Unesa.ac.id., SURABAYA– Dewi Fatma Wati, student at the Faculty of Psychology, Surabaya State University (UNESA) , has been selected as a representative from Indonesia in the Youth Advocacy Training activity held by the International Planned Parenthood Federation South Asia Regional Officer (IPPF SARO) in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 28-30 June 2024.
This activity was attended by representatives from various countries in South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Fatma's participation in this activity cannot be separated from her activeness in various social activities in several Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) such as the Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI), East Java.
Fatma was chosen as Youth Representative from the Indonesia Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA) to represent the International Planned Parenthood Federation East and South East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR) in this training.
Selection was carried out through an online form and writing a mini essay, which made him the only Indonesian representative at the event.
"When I was first contacted by the organizers, I felt touched and surprised but still went ahead and completed various requirements to attend this activity," he said.
During the three-day training, participants from various countries in South Asia gathered to highlight solidarity and best practices in sexual and reproductive rights advocacy.
As a community organizer in the Inclusion program and peer educator in sexual education, Fatma has also participated in advocacy for sexual and reproductive health rights (HKSR).
Dewi Fatma Wati (center-veil) with other students at Youth Advocacy Training in Nepal.
Fatma is involved in various discussions and shared his experiences advocating for SRHR in Indonesia. Many teenagers from South Asia have the same concerns, such as the lack of access to youth-friendly health, myths circulating in society, educational information that is wrong and not youth-friendly.
"There is also a lack of government regulations that protect providers of sexual and reproductive health services," he added.
This training is held using fun methods, starting from games, film screenings, discussions, presentations, to preparing joint projects. Fatma admitted that she got a lot of benefits from this activity, both in terms of relevant knowledge.
In addition, her educational background as a psychology student increased her experience in addition to relationships with teenagers from various countries in South Asia, resulting in meaningful experiences. during her trip to Nepal alone.
As a representative of Indonesia at the international level, Fatma always wears batik in every session she participates in. He introduced batik as one of Indonesia's identities with meaningful patterns from various regions in Indonesia.
Apart from that, Fatma also shared unique facts about batik as an intangible world cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. Fatma's presence at the 2024 Youth Advocacy Training not only makes UNESA proud but also Indonesia, in making a positive contribution to advocacy for sexual and reproductive rights in Indonesia.
The training aims to form an inclusive, capacitated and sensitive community on access to health services as a gender, sexual and human rights issue. Apart from that, it also focuses on improving the advocacy skills and social media networks of each teenager to be applied in their respective countries of origin.[]
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Reporter: Muhammad Dian Purnama
Editor: @zam*
Photo: Doc Dewi Fatma Wati
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