Gender Equality Competence in Indonesia

[chandra nurhasz]

Hi all,

Last week, from 1 - 3 November 2010, 3 of us from Indocompetence (Dewi, Harry & me) facilitated Gender Equality (GE) Competence/GEC at Kupang, NTT (East Nusa Tenggara). It's about 4 hours trip by plane, from Jakarta to Bali and then from Bali to Kupang. Beside 3 of us, there were 2 tough women from UNFPA; Ramot, she is very supportive person and Lany who always encourage us to do better, she's the person who put attention on detail. We have also Ibu Dyn, a very strong and energetic old lady from PKK (family welfare movement, an organization who have networking and subordination link untill the village level in all around Indonesia). This event was fully supported by UNFPA Indonesia.

This event is a part of the series. Starting by ‘introduction session’ to PKK at the central level (PKK planned to use CLCP in their programming, from central to village level). Then we have 1 kick-off/learning event for each in Jayapura, Papua and Kupang, 1 support visit for each city, the workshop on manual development of GEC and then the field test module. Harry has involved since the beginning, while Dewi and I were just joining. Thanks to Rebeka who develop this module so that makes us easier. Farer, we’d like to learn with communities and explore their inputs on it so the module will more user friendly.

What went well?

1. In D-1, we conducted a preparation meeting. It involved also some local facilitators. Even a resource person from local university was involved. We talked about who’s doing what, breaking down the flow in very detail. It was very clear and helped us to facilitate the whole sessions.

2. In the day 1, in the 1^st session (introduction), Dewi took all of us to the very liquid situation, very light, open. She created a game of introduction in a very attractive way. It called ‘people to people’. It showed that this event is easy and fun. The message was well delivered. It was important to create a supportive environment so participants would be easy to explore their self and felt comfortable.

3. We had a session called ‘Gender in our context’. There was a resource person (from Undana, a local university) in this session. At the beginning, participants in the group of 5, shared their stories, helped with tools of 3 questions: in your relationship (between man and woman) what went well, how do we know that those went well, and what do we think we need to improve. She were listening all stories and gave response and feedback. Her presentation was also talking about local issues, so it was easy to understand by communities and also in line with their own life.

4. The idea came from Ibu Sal (Kupang), she proposed to included new persons in this event, so we could get inputs from both sides: from those who attended the 2 events before and from the new ones. The inputs then were become richer.

5. In the last day, at the last session, we have a session called ‘how to be a salty facilitator?’ It was not about provide them tips or anything. We explored participants; we asked them insight, in their perception, about what kind of facilitator they think were salty one. We got a lot of inputs. And then Harry added about diversity (keberagaman), he told that around us is not only men and women; there are also transgender, gay, etc. When we’re facilitating session, we should also consider this one. This is in line with the gender issues in the broader way.

6. We succeed and agreed to identify some potential facilitators to transfer CLCP within their community and to others as expected in the output of this event.

What did we learn?

1. Participants/community members where we interacted with were watching our attitude, wording and gesture. They were keeping those in their mind. So we have to be careful with that, we should behave. We should act as a salt team. As a person who transfers CLCP to others, we should be salty.

Module:

2. We learned a lot from the participants. Now we are clearer about what kind of module that easy to use in their context:

ü Use outline

ü Use pointer, it easier for communities to understand

ü Simplified of structure of writing

ü Reduce English, more local languange

ü List of abbreviation in the front page (not at the back)

ü Avoid redupication/repeated of subject.

What should we improve for the next better?

1. AAR is very important, not only on how we organize each session, but it should be also provide inputs for facilitators to improving the skills and saltyness.

2. TOR and schedule (to be distributed) should be in Bahasa/local language, particularly if most of the participants are in the grass root level.

Recommendation:

1. We should send the letter to the persons who had identified as potential facilitators about their willingness to be facilitators. Strengthened their capacity both in gender issues and skill of facilitation. So they will be able to transfer GE Competence to more communities, particularly if UNFPA plan to spread it to other districts in NTT in next CP.

2. Conduct support visit with the final module, both to Kupang and TTS.

3. I propose the timeline of the next step:

§ Agreed on outline (attached), deadline 9 November 2010.

§ Agreed on distribution of role ‘who’s doing what’, deadline 11 November 2010.

§ Final draft of the module is ready to get final review, deadline 19 November 2010.

