Petrus Praktis, Datun Damai, Natural Ngatini

The fourteen people attended the face-to-face Personal Transformation Workshop at Peace Place. Scheduling was a success: two three-hour sessions for two days each on two consecutive weekends: September 18, 19, and 25, 26, 2021. As the covid epidemic begins to subside, this workshop became a medium for trauma healing for several participants in Pati, Central Java.

Natural Ngatini also stated that the self-empowerment course was a fantastic experience. “Before I started the course, I was always aware of others’ flaws and disappointments, even the toddlers.” However, it was said in this training that everyone is good and capable, which made me recognize and deepen my belief that everyone created by God is good and capable. I’m also getting better at getting along with people from many different walks of life, especially those of various religions and ages,” she stated.

Natural Ngatini is a mother of two children and the first woman to chair the Women’s Council at the Javanese Evangelical Mennonite Church, GITJ Karanglegi. “We have 253 members. I believe that a good companion is a valuable tool for us. I was able to harness the emotions, disappointments, and traumas that I had been through. This is very incredible and has made a significant difference in my life. At first, I was disgusted and disappointed every time I had to drive past the hospital in Pati. I’ve been quite dissatisfied since my husband died while receiving treatment at the hospital. But entering the third session of this training I noticed a shift in myself; the burdens of pain and disappointment began to fade away, and I no longer felt the stress of having to go to the hospital. This workshop had a significant impact on my life. I was able to return to the present time thanks to the footing I gained from the things we learned.”

Ami Anugerah (Graceful Ami) is a young mother who is also a Christian Religious Education student. She said that she was always greeted at the start of each session by sitting comfortably and relaxed, stopping in her body and mind, sensing her breath and heartbeat, and feeling more relieved and refreshed. She expressed her gratitude saying, “This exercise was quite beneficial to me in terms of creating a family vibe. I’m becoming more relaxed, patient, and at ease. Past pressured experiences have made me feel inferior, shy, and fearful. That sensation is gradually dissipating. I am grateful for the introduction of these tools in this personal change training.”

Datun Damai (Peaceful Datun) is a teacher whose four children attend Islamic boarding schools. He believes that peace would be achieved if the community were introduced to Creating Cultures of Peace and Justice. “I consider myself fortunate to be able to participate in this training and make friends from various religious backgrounds; this is extremely beneficial to me. The strategies I learned in the workshop can help me heal from the social stress I’m experiencing right now. So far, I’ve felt alone in both my personal and professional environments. Even though the pressure is always on me, there is little gratitude for what I do. Peace Place has provided me with a community that genuinely cares about the environment and others, which is a huge comfort. I hope that I can keep this friendship going and use the tools I’ve learned in the training to help establish a culture of peace and justice,” he said.

One of the initiatives done by Peace Place in Pati in developing a community movement to establish a culture of peace and justice is bringing together community groups with varied religious origins, occupations, and ages in the Creating Cultures of Peace Workshop. We have introduced Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) to several university lecturers, students, and farmers. We do this because we at Peace Place believe that peace is possible. We explain the AVP Approach and how it can be understood and used in the community. It serves as a tool for helping us determine whether or not we are living in a way that creates a culture of peace and justice.

AVP Approach

  • Everyone is good and capable.
  • The Earth is beautiful and generous.
  • Focus on learning, not theology or therapy.
  • Act as learner and teacher; follower and leader.
  • Everyone’s journey is different.
  • Include all ages and backgrounds.
  • Learn through experience, reflection, and expression.
  • Value commonality and diversity.
  • Commit to personal change in private and public life.
  • Discern decisions together.
  • Participate voluntarily, not required or coerced.
  • Practice! Enjoy!