health services, one of which is the establishment of Posbindu PTM. Coinciding with the 78th Anniversary of FIB UGM, Saturday, March 2, 2024, the launching of Posbindu was carried out by the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM with the name Posbindu “SEBAYA” (Healthy and Cultured).

The main purpose of Posbindu PTM activities is to increase the participation of institutions in the prevention and early discovery of NCD risk factors, especially for the academic community of FIB UGM. The series of activities carried out are:

Socialization of PTM Integrated Coaching Post (Posbindu)
Socialization of Healthy Living Community Movement (Germas)
Employee Health Check (Cholesterol, Blood Sugar, Uric Acid)
Health Consultation

Let’s go towards a healthy youth, a delicious old age without NCDs with CERDIK behavior (Regular health checks, Get rid of cigarette smoke, Diligent activities, Balanced diet, Adequate rest and Manage stress)!