MAP Indonesia: Informing Youth Policy through Arts Based Methods

By Harla Octarra from Atma Jaya, Indonesia

This short video shows the journey of how MAP young researchers collaborated with various stakeholders to gradually inform youth policy through research, creating art-forms and an audience with local government. Told from the perspectives of Ibnu, Indri, Haikel, and presented by Harla (as MAP Co-Investigator in Indonesia), the video opens with Harla giving a short introduction to key MAP activities in 2020 and 2021. The opening emphasises how MAP created a space for dialogue and collaboration between young people and cultural artists, which continued to create spaces for dialogue with the community and local government.

The three young people take turns to explain their research process. Engagement between the young people, cultural artists, youth facilitators and the local leader took place during the research processes sheds light on how participatory art-based research can be done. Two-types of briefs, namely policy papers and behind-the-scenes video, are briefly explained as effective mediums in capturing how film and comic books brought readers and viewers closer to the issues. Pointing to the fact that after reading the comic book and seeing the film they felt they could then deeply dialogue about the issues of brawls and sexual violence that the two art-forms raised.

The next steps for informing policy started with an audience with local government and the Art Council who hoped for possible artistic collaborations in the future. The video closes with Harla’s remarks on the potential activities and engagement in 2023 and 2024, which MAP young researchers have and will take part in. These include participation in government-led discussions on child participation policy, becoming facilitators of the National Children’s Consultation Forum, and using arts-based approaches in future research and advocacy.

The full video can be accessed here:

 

Rumah Tak Ramah (Unfriendly Home) ‘Behind the Scenes’ – Briefing Note

Rumah Tak Ramah (Unfriendly Home) ‘Behind the Scenes’ – Briefing Note

A participatory research using short film to start conversations about sexual violence among adolescents in order to reduce stigma towards the victims.” 

A film was chosen to raise the problem of stigma toward adolescent victims of sexual violence. The storyline was based on the experiences of adolescents in an urban community in Jakarta and the community’s perception of the problem. The short film was used as a research instrument because it is an art form that the young researchers’ assessed as the best medium to deliver their message. During the closed screening, the film was successful in raising the issue of exploitation, and in creating a discussion on the complexity of solutions for sexual violence. The short film was also used as a discussion starter for women community members (Ibu-Ibu PKK) and female adolescents, to express their opinions and ideas, which were then formulated for stakeholders’ recommendations. 

The purpose of the research was to provide direction/education to communities on how to respond to cases of sexual violence; to provide recommendations on how communities can create a safe space for everyone so that there is no more sexual violence. 

 

Jangan

Briefing note: Rumah Tak Ramah (Unfriendly Home) ‘Behind the Scenes’

Brawling in the name of solidarity?! – Briefing Note

Brawling in the name of solidarity?! – Briefing Note

A participatory research using a comic book to identify the impact of brawls in order to find workable solutions.” 

A comic book was chosen to raise the problem of brawls that often happen between communities and young people. The storyline was based on incidents that took place in many neighbourhoods in Jakarta, including those of young researchers’. The comic book was used as a research instrument because it is an art form that is popular among young people, and very well-liked for its eye-catching visuals. It was used as a discussion starter for women community members (Ibu-Ibu PKK) and male adolescents former perpetrators of brawls, to express their opinions and ideas, which were then formulated for stakeholders’ recommendations. 

The purpose of the research was to educate adolescents to change their mindset about brawls; to educate adolescents to control their emotions (such as doing positive activities or trying to strengthen their faith); and to provide recommendations on positive activities for adolescents (such as exploring interests/hobbies, playing guitar, playing soccer, etc.) 

You can also find the whole comic in Indonesia’s Artistic Outputs page.

 

Jangan