Indonesian Community Empowerment Journal

Integrating Kearifan Lokal (Local Wisdom) with Climate Adaptation Strategies: A Participatory Action Research on Enhancing Community Resilience and Achieving SDG 13 in Indonesia's Coastal Communities

Jasmila Tanjung — 2025-10-07

Coastal communities in Indonesia face existential threats from climate change. Conventional top-down adaptation strategies often fail due to a disconnect from local socio-ecological realities, overlooking a critical resource: traditional ecological knowledge, or kearifan lokal. This study investigates a knowledge co-production model that synergizes kearifan lokal with modern climate science to build community resilience. We employed a 24-month, mixed-methods Participatory Action Research (PAR) design in three highly exposed coastal villages in North Java, Indonesia. Ethical protocols, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), were foundational. Qualitative data were gathered from in-depth interviews (n=30), focus groups (n=12), and ethnographic observation. Quantitative data came from a pre-test/post-test household survey (n=450) measuring a validated, multi-dimensional Community Resilience Index (CRI). Interventions were co-designed, blending traditional practices like the pranata mangsa (ethno-astronomical calendar) and the wana tirta (mangrove philosophy) with scientific recommendations. A linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze changes in CRI scores. The co-designed strategies led to a statistically significant increase in the mean CRI from a baseline of 2.8 (SD=0.65) to 4.2 (SD=0.48) post-intervention (p<0.001). Significant improvements were observed across all resilience dimensions, most notably in Economic Capital (+59.1%) and Adaptive Capacity & Governance (+51.7%). The revitalization of practices such as the restoration of 50 hectares of mangroves, guided by both wana tirta principles and scientific species selection, enhanced coastal protection and local livelihoods. In conclusion, the co-production of knowledge, facilitated through a PAR framework, is a potent mechanism for building effective, culturally embedded, and sustainable climate resilience. This model empowers communities as active agents in their adaptation journey and offers a scalable, evidence-based pathway for achieving SDG 13 in Indonesia and other climate-vulnerable nations.

Bridging the Digital Divide: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the Efficacy, Accessibility, and Impact of Web-Based Mental Health First Aid Training for Community Health Volunteers (Kader) in Rural Indonesia

Zahra Amir — 2025-10-07

Significant disparities in mental health service access persist in rural Indonesia, where community health volunteers (known as Kader) represent a vital but undertrained resource. Digital training platforms offer a scalable solution to build mental health literacy, yet their efficacy and accessibility in low-resource, digitally diverse settings remain under-evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, accessibility, and user experience of a novel, web-based Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program for Kader in rural Indonesia. We employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design with a single-group, pre-test/post-test framework. A total of 165 Kader from 15 rural districts across North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and South Sumatra provinces were recruited. Participants completed a 4-week, self-paced, web-based MHFA course. Quantitative data were collected using the Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire (MHKQ), the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI) scale, and the System Usability Scale (SUS) at baseline and post-intervention. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured focus group discussions (FGDs) with a purposive subsample of 32 participants to explore user experience and perceived impact. The intervention yielded a highly significant improvement in mental health knowledge, with mean MHKQ scores increasing from 48.5 (SD=10.2) at pre-test to 89.7 (SD=8.8) at post-test (t(164) = -35.1, p < 0.001). Stigmatizing attitudes significantly decreased, as reflected by an increase in mean CAMI scores from 55.3 (SD=12.5) to 81.4 (SD=11.9) (t(164) = -18.9, p < 0.001). The platform's usability was rated favorably, with a mean SUS score of 81.2 (SD=13.4), indicating excellent user-friendliness. Qualitative analysis revealed three primary themes: (1) Digital Empowerment and Overcoming Barriers; (2) Cultural Resonance and Practical Skill Acquisition; and (3) The Emergence of a Supported Community of Practice. In conclusion, web-based MHFA training is an effective, accessible, and well-accepted modality for empowering Kader in rural Indonesia. This digital approach successfully bridges geographical and educational divides, significantly enhancing mental health literacy and reducing stigma. Scaling this model holds immense potential for strengthening community-based mental health services and narrowing the treatment gap in Indonesia and similar low- and middle-income countries.

