Intan's Journey: Dedication to Peace Through the 12 Basic Values of Peace
Bu Intan has dedicated almost two decades of her life to guiding the younger generation. She's been a Guidance and Counseling (BK) teacher at SMK Negeri 3 Cimahi since 2006. But her journey hasn't stopped in the classroom. Since 2021, she's also been actively serving as a coordinator trainer at PeaceGen, an organization focused on peace education. Her story is a true reflection of how peace values can be integrated into daily life, shaping wiser individuals and creating a more harmonious environment.
The Journey of Discovering the 12 Basic Values of Peace
Bu Intan's introduction to the 12 Basic Values of Peace (NDP) began in 2016 when a fellow teacher introduced her to the NDP concepts. Initially, she only knew the material from individual NDP books, separated by each value. However, her interest grew, leading her to attend a facilitator training in May 2017.
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For three days in Bandung, Bu Intan participated in the training alongside 50 other participants from various backgrounds, including teachers, activists, and even correctional facility staff. Through this experience, Bu Intan deeply explored and practiced the 12 NDP through micro-teaching, which convinced her of the immense potential of these values in education.
Driven by this conviction, Bu Intan, along with two other BK teacher colleagues at SMK Negeri 3 Cimahi, decided to integrate the 12 NDP as the BK curriculum for 10th-grade students. This material was considered highly relevant as a foundation for adolescents navigating their self-discovery, helping them recognize, accept, and explore themselves without shame. This implementation demonstrates the school's strong commitment to instilling peace values from an early age.
The pinnacle of her journey came in December 2017 when Bu Intan attended the Training for Nationally Certified Trainer (TNCT), a national training attended by participants from all over Indonesia, from Aceh to Ambon. Here, her understanding of the 12 NDP deepened significantly as it was taught directly by the program's founders and developers. Afterward, she began receiving invitations to lead trainings in various cities, including Balikpapan and Lampung, making her one of PeaceGen's most experienced trainers to date.
The impact of the 12 NDP on Bu Intan isn't limited to her professionalism; it also extends to her personal development. She shared how the first and second values, "Knowing Oneself" and "Eliminating Prejudice," deeply resonated with her. She admitted to previously being prone to prejudging others based on their appearance. However, through learning the 12 NDP and interactive games like "popping balloons" or "guessing pictures," she learned not to judge and to see people more holistically. The material, presented through simple yet meaningful games, helps children understand complex concepts such as the dangers of prejudice, the importance of accepting diversity, and the negative impact of exclusive groupings or gangs.
The 12 NDP and Its Potential for Resolving Student Issues in Schools
As a BK teacher, Bu Intan views the 12 NDP as a powerful solution to address the "Three Big Sins of Education" highlighted by former Minister of Education Nadiem Makarim: intolerance, bullying, and violence. By understanding the 12 NDP, both teachers and students can minimize the occurrence of these problems within the school environment. These 12 Basic Values of Peace teach how to manage conflict, find constructive solutions, and learn to forgive and ask for forgiveness.
According to Bu Intan, the process she underwent wasn't easy and required continuous repetition and reflection. Beyond spreading these values to others, Bu Intan has also personally benefited, becoming more capable of controlling her emotions, wiser in handling conflicts, and less easily offended than before.
Bu Intan highly recommends the 12 NDP for everyone, especially BK teachers. For her, teachers are the frontline who must first understand and apply these values because teachers who haven't made peace with themselves risk taking out their problems on students. With aware and inclusive teachers, schools will become "peaceful schools."
The benefits of becoming an Agent of Peace (AoP) at PeaceGen are diverse. Besides knowledge, she gained a network and new friends who share the same vision and spirit in peace education. This sense of togetherness provides extra strength, aligning with the philosophy she learned from Kang Irfan Amalee that "enthusiasm is contagious." Not only that, Bu Intan also actively promotes PeaceGen and the 12 NDP through BK teacher exhibitions, showcasing modules, board games, and documentation of activities that attract other schools to learn.
Intan's Message and Hopes for the 12 NDP
Despite recognizing that initiating and sustaining a positive movement isn't easy, as it's often fraught with challenges and criticism, Bu Intan emphasizes the importance of istiqomah or consistency. Her message is clear: as long as what you're doing is good and positive, don't give up.
"Invite friends who share the same vision to add strength, not to wage war, but to spread goodness," Bu Intan stated.
Furthermore, Bu Intan also has a grand aspiration: to bring the 12 NDP to Papua, her birthplace. She realizes that "Papua is a conflict-prone region, and she deeply hopes that children there can learn and benefit from these values of peace." This mission, much like her long journey as a teacher and trainer, is tangible proof of her relentless dedication to creating a more peaceful world, one value, one student, one teacher at a time.
