PALU, CENTRAL SULAWESI — In August 2021, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) Dompet Dhuafa, together with other institutional partners, launched an inclusion training program called Partners for Inclusion: Localising Inclusive Humanitarian Response (PIONEER). The program has been running for 12 months and will continue until the 14th month. The PIONEER program involves dozens of people with disabilities, particularly those in Palu, Central Sulawesi, and surrounding areas.
One of the program participants is Irmansyah (42). He attended every session of the two-day Pioneer workshop held on Tuesday and Wednesday (August 23-24, 2022) at Tanaris Coffee, Lolu Utara Village, Palu Timur District, Palu City, Central Sulawesi. This man from Tana Modindi Village, Mantikulore District, Palu City, works as a pastry vendor alongside his wife. He stated that he has been participating in the Pioneer program since it first began.
When met by the Dompet Dhuafa team, he shared that he gained a lot of knowledge and insights during his active participation in the Pioneer program. Irmansyah is one of the most active participants in his efforts to develop his potential. This was stated by Fabio Dinasti, a representative from the Pioneer Management.
Mr. Irmansyah’s daily activities are as a food vendor at home with his wife. Before joining this program, he admitted that he only traded as other people did. However, since joining the Pioneer program, he claims to have become more organized in terms of administration, finances, and even long-term plans.
“I feel there have been many changes during this Pioneer program, especially in terms of capacity building. For me, this program has truly expanded our knowledge and understanding of individual soft skills. Especially regarding partnership, social skills, how to participate, and recognizing one’s potential. Previously, I only sold ordinary cakes. However, through the Pioneer program, I now understand techniques for creating projects, drafting and submitting proposals, from planning, preparation, implementation, to reporting,” she explained on Wednesday (August 24, 2022).
She also mentioned that the Pioneer program has fostered a sense of compassion and humanity, not only toward society but also toward fellow people with disabilities, as well as in disaster response and mitigation. She and other participants were inspired to continue sharing with other people with disabilities how to build self-confidence. The participants also realized that they are not merely objects of humanity but subjects actively engaged in acts of kindness.
“That’s the added value I feel from this activity,” he added.
Previously, participants with disabilities admitted that they were not very confident to participate in community activities. However, because Pioneer continued to encourage and guide them, as well as involving local governments as policy makers, they became more confident to move forward like other people in general.
“My hope as a person with disabilities for my fellow disabled friends, not only in Palu but everywhere, is that we can do more. Not just at home or in our immediate surroundings, but also outside when we are involved and empowered, we can achieve more. My hope is that people with disabilities can become empowered if given the opportunity and guidance,” he concluded. (Dompet Dhuafa / Muthohar)