§ 29 November 2010 module is done.

4. We have to be clear on the practices. Participants from Kupang at the first time, felt not familiar with the practices that stated in the draft module.

5. For the next events, participants should be just from 4-5 communities. It would be easier if they would build the dream, SA and action planning.

6. In the future, each facilitator who facilitates the event of competence should share the process and result of the event. It would make easier for others to continue, the process will be much easier.

[Olivia Munoru]

Hi everyone!

Sorry Chandra.... I am going to use your Blog space for a shameless promotion...... ;-)

Imagine if a community celebrated their strengths in the area of Gender Equality. So rarely is it something we celebrate, yet many communities are making leaps and bounds in terms of how they deal with gender issues.

What I am proposing here is for communities with these experiences celebrate Community Action Day. Wouldn't that be a powerful way of inspiring a community to keep up the fight in responding to issues such as Domestic Violence, inequality etc! Furthermore, next week is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25th November), followed by 16 days of Solidarity.... so the timing is perfect.

If you know someone working in the area of Domestic Violence or gender issues, why not plant a seed - invite them to join the COMMUNITY ACTION DAY group and send them the Resource Package....

I'm going to do it right now!!!!

Liv

[chandra nurhasz]

Thanks Olive,
I totally agree with you. And million thanks for your offer.

Actually we were also discussing about the differences of the issue of gender between Papua and Kupang. I guess Rebeka is the right person to answer this one, because she was incharge since the beginning. Or probably Harry or Lulu could also contribute.

Thanks again to you too, Olive

cn

[Olivia Munoru]

HI Chandra,

I loved reading your Blog. It made me feel like I was there too... with you and Ibu Sal and our two strong pillars, Ramot and Lany.

What has really stood out from your blog, as well as from my experience in Papua, is the importance of language. In Papua, when we asked the community if they wanted to design the Self Assessment in their local language, Bahasa Santani, the entire room changed. All of a sudden, those who were quiet became involved. The spirit started to soar and lots of healthy discussion and debate was occurring.

Local languages are our comfort zone, and that's where we want them to be!

Speaking of language.... once we have the updated version of the Manual done, let's share it with our CLCP friends. I am happy to edit it into English - just send it to me ok.

It is interesting to see how this Gender Competence is evolving. In Papua we concentrated mainly on Domestic Violence, but here they concentrated on Gender Equality.... why do you think that happened?

Thanks again Chandra!

Olive

[chandra nurhasz]

Dear Rituu,

Thanks for your response.
At the event, participants came from many/vary background of communities. It was actually very good, more people introduced by this approach.
Only 2 persons came from the same community. In the session of SA, we faced a bit challenge. If the group of discussion based on community, there will be a lot group. We also considered, this was a 3rd workshop, we should avoid 'simulation'.
These are the practices of SA:
>. Respecting each others
>. Open communication
>. Sharing responsibility
>. Equal opportunity for education and skills
>. Equal opportunity for income generating work outside home
>. Access to services/health care
>. Decision making
>. Psychological and social support

Kaki pahe, Rituu ...

Hi Laurence,

1. This was field test module of a manual on GEC that been developed couple months before.
2. In this case, module is a manual.
3. Yes.
4. It seemed like 'compromise'. Our colleague really wants to invite a resource person and participants got the session on Gender. It was about improving knowledge about gender. So we modified this session to avoided teaching. (months ago I have arised this in the discussion forum of 'the expert'.)

Thanks.

[Laurence Gilliot]

Hi Chandra,

Was this the event on 'development of a manual on GEC'? I also didn't understand what is module? Are you talking about the practices of the self-assessment?
For activity 3 'Gender in our context' is it like a peer assist, or what was the purpose of this interesting exercise?

Thanks,

Laurence

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Dear Chandra,

This is a very useful idea of sharing your learnings as a facilitator. We are creating a knowledge asset here, isn't it.

I too have felt that writing in local language on flip charts is required to keep the group involved. Please can you explain about point 5 under recommendations. Do you mean practices from Self assessment? Please can you also share the self assessment for gender.

Thanks! Kaki pahe (thanks in the local Kuki language I learned recently)

Warm regards,

Rituu

[wiwin winarni]

Great Bro.....

This really inspire me how to share one learning event. I read the Indonesian version and I feel that I attended every single session. Thanks Bro..

Withlove

wiwin