Violence and Non Violence Activities
Indonesian AVP facilitators in the movement to create a Culture of Peace and Justice got the opportunity to introduce AVP in Class II-B Pati Prisons in December 2022. Alumni of the Peace Place training in Pati who had become field lecturers at the prison facility extended the invitation.
Fantastic (AVP name), responding to the prompt of “a person you respect and why,” remembered his mother, whom he had not seen for over 15 years. While holding back his tears that wanted to explode, he said that his mother loved him very much. He really cried when he recalled one day long ago when his mother visited him in prison. He doesn’t know exactly what happened in his childhood. At that time, he had to separate from his parents because of their divorce. His mother went abroad to work as a migrant worker, and his father also did not live with him. Stepping on to adulthood, Fantastic tried to live independently by working as a waiter at a food stall. His love affair caused him to go to jail, because of the violence he committed. After attending the training, he felt calmer, and even his feelings of resentment began to disappear. Previously, there was a burning feeling of revenge, causing him to imagine that one day, when he was released from prison, he would take revenge on the person who, according to him, caused him to be there. Fantastic says he will be out of prison in 2025.
Bijaksana or Wise (AVP name) said that he had already been jailed for the third time, and half of his life had been spent in prison. Drugs made him have to go in and out of prison. He felt much burdened by being there; sometimes he couldn’t concentrate, especially when he remembered his family and his children. This training made him aware of changes in his life. He realized that everyone is good and capable, and everyone has the opportunity to act better and do something different.
Baik or Nice (AVP name), conveyed the same thing, that his heart felt calmer and his feelings of revenge towards someone who put him in prison had begun to fade away. It is very difficult for Baik to speak, especially when talking about the events he has experienced.
Above are some of the life experiences of three participants from 16 assisted residents who took part in the Basic AVP Training, which was conducted twice a week in December 2022 for 6 sessions with a planned time of 18 hours; in actual implementation, the effective time lasted just 16 hours.
Hence, everyone is good and capable, and the Transforming Power will happen when we are open to it.