On Saturday, November 26th, 2022, the English Studies Programme of UGM held an International Students’ Seminar on Children’s Issues. This event remained the last seminar held on behalf of the English Department students who joined the Kampus Merdeka Program, with three events, including a public lecture and two student seminars. Four speakers provoked various discussions regarding children’s issues around the world.
The seminar started with an opening remark by Dr. Adi Sutrisno, M.A., the Head of the English Department UGM. Later, it was continued by the presentation from the first speaker, Aulia Muchtarom, from the English Studies Programme of UGM 2020. Here, she shared her insights about children’s literature in Indonesia, how it developed amid several obstacles, and how technology has contributed to the development of children’s literature. The second speaker, Dana Castell Martinez from Barcelona, brought up the topic of children’s rights and showed some intriguing data about how children’s rights are often highly violated by adults. The third speaker, Samantha Perez from Oberlin Sanshi, talked about the children’s foster system in the US. Here she provided us with the positive and negative sides of the system and what people can do to raise children’s welfare. The last speaker, Monica Audrey from the English Studies Programme of UGM 2018, shared a thought-provoking issue about gendered language that has been embedded since we were born. Here, she shared some tips to improve children’s language ability and how gender stereotypes have affected their way of speaking.
After the presentation, five questions from the audience revolved around the topic of the advantage of technology for children’s literature, the gendered language of children, and children’s rights related to their privacy and protection. Then, the seminar was closed with a photo session for the speakers, committee, and audience.
Written by: Dasadriya Pitaloka, English Studies Programme, 2019
Proofread by: Adiba Qonita Zahroh, S.S., M.Litt.
