SLEMAN – Five months is not a long time in the pursuit of social transformation. However, for Salehudin Pole, a Community Organizer (CO) with the Indonesian Justice and Peace Foundation (YKPI), that time has been sufficient to provide invaluable lessons about the depth of social reality in Purwomartani Village, Sleman.
Tasked with working in two areas with contrasting characteristics, Padukuhan Cupuwatu 1 and Cupuwatu 2, Salehudin Pole shares his reflections on the challenges, field findings, and the shifts in his own paradigm.
Two Areas, Two Approaches
In Cupuwatu 1, Salehudin Pole focused on empowering the PKK (Family Welfare Empowerment) women’s group. His approach was structural yet warm; it began with the hamlet chief’s approval, which then led to the hamlet chief’s wife being given direct coordination responsibilities.
“Cupuwatu 1 has very diverse characteristics, socially, economically, and religiously. The issues that arise there are complex,” explained Salehudin Pole.
Meanwhile, in Cupuwatu 2, he faced a different challenge: engaging with young people. The approach in this area required extra energy. “Dealing with young people means building intense emotional closeness. Communication can’t be rigid; it has to be fluid for trust to grow,” he added.
Field Findings: From Online Loans to Spaces for Expression
During the assessment process, Salehudin Pole discovered facts that have become important data for YKPI’s future programs. In Cupuwatu 1, economic issues such as the trap of online loans and loan sharks have become phenomena intertwined with family harmony. Although environmental issues are beginning to emerge, economic and social concerns remain an urgent priority for deeper exploration.
On the other hand, Cupuwatu 2 holds an interesting irony. The hamlet administration had actually provided facilities for youth expression, but they were not yet being utilized optimally. Through Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Salehudin Pole captured the aspiration that young people actually long for unity and togetherness, but need a spark to get them moving.
Self-Transformation: From “Savior” to “Facilitator”
This facilitation process turned out not only to change the community but also to reshape Salehudin Pole’s identity as an organizer. He admits to experiencing a significant paradigm shift.
“Initially, I viewed community problems normatively. Now I realize that issues like domestic violence or limited spaces for women are not merely individual problems, but the result of long chains of economic and cultural factors,” he explained.
Throughout the facilitation process, he felt a profound transformation reaching into various personal aspects. This change began with a more flexible perspective in understanding the complexity of the local context, along with increased social sensitivity that allowed him to create “safe spaces” for vulnerable groups to speak up.
Technically, his facilitation skills became sharper and more adaptive in managing discussion dynamics in the field. Beyond that, he developed personal resilience by realizing that social change is a marathon requiring patience, not just a short sprint.
Ultimately, he underwent a fundamental redefinition of his role; he no longer viewed himself as a “savior” bringing all the solutions, but rather as a facilitator who comes to open space for the community to discover their own strengths and solutions.
Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Strategy
Facing future challenges, Salehudin Pole acknowledges that limitations in knowledge resources and speed of adaptation are often obstacles. However, he has prepared strategies to ensure the sustainability of organizing efforts in Purwomartani.
“The key is intensive communication and creativity in mobilizing residents according to their needs,” he affirmed. His follow-up plans will focus on building stronger trust and maintaining consistent participatory discussions with the groups he accompanies.
For Salehudin Pole and YKPI, the journey in Purwomartani is about creating change—both at the individual and group levels—for the sake of achieving justice and peace rooted at the grassroots level.
Editor’s note: This article was written by Rose Merry based on a written interview with Salehudin Pole, Community Organizer at the Indonesian Justice and Peace Foundation, on March 27, 2026.