Habitat Updates
Gunungkidul, June 29, 2026 – Access to clean water and decent housing is often considered a basic need that is already evenly distributed. However, realities on the ground show otherwise. Not all groups in society have equal opportunities to access, use, or participate in decision-making related to these services. This situation forms the background of the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Basic Training on Clean Water Management and Inclusive Housing in Panggang District, Gunungkidul Regency.
In this region with karst geographical characteristics, access to clean water becomes an increasingly serious challenge during the dry season. However, its impacts are not experienced equally. Women, older persons, and persons with disabilities often face greater burdens, ranging from limited access to mobility barriers in obtaining water and other basic services. At the same time, their participation in community-level decision-making processes remains limited.
A total of 23 community representatives, consisting of village officials, female heads of households, older persons, and representatives of families of persons with disabilities, participated in this training. Through a participatory approach, participants were encouraged to understand inequality in access, map existing conditions in the field, and explore how village decision-making can become more inclusive through various simulations and interactive discussions.
From this process, participants began to see that water and housing issues are not only about infrastructure, but also about who is involved, who is affected, and who is still underrepresented. The GEDSI approach opens up reflection that sustainable development must consider access, control, benefits, and participation fairly for all groups in society.
This training marks an important step in strengthening community understanding and capacity to be more responsive to the needs of vulnerable groups. The hope is that these inclusive practices can continue to be applied in village-level planning and resource management so that development can truly be felt by everyone without exception.
Come and see their activities in the photos below.
The Village Secretary, Wahyu Setyoningsih, delivered the opening remarks for the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Training on Water Management and Inclusive Housing in Kapanewon Panggang, Gunungkidul Regency. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of collaboration among all community elements in creating more inclusive and equitable water management and housing systems for everyone.
Before the training session began, all participants were asked to complete a pre-test form. This step was conducted to assess their initial understanding of GEDSI issues in water management and inclusive housing, as well as to serve as a baseline for evaluating learning outcomes at the end of the session.
The training session began with an interactive activity where participants were asked to list daily activities and categorize them based on male and female roles. This exercise created space for reflection, highlighting that not all tasks are defined by gender roles, as many activities can be carried out equally by both men and women.
In the middle of the session, Alimah, Gender Officer at Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, invited selected participants to take part in a role-play activity as a father and a mother within a family facing various challenges. This activity helped participants better understand the differences in roles, challenges, and burdens that often arise in everyday family dynamics.
Read also: Photo: Improving Community Health through PHBS Training
The training, which was divided into four sessions, also organized participants into several groups for Focus Group Discussions (FGD). Through these group discussions, participants were able to exchange perspectives and deepen their understanding of GEDSI issues in water management and inclusive housing at the community level.
One of the female participants, while laughing, shared that in daily life, most household chores are still largely carried out by women rather than men. This simple remark then became a trigger for a deeper discussion on the division of roles within households.
Before the training session concluded, participants took part in the Power Walk game, designed to represent differences in access, opportunities, and social positions in everyday life. Through this activity, participants were able to directly observe how various factors can influence how far a person can progress in life.
The training session concluded with a group photo of all participants together with the Habitat for Humanity Indonesia team. This moment marked the sense of togetherness after a series of learning activities that not only provided new knowledge but also strengthened understanding of the importance of inclusive water management and housing.
Photo & Writer: Kevin Herbian
(kh/av)
