Mainstreaming Woman to be Champion in Rural Energy

Peter is an Energy Patriot and Village Facilitator, who has been fulfilling his duties in the village of Watukarere, located in West Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, since the year 2021. For Peter, the role of an energy patriot is not just a mere profession, but a fervent passion that enables him to make meaningful contributions toward societal transformation. Read more on the subsequent dialogue providing a brief glimpse of his thoughts and insights on his work.

Why are you interested in becoming an energy patriot or village facilitator in the ACCESS Project?

For nearly a decade, I have been immersed in the field of community assistance and empowerment. Over the years, working alongside communities to promote their development has become an abiding passion of mine. I find it immensely fulfilling to help communities discover their latent potential, while simultaneously learning from their unique perspectives and experiences. In particular, my involvement in the energy sector as an Energy Patriot has provided me with the opportunity to facilitate and impart knowledge about renewable energy technologies in rural areas. The dynamic nature of this field keeps me fully engaged and stimulated, and I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of my work.

What was your first impression when you went to the field of the target village to help the community prepare a solar-based energy source?

As a replacement Energy Patriot, I encountered a series of challenges in my initial engagement with the local villagers. One of the primary obstacles was the communication gap that existed between me and the local villagers. To overcome this hurdle, I felt the need to convey the technical and nuanced aspects of our program with a fresh and innovative approach. In the early stages of my involvement, I found myself in a situation where I had to search for a replacement Local Operator (LO), as the original LO had to vacate the position. Besides this, I also recognized the immense potential of women in the electricity sector of the village. However, several socio-economic and cultural constraints impeded their participation, and addressing these obstacles has become a focus of my work.

So, since the beginning of your involvement in the village, attention to women has become a kind of mission?

That's right because the involvement of women is also what ACCESS and UNDP emphasize. As soon as I landed in the village, I saw how the role of women is very potential but still minimal.

So, how did you approach women to get involved? How did they respond?

I implemented a strategy that could be characterized as familial in its approach. Initially, I made a point of visiting every household that I had identified. These visits were conducted manually. For instance, whenever I arrived at a house, I would greet the residents, and then immediately invite the head of the household to join me in the kitchen to assist in preparing coffee or a meal. This allowed for a more profound exchange of ideas and insights. I made it a routine to visit each household regularly and engage in these deep conversations until I felt that I was no longer just an outsider, but a part of their family.

What role is expected of women's involvement?

The outcomes of my personalized interactions with families elucidated that housewives are more aware of energy-related issues in domestic settings than their men are. I discovered that these mothers had a clear vision for the future concerning the use of electricity in various aspects of their lives. They identified expected outcomes, such as improved education for their children, enhanced management of domestic needs (including cooking, toilets, sanitation, etc.), and positive effects on their family’s economic activities (such as agriculture, crafts, trading, etc.). Based on this observation, I believe it would be fitting for women to become the focal point for promoting energy awareness in this village and be recognized as Energy Champions in the village.

How did the men in the village respond to this effort?

Initially, I faced some challenges due to the prevalent patriarchal culture in the village. Men in the community often addressed it as “father in the terrace mother in the back”. However, with the family-oriented strategy that I had developed earlier, I encouraged men to engage in direct conversations and practical sessions with me as an example. During one such interaction, I asked a father whether he had ever cared for his child, such as feeding or bathing them. Typically, they responded negatively, attributing such responsibilities to the mother. I then proposed that he join me in making coffee or adding sugar to it, to emphasize that fathers can also share childcare responsibilities with mothers in making this coffee. We carried out such activities in the family room, while in public spaces, we ensured the presence of women in every public consultation. I emphasized that for every father present, there must also be a mother as it is the mother who could best explain the intricacies of energy in the household. We made a continuous effort to promote this approach.

Has there been any visible impact?

To say some, the biggest institutional effect is that even the village governance structure now stipulates that there is a representation of women in its structure. Even now there is one of the village governance unit heads (KASI), the unit of village welfare, which is held by women. The process of going through that selection is rigorous. I asked the village why they do so, they said they wanted to imitate the UNDP project because the suggestions from women turned out to be good. In the household area, this is real, I see that there are fathers who are changing their children's diapers. This is a significant shift from the traditional patriarchal norms.

What are the hopes for the future?

The hope is that the residents of this village will advance in their access to electricity, leading to positive impacts on the economy and society, including improvements in children's education. It is essential for the community not to be left behind in progress and to create more space opportunities for women as well.

Written by Sugiyanto