I told Edi and Leo, as soon as they return from Bogor, they should immediately help the women. WK is short for Wanita Katolik (Catholic Women), a term for the women’s organization in the Roman Catholic Church. Lately, those women have been calling themselves Kelompok Tani Burung Arue (KTBA – Arue Bird Farmers’ Group). By the end of November 2012, their number had gone up to 60 and continued to increase. They would regularly work together every week and study with KTM PPB.
Upon returning from America, I met with Solastika, the chairperson of KTBA, a middle-aged woman who is also the mother of Petronela Lia, a KTM PPB member. Solastika told me why the women in the village formed the farmers’ group.
“We started by clearing new lands. en we asked our children from KTM to teach us how to cultivate rubber trees well and correctly, “ said Solas.
My chest felt like exploding with pride as I came home from Solastika’s house. Throughout Dayak history, it is the young who must learn from the elders.