Meeting Some Independent Women of Pam Island

Students' exposure to Pam Island, West Waigeo.         

By: Yuliana Mambrasar.         

It is nice to meet you, I am Yuliana Mambrasar from Yenanas, an island in South Batanta, Raja Ampat Regency, West Papua. I got to know Stube HEMAT from Rev. Grace Nanuru, the Multiplicator of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat when she had a Stube HEMAT activity in Yenanas village. Actually, at that time, my friend, Adel Mambrasar, had invited me to join it, but at that time I was still focusing on the Young Member Fellowship (PAM) of Elim church in Yenanas. I’m worried if I involve in Stube HEMAT, what will happen to the PAM fellowship in the future, because I was an active member of it, whether it is disrupted or not, growing or not. Such worries come from my friends’ opinion if I am no longer involved in or focus, it will interfere with organizational performance and it may setbacks. But I try to convince them that I stay active and continue to help.

Stube HEMAT activities in Raja Ampat help young people and students to develop and it has creative activities that attract young people. There are visits to different villages, promoting arts and helping the community with health issues. I chose Stube HEMAT activity because it accommodates Christian students and youth. I am grateful that Stube HEMAT also involves students and youth in its activities and helps the community, for example with the program of health education and the implementation of health vaccines. It proves that when students and youth have the opportunity to work, they can act well and positively for many people.

The exposure activity on Pam Island (11-13/3/2022) became a fun activity and I was grateful to be able to visit brothers and sisters in Pam. I discovered new things that I did not find in Yenanas, actually, Pam's village is not yet developed and the condition of the population has not fully improved. PAM Island has many potencies that can be optimized and managed as a source of income to improve family's economy.

During our activities on Pam Island, my friends and I met face to face with women who work to make natural bath soap, hand body lotion, Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), and massage oil. I did not know about the products before but they were happy to share their stories and explain how to make them. It turned out that the product is made from ingredients that come from the island of Pam itself, such as coconut and they produce it. On Pam Island I found something I could learn and do, I could share stories and opinions or experiences. Women in Pam work not only in the kitchen and household, but they play an important role in the family economy by making handicrafts and other products for sale.

For friends in Stube HEMAT Raja Ampat, especially women, do not just watch, listen and be silent. However,  what you have learned or learned together, you must do and share it with other people in Raja Ampat and its surroundings so that women can work, be independent and play an important role to support the family economy. We are women, we can do it! ***