The Facilitators from Indonesia, Philippines and Korea. Standing from left to right: Petrus, Selly, Ida, Raissa, Arif; Seated from left to right: Nanik, Juliana, Risa. Photo by Liza Macalandag
We gathered at Peace Place Pati, Central Java, for the 2024 Regional Justice and Peace Training on June 24-July 2, 2024. During the day, we studied and practiced various peace and justice tools. At night, we shared our challenges and initiatives. We came from diverse backgrounds and contexts, including areas plagued by war, environmental degradation, religious and cultural intolerance, corrupt governance, and extreme economic disparities. We all experience the effects of climate change, such as changing weather conditions, disasters, rising sea levels, and food shortages.
For some of us, the tools were entirely new. Others had been leading AVP (Alternatives to Violence Project) workshops for years. There were experienced activists for the environment, human rights, and communities. Some participants could not openly discuss their situations for fear of incarceration. We realized that achieving justice and peace does not depend on the size of the steps taken. Listening to what is right and just, and acting on it, helps us make progress.
We felt and heard creativity in strategizing our actions. We recalled how our friends in Karenland used unseen human chanels to distribute food to families and areas in need. We celebrated the power of youth as they reached out to communities and invited friends to work with them in unfamiliar places. Their energy was contagious. We also heard how the tools were practiced in Islamic boarding schools, places of worship, and orphanages. To do this work well, we need to go slowly and build friendships with everyone.
Embracing a multilingual, rich peace and justice community is a significant commitment. This was made possible through the generosity of Arif, Ninok, and Tito. They reviewed the workshop materials, divided tasks, and did separate team building. They had to work harder during the first three days to familiarize themselves with the accents of friends from ten countries! Eventually, the struggle of deciphering words lessened as we got to know each other better. Going slowly and ensuring that everyone understood became the norm.
The nine facilitators were from Indonesia, Korea, and the Philippines. We also needed translation to go through the practices and daily team debriefs. We wanted to participate in all activities from morning to evening, so we huddled together during breaks to catch up. Those were moments of listening, giving feedback, and learning together. We tried to include young people in the team, but demands from the university conflicted with our schedule. This experience helped us practice being open and flexible.
Connecting personal and social transformation was very interesting. The community visitation day helped transition the materials. We reminded ourselves that practicing the tools would only blossom when we acted and called for changes in the community. Grounding tools and good companionship helped many participants through the social transformation workshop.
Some participants pointed out that the social transformation materials were heavy. The challenge of going beyond ourselves and connecting with others in different situations can be daunting. How do we listen to love and conscience? How do we notice transforming power in times of goodness and when we fall short? How do we say no to privilege? How do we continually notice the core self of everyone? The practice of discharging emotion to be more available and prepared to see reality as it is, and asking friends for what is real and true, is crucial. We need to treat one another as equals, with respect, and take equal turns to listen.
We gained skills and tools to take home. We also learned that internal and state-led wars are happening everywhere. We saw and heard how violence affects our perceptions. We need to understand how the dynamics of oppression operate in us personally and as a community. We need to find our voice in naming it and asking people to stop and notice it.
The act of listening is a big step towards justice and peace
Photo by Kins Aparece