Stories

PEKKA Activities Enhances the Confidence of Women in the Village

Hapsah, 43 years old, is one of Women Headed Households (PEKKA) cadres in Alur Sabarataan women’s group, South Kalimantan Province. She joined PEKKA as a member in 2013.

Hapsah is married with one daughter and a grandchild. Her family relies on their crop throughout the year to live. Her husband could not help much with the economic situation, as he only works on temporary jobs which might not come at all.

Hapsah could not read and write until a couple of years ago. Although, she did study at Madrasah (Islamic elementary school) for 6 years, but she only learned to read Quran. Then two years ago, Hapsah participated in a program under PEKKA, one of MAMPU partners, which called Functional Literacy (FL).

Functional Literacy is a part of the educational program that included under livelihood activities developed by PEKKA-MAMPU program in South Kalimantan. This program is expected to improve PEKKA members’ ability to read and write, in order to increase knowledge necessary in life. PEKKA members learn to read and write three times a week. The activity is facilitated by the PEKKA’s cadres and field facilitators.

Hapsah’s willingness to learn is very high. She learns how to read and write over the past two years. Now she is able to do it. Most of the times, she asked PEKKA field facilitator to listen to her while reading books, and check her reading quality.

“I feel so happy. Now I can read books in the village library”, said Hapsah.

Currently able to read and write, Hapsah gained the trust from the community and village to help the work in the village office. Hapsah earns IDR 200,000 monthly, that she uses to support her family’s needs. Hapsah is also trusted to carry out various activities in the village, such as managing activities in her community healthcare post (posyandu) such as doing paperworks, inviting the people to come, managing the distribution of rice for the poor (government’s social protection program).

 “This is a major change for me. Previously I was nobody, and never engaged in village activities. But now the head of village and people trusted me to be involved in the activities,” said  Hapsah happily.

Hapsah does not stop there, she is now a PEKKA cadre. With this role she has to lead the group for regular monthly meetings. Hapsah then learned to facilitate groups and speak in front of people. Related to that, Hapsah remembered her experience in one of MAMPU’s trainings in Jakarta.

“In the training I was asked to speak in front of participants who came from various provinces. I felt very nervous and confused. I practiced talking to myself using the microphone that still on when everyone was having their lunch. As a result, my voice can be heard everywhere. And everyone was mad. Although it’s embarrassing, I learned a lot. I hope in the future, I will excel in talking to public.“ said Hapsah closing the interview.