Living in remote areas presents various challenges for women. These challenges include limited access to essential services such as adequate healthcare facilities, educational resources, and information, as well as the absence of a centre for reporting violence-related services. This is the daily reality for women in Tompobulu Village, Maros District, South Sulawesi, a remote village nestled far from the city centre.

Recognising these challenges, KAPAL Perempuan, one of INKLUSI’s implementing partners, established an informal Women’s School (Sekolah Perempuan) in Tompobulu Village. The Sekolah Perempuan initiative by KAPAL Perempuan aims to ensure that women and other marginalised groups can access basic government services.

Sekolah Perempuan plays a crucial role in addressing the various challenges faced by women in remote areas. This initiative serves as a grassroots empowerment model. Through this informal school, women develop their leadership capacities by enhancing awareness and critical thinking, community organising, and a becoming agents of social change, striving to break free from poverty and all forms of violence.

Every month, women in Tompobulu Village gather alternately at the homes of women’s school members. They delve into topics related to gender equality, women’s leadership, accessing government basic services, and other life skills. In these meetings, they are guided by facilitators from Yayasan Pengkajian Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (YKPM), KAPAL Perempuan’s local partner in South Sulawesi.  

Sekolah Perempuan Tompobulu advocates for gender equality within their families and communities. They also strive to drive policy changes at the government level, from the village to the district. Women are encouraged to become leaders of social change in their communities, ensuring that women’s voices and ideas influence the decisions of stakeholders.

Furthermore, the school has established a Complaints Centre to assist the village community in accessing basic services, especially population administration and reporting cases of violence. Cases collected by the Complaints Centre are referred to service centres at the district or city level for further action.

Evi, the leader of Sekolah Perempuan Tompobulu, emphasizes that the informal school is not just a place of learning but also helps women in the village voice their rights and interact with local authorities. “Initially, I lacked confidence in being a leader, but thanks to the encouragement of friends, I wanted to be the group’s leader to help people who are facing difficulties and address violence and child marriage around where I live,” Evi says.

Aisyah, one of the members of the informal school, also shares her experience. After participating in several sessions on gender equality and the division of roles within the family, she and her husband began discussing household responsibilities, which was previously difficult due to the perception that women should bear the burden of domestic chores.

“I started having discussions with my husband about sharing domestic responsibilities at home. I told him that tasks would become lighter if we did them together. Gradually, my husband began to change. Now we are starting to help each other at home,” says Aisyah.

Aisyah also feels more confident when participating in village development meetings to voice her concerns. “I also have the courage to discuss with the government. Initially, I was afraid, but now I am confident in advocating for our rights here,” adds Aisyah.

Evi and Aisyah’s experiences are concrete evidence that women’s education and empowerment can bring significant change to women and their communities. With the awareness, knowledge, and support provided by the school and other stakeholders, these women have transformed themselves and are actively participating in community development.