Forging Digital Pathways to Prosperity: A Mixed-Methods Inquiry into Digital Literacy, Community Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Development Goal Attainment in Rural Indonesia

Grace Olivia Silalahi — 2025-10-07

The proliferation of digital technology presents a monumental opportunity for economic development, yet its benefits remain unevenly distributed, particularly in the rural regions of developing nations like Indonesia. This study investigates the critical role of digital literacy as a catalyst for community entrepreneurship, and its subsequent impact on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed across three diverse rural regencies in Indonesia. The initial quantitative phase involved a multi-stage cluster survey of 525 rural entrepreneurs, with data analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test hypothesized relationships. The subsequent qualitative phase comprised 30 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs and community leaders, selected purposively from the quantitative sample. Interview data were analyzed using rigorous thematic analysis to explain and enrich the statistical findings. The PLS-SEM analysis revealed that digital literacy has a significant, positive direct effect on both entrepreneurial intention (b=0.451, p<0.001) and entrepreneurial performance (b=0.382, p<0.001). Entrepreneurial performance, in turn, was a strong predictor of progress toward SDG 1 (b=0.523, p<0.001) and SDG 8 (b=0.610, p<0.001). Qualitative findings identified three core mechanisms facilitating these relationships: (1) the use of digital platforms as a gateway to expanded markets, (2) the vital role of informal, peer-to-peer social networks in digital skill acquisition, and (3) the translation of individual entrepreneurial success into community-wide economic benefits through local job creation and value chain development. In conclusion, digital literacy is a foundational capability that directly empowers rural entrepreneurs, driving local economic performance and accelerating progress toward key SDGs. These findings underscore the necessity of moving beyond infrastructure-centric policies to holistic strategies that cultivate digital skills through community-based learning and support the integration of digital tools into local enterprises.

Cultural Congruence in Mental Health Promotion: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial on Integrating Javanese Local Wisdom (Kearifan Lokal) to Enhance Resilience and Reduce Stigma

Susi Diana — 2025-10-08

Mental health disparities persist in rural Indonesia, exacerbated by a lack of culturally appropriate interventions and high levels of stigma. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel psychoeducation program integrated with Javanese local wisdom (kearifan lokal) in improving psychological resilience and reducing mental health-related stigma. We conducted a two-arm, parallel-group, cluster-randomized controlled trial in 12 rural villages (desa) in the province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Villages were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=6 villages, 312 participants) or a wait-list control group (n=6 villages, 308 participants). The intervention, "Program Laras Jiwo" (Harmonious Soul Program), was a facilitator-led, 8-session group program co-designed with community members. It integrated standard psychoeducation with Javanese cultural principles such as gotong royong (mutual cooperation), tepo seliro (empathy), and narrative elements from wayang (shadow puppetry). The control group received general health information. Primary outcomes were resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale) and stigma (Depression Stigma Scale). Secondary outcomes included mental health literacy, help-seeking attitudes, and psychological distress. Data were collected at baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), and 6-month follow-up. Linear mixed-effects models were used for analysis. At the 6-month follow-up, the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in resilience scores (Mean Difference [MD]: 15.8, 95% CI: 13.2 to 18.4; p < 0.001) and a significantly greater reduction in public stigma scores (MD: -8.5, 95% CI: -10.1 to -6.9; p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Significant positive effects were also observed for all secondary outcomes, including mental health literacy, help-seeking attitudes, and reduced psychological distress (p < 0.001 for all). In conclusion, integrating Javanese kearifan lokal into a community-based psychoeducation program is a highly effective strategy for enhancing psychological resilience and combating mental health stigma. This culturally congruent approach offers a scalable and sustainable model for reducing the mental health treatment gap in rural Indonesia and other similar contexts.

Empowering Educators, Supporting Students: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of a Train-the-Trainer Model for School Mental Health in Indonesia

Ahmad Badruddin — 2025-10-08

Adolescent mental health is a pressing concern in urban Indonesian schools, where a significant gap exists between student needs and the availability of professional support. This study evaluated the efficacy of a culturally-adapted, school-based "Train-the-Trainer" (TtT) community service model designed to build sustainable mental health support capacity by empowering teachers. A quasi-experimental study with a matched control group was conducted in 20 public high schools in South Sumatera, Indonesia. Ten schools (n=150 teachers, n=1500 students) received the TtT intervention, where core teachers were trained to cascade mental health literacy and foundational support skills to their peers. Ten matched schools (n=145 teachers, n=1450 students) served as a control group. Data on teacher self-efficacy, student-reported support awareness, and school mental health policies were collected at baseline, 6-months, and 12-months. A linear mixed-effects model revealed a significant time-by-group interaction, with teachers in the intervention group reporting substantially higher confidence in supporting students at 12 months (M=4.15, 95% CI [4.01, 4.29]) compared to the control group (M=2.51, 95% CI [2.37, 2.65]), a large effect (d=2.41). Intervention students were significantly more likely to know how to access support (78% vs. 27%; OR=9.82, 95% CI [8.11, 11.89], p < 0.001). Intervention schools demonstrated a massive increase in formalized mental health protocols compared to control schools (IRR=7.94, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the TtT model is a highly effective and scalable strategy for building a foundational mental health support system within existing school structures in resource-constrained settings. By investing in local educators, this model fosters a sustainable, multi-tiered support ecosystem, offering a viable pathway for national policy and practice in Indonesia.