The Gemawan Association kicked off the first session of its Training of Trainers (ToT) for Change Agents today at Hotel Pantura in Sambas. The event brought together 25 participants from 11 villages: Matang Labong, Serindang, Sungai Kelambu, Sempalai Tebas, Semangau, Kartiasa, Semperiuk A, Bakau, Parit Setia, Dungun Laut, and Matang Segarau.
The training was officially opened by Mr. Uray Endang K., a member of the Gemawan Association’s Board of Directors. In his opening remarks, he stressed that the program was designed specifically to strengthen the participants’ leadership skills, empowering them to become effective agents of change in their home villages.
“We want this ToT to equip change agents with the capability to lead the Women Farmer Groups (KWT) in each of their villages,” Uray Endang stated.
The first session was facilitated by Arniyanti, a Gemawan staff member better known as Arni. She covered topics including transformative gender analysis, women’s leadership, and advocacy strategies. During her talk, Arni emphasized that men and women are equal, with the same rights and opportunities in both education and politics.
“The government has mandated a 30 percent quota for women’s representation in politics. This shows that men and women hold equal status and have an equal role to play in driving progress together,” Arni explained.
Handayani, commonly called Yayang, took the floor to discuss procedures for registering and gaining official recognition for women’s groups in the agriculture and forestry sectors. She walked participants through the steps for establishing new Women Farmer Groups (KWT) and Forest Farmer Groups (KTH), as well as how to revitalize groups that have become inactive. She also outlined the roles and responsibilities participants are expected to take on after completing the training.
The session was marked by a lively and highly engaged atmosphere. Participants actively joined in discussions, raised questions, and exchanged experiences with one another. The program also included hands-on simulation exercises, where participants practiced coordinating with Village Heads, Agricultural Extension Officers (PPL), and Farmer Group Associations (Gapoktan) to either set up or reactivate KWT and KTH groups in their villages.
Through this initiative, it is hoped that participants will put their new knowledge into practice, mentor groups in their communities, and bolster women’s participation in both Women Farmer Groups and Forest Farmer Groups across their respective villages.
Writer: Siti Rahmawati