2026 – Series of Psychology
Van Deventer-Maas Indonesia (VDMI) Foundation held Capacity Building: Series of Psychology throughout May 2026 via Zoom Meetings. Carrying the main theme “Realizing Resilience,” the program was facilitated by Febriana Dwiyanti, S.Psi., Psikolog, a psychologist and HR practitioner. This structured program was designed to equip grantees with psychological resilience, enabling them to adaptively cope with academic pressures and the dynamics of daily life.
Part 1 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026), the opening session began with the facilitator outlining the various pressures students frequently face in the digital era. These challenges range from heavy academic workloads and social comparison on social media to information overload and mental health issues like overthinking and burnout. Through this session, resilience was emphasized not merely as a rigid ability to stay “strong,” but as a flexible process of mental, emotional, and behavioral adjustment to both internal and external demands.
The second session (Thursday, May 21, 2026) focused deeply on “Emotional Regulation”. This topic highlighted the importance of managing emotions as a vital skill that can be learned rather than an innate trait. Participants were taught to accurately map their emotional spectrum and practice widening the gap between stimulus and response using breathing or grounding techniques to prevent impulsive actions. Mastering emotional regulation is proven to correlate positively with clearer decision-making, increased productivity, and the prevention of anxiety disorders.
The program continued with the third session (Tuesday, May 26, 2026), which covered “Social Connection”. This session stressed that the ability to build positive and meaningful relationships with one’s surroundings is a fundamental pillar of maintaining mental health. Key elements such as effective communication, active listening, empathy, and appreciating diverse backgrounds were the core focus. Through mature social connections, participants were guided to develop the capacity to resolve conflicts maturely to maintain the stability of their interpersonal relationships.
The final session (Thursday, May 28, 2026) concluded with the topic “Growth Mindset and The Power of Perseverance”. Adapting the concept by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, this material instilled the belief that intelligence and basic human abilities can be continuously developed through hard work, continuous learning, and persistence. The session highlighted a synergistic relationship where a growth mindset acts as the foundation, perseverance serves as the tangible expression of action, and resilience becomes the ultimate outcome of mature psychological elasticity.
Participants shared that they experienced significant positive changes before and after joining this Capacity Building series. These included improved stress management, stronger self-acceptance through handwritten journaling, and a growing sense of solidarity through peer sharing sessions. The interactive and solution-oriented Q&A sessions were also considered highly helpful in addressing the students’ personal issues. Overall, the “Series of Psychology 2026” was deemed highly relevant and timely for the students, especially those in their third or final year who are prone to self-confidence crises and anxiety about the future. It is hoped that the grantees will continue to embrace their personal growth process to make wiser life decisions. See you at the next Capacity Building program!
