The sky above Porang Paring was so bright, and so hot. The asphalt road was climbing towards the hill. People’s corn field flanked both sides of the street. Rat pest on some fields did not diminish people’s enthusiasm at all.

That day, my team and I went to a planned meeting. The team divided into two groups – three members conducted agricultural land mapping, while another member and I met with the women’s group for latest information. Thirteen women were present at Sucipto’s house – the head of South Pati Peasant Group (Kelompok Masyarakat Petani Pati Kidul or Kompak). Five women helped prepare snacks, coffee, tea, and lunch scheduled after the meeting.

My colleague, Dunung Sukocowati, explained to the group about how the mapping proceeded that day. She showed a map and pointed to the fields and the names written on them. Participants asked questions and Dunung answered. The meeting went on for one and a half hour, only to be interrupted by lunch time. Fresh chicken soup is on the table, exuding spicy aroma, accompanied by rice, side dishes, tofu, tempe and fried chicken. There was also avocado juice from local trees.

The meeting resumed after lunch with Widan, the presenter form Agrarian Reform Consortium (Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria or KPA) after she finished mapping with drone.

Dunung and I moved to another part of Sucipto’s house, where Kompak Secretariat is located. We were planning to have a game with six children from Porang-Paring Children Group.

After greeting the children, Dunung asked how children were doing and how school was going. Children answered one by one. Hana was the first to answer, “Not so exciting, with guests from Madrasah Tsanawiyah, MTS (she mentioned the name of the school MTS) as the promoter. I liked going to school (and mentioned her school), because it was free to go to school,” she says without much of an expression on her face.

Hana also said that she missed playing with our friend ‘Mba/Miss Renny’. Hana and Porang-Paring children group and children from other village learned about diversity a few months back, and got to know churches and religions - Hindhu, Confucius (Konghucu), Protestant, and so on.

Then Dunung commented that, one-by-one, the children had to tell their stories after more than two years of learning together, “You children can tell Dunung about anything. Who went to see the puppet show with their parents in December? Come on, tell me.”

Rafa : “I watch the puppet show. It was exciting. It was using swear word. That is it. There (in Solo) there was no mountain view. It was so exciting when we played snake-and-ladder game in Punden (Porang Paring Village). I am happy that I am in Grade 2 now. It would be fun if we could do it again in Punden.”

The first time we started our activity in Porang Paring, we asked Rafa and his friends to conduct a transect by visiting Punden – a sacred rock mound. This sacred rock then became an inspiration for a hamlet in Porang Paring.

Hana : “It is always fun to play with people from Yaphi.”
Ebri : “We can watch puppet show. But I forget the story.”

Then Bily said that he was walking on his own, during the puppet show, to get some tea, but he got lost. : “I got lost in Solo. They searched for me, they thought he was going to get some tea, but ended up at the office. But in the end, it was alright.”

At that meeting, there was a moment when children hit each other. It was a form of violence, committed as a play and it was hurting because it was hard. Dunung then explained about how to prevent similar incident to happen again, and advised children not to fight.

Ebri : “The puppet show was hilarious. I saw a train passing on the way. I was I happy that I could be on a bus, as I hardy went anywhere for a picnic. I saw the scenery, and passed through tall buildings.”

Hana : “We passed through a toll gate, and it was impressive. We also passed through a tunnel and a KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken).”

When children finished their stories, we asked, what the impacts of the more-than-two-year training and accompaniment were to them.

Ebri answered that Yaphi gave them lessons, now he knew that he should not commit bullying or putting down people. He knew that nobody should become a target of violence. He also mentioned the specific features of a human body that should not be touched by others. He knew about diversity: Custom; ethnicity, religions, and race. He knew that people should help each other, should respect each other, should love each other, and should respect people of different faiths or religions.

“I got to know Javanese culture by watching the puppet show,” said Ebri.

The children also answered unanimously that they understood children’s rights.

Dunung asked what were chidre’s rights and the children answered by practicing while also laughing.

Children were happy when they play games. Then they asked for a game.

Dunung : “okey...okey, remember what we had done together.”
Rafa : ”I am happy and I feel so thrilled with drawing activity. I like to draw Dayak people.”

Ebri : “I like to draw a (safe) house.”

The Child Day Celebration proceeded with children group in Porang Paring through drawing activity. Hana said that she and a few friends kept the documentation of the activity, by sticking those on the room walls.

Ebri said that there was drawing during the 17 August Independence celebration.

“It was exciting to walk around the village,” said Rafa.

Dunung asked whether the children wanted other training in the future, and what kind of training they wished to have?

Hana : “I want to go to Solo again. I want to see Renny. I want a training while camping. I went to camping in Grobogan when I was in Grade 5.”

Rafa : “I really want to play snake and ladder game.”

Ebri : “I never went to a camping.”

I then asked whether Hana and Ebri had experienced menstruation? The children answered clearly without feeling taboo or ashamed. This was possible because their mothers had attended reproductive sex training and non-violence parenting by Yayasan Yaphi.

Ebri : “My mother said that I should not be panicked or afraid when the menstruation came. Just change your pants every other day.”

Hana : “My mother has said the same thing.”

Dunung then explained that there was reproductive education to the women. Children also learned what parts of human body could or could not be touched by other people.” It is important for you to safeguard your privacy. If someone touched, then you must be courageous to say or scream,” she said.

Dunung then said that if Hana had a boyfriend, she must pay attention to a number of important things. Dunung said that it was okay to date somebody, but it had to be a healthy relationship. Chatting should likewise be healthy.

Dunung : “What you need to understand most of all, the story must include your parents. Do not introduce yourself to people on the social media, or respond to a chat from someone you do not know. You must remember not to commit violence even if you do it as a play, never hit (other people’s head). If that happens at school, then report to your teacher or your parents at home.”

Hana : “There were a number of occasions when I wanted to hit my younger sibling. Oh yea....I joined the volleyball training in the village.”

Ebri: “I want to be a police woman to arrest criminals.”

Hana : “I want to be a volleyball athlete.”

Bily : “Police!”
Nis : “Police!”
Rafa: “ I want to be a volleyball athlete!”

Ebri had older and younger siblings. Another progress, he took merchandise to sell at school. His business talent was starting to show.

Rafa was elected the class leader. He was not the top of the class, in terms of academic performance. He said that he had a girlfriend but it was just teasing.

There was no Caca, the girl who was in junior high school. Caca often attended training with her own circle of friends. Her mother said that Caca was at school for the election of student representative(s). She was one of the female candidates. (Ast)

*This article also reflects monitoring and YAPHI program evaluation result with children group in Porang-Paring