Habitat Updates
Gunungkidul, June 5, 2026 – As part of its commitment to building more resilient and inclusive communities, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, together with its local partner Sentra Advokasi Perempuan, Disabilitas, dan Anak (SAPDA), continues to strengthen community participation in village development through an approach centered on equality and social inclusion.
Through the Advancing Climate Resilient Communities through Empowering Sustainable Solutions (ACCESS) program, Habitat Indonesia supported the implementation of the Sinau Bareng Warga: Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Mainstreaming activity, held at the Katongan Village Hall, Nglipar District, Gunungkidul Regency, on April 30, 2026. The activity served as a shared learning space for community members to better understand the importance of inclusive development, where every voice—especially women, persons with disabilities, older persons, youth, and other vulnerable groups—has an equal opportunity to be heard.
A total of 15 community representatives from Kepuhsari and Ngrandu hamlets actively participated in discussions facilitated by SAPDA. In an open and participatory atmosphere, participants were encouraged to identify challenges, map available resources, and formulate development ideas that are more responsive to the needs of all members of the community.
Nuryadin Edy Purnama, Project Officer at SAPDA, emphasized the importance of this process as an initial step toward building a more inclusive village. “The purpose of the Sinau Bareng Warga: GEDSI Mainstreaming activity is for us to collectively identify, understand, and comprehensively examine the various challenges and resources within this village, which can later become our foundation for collaborating with the village,” he explained.
Support for this participatory approach was also expressed by the Katongan village government. Wawan, Kamituo representing the Head of Katongan Village, stated that village development must be a collective effort involving all residents without exception. “Everyone has equal rights as community members and can also participate in planning the direction and goals of development, especially here in Katongan Village. Hopefully, our focus will be on how much we can contribute, rather than how much we can gain. If that becomes our shared intention, we will be able to achieve this common goal for shared prosperity,” he said.
A similar perspective was shared by Wasingastu Zakiyah, one of the speakers at the event, who emphasized that inclusive development must ensure that no group is left behind. “Inclusive development processes should involve everyone. No one should be excluded, especially those who have long been marginalized, so they can be equally facilitated in both village planning and development,” she explained.
Through its collaboration with SAPDA under the ACCESS Program, Habitat Indonesia believes that building resilient communities does not only begin with providing access to basic services, but also by creating safe, equal, and inclusive spaces for dialogue. Because when everyone has the same opportunity to participate, development can truly belong to all.
Writer: SAPDA
(kh/av)
