By Suminah (Member of Woman Care Learning Centre)

Three years ago I didn’t yet know what Women’s and Children’s Learning Centres were. I was just a housewife that was kept busy managing daily household affairs, as well as looking after my children and husband. After Mitra Wacana from Jogja came to our village and established Woman Care Women’s and Children’s Learning Centre on the 29 December, 2014.

I gained lots of knowledge from Mitra Wacana WRC’s program, I learnt about parenting, gender, the various form of violence, and there were other workshops too. I gained a lot of knowledge about things I did not know about previously. After I learnt about the forms of violence, I realised that previously I had committed an act of violence towards my own children, and at the time I hadn’t realised it was a form of violence. When my children didn’t want to study, then I used to get angry and sometimes hit them. After I learnt that this was violence, I didn’t do it again.

I tried to teach my local community about some of the things that I learnt from Mitra Wacana. Although there were people that didn’t agree with what I tried to teach them about gender. That was one challenge for me, but I still kept strong in trying to teach them. I’m thankful that I received support from my family, especially my husband to join this organisation.

My hope after Mitra Wacana finish their work is that the centre won’t be closed, but will still continue and increase unity and solidarity. Because this organisation is an organisation that is officially supported by the village government, and the district government.