The term "gotong royong" comes from Javanese, namely gotong which means to carry or lift, and royong which means together, so gotong royong means lifting or working together.
Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) defines gotong royong as working together or helping each other, and assisting, while from a socio-cultural perspective, the value of gotong royong is a spirit that is manifested in the form of individual behavior or actions that are carried out selflessly, for the common good.
The behavior of people involved in gotong royong activities reflects a sense of solidarity among group members. Gotong royong is part of the distinctive culture of the Indonesian nation that is passed down from generation to generation, thus forming a pattern of social interaction that is reflected in the values of community life.
Gotong royong can be realized in various forms, such as assistance in manpower, material or financial donations, skills, and ideas. This activity is carried out voluntarily by members of the surrounding community. Real examples of gotong royong include repairing houses, places of worship, road infrastructure, and carrying out environmental cleaning activities and so on.
Purposes of Gotong Royong
According to the book "Primary Health Care: Health for All", gotong royong has a number of important goals in community life, including:
- Cultivating a sense of togetherness because humans are social creatures who need each other.
- Creating solidarity and strengthening relationships between residents, so that they get to know each other.
- Helping to speed up the completion of work, making it lighter and more efficient.
- Strengthening the spirit of unity and togetherness in society.
- Reducing the burden of labor costs because the work is done together.
- Increasing a sense of brotherhood and solidarity among members of society.
Benefits of Gotong Royong
Gotong royong brings various benefits, including the following.
- Maintaining cleanliness and beauty of the environment.
- Increasing a sense of security, tranquility, and peace in the community because of concern and cooperation between residents.
- Strengthening social solidarity without distinguishing ethnicity, religion, race, profession, and other backgrounds.
- Fostering togetherness and strengthening the bonds of brotherhood in society.
- Helping to realize a better and more harmonious social life.
- Accelerating the completion of work without requiring large costs, because it is based on the spirit of togetherness that has been rooted in Indonesian culture.
Values Contained in Gotong Royong
Here are the values contained in gotong royong activities.
- Value of Togetherness: Gotong royong reflects the spirit of togetherness in community life, where each individual works together to help others or build public facilities that are used together.
- Value of Unity: Gotong royong strengthens the bonds between community members, creating unity that makes the community more solid and able to face various challenges.
- Value of Willingness to Sacrifice: People are willing to set aside time, energy, thoughts, and even materials for the common good, often prioritizing public interests over personal matters.
- Value of Helping Each Other: Participation, no matter how small, in gotong royong still has an important meaning, because it shows concern and can provide benefits to others.
- Value of Socialization: Gotong royong is a forum for social interaction, strengthening relationships between residents, and maintaining the continuity of communication and togetherness in society.
How to Preserve Gotong Royong
Over time, the spirit of gotong royong has begun to decline, one of the causes of which is the advancement of digital technology. Therefore, steps are needed to maintain and preserve the culture of gotong royong, including:
- Removing negative assumptions that consider gotong royong as something less important. With a positive mindset, the spirit to maintain the value of gotong royong will grow again.
- Avoiding the use of racial or ethnic issues in the practice of gotong royong, because this can deviate from the main purpose of gotong royong, namely togetherness and equality.
- Reducing social distance between residents, in order to create closeness that facilitates cooperation in gotong royong activities without feeling embarrassed or awkward.
Gotong royong is a reflection of social strength that has become an inseparable part of Indonesian society. Therefore, the values of gotong royong need to be continuously maintained so that they remain a characteristic and main pillar in building the national's strength.
Source:
Detikedu. (2024). Pengertian Gotong Royong, Tujuan, Manfaat, Nilai yang Terkandung, dan Contohnya. https://www.detik.com/edu/detikpedia/d-7333460/pengertian-gotong-royong-tujuan-manfaat-nilai-yang-terkandung-dan-contohnya
