IWPG Jakarta Branch Launches First Women’s Peace Education Program in Sampit, Indonesia

The Jakarta Branch of the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) has officially launched the first cohort of the Sampit Women’s Peace Education (PLTE) Program, marking a new step in strengthening women-led peace initiatives in Indonesia.

On February 11, 2026, an online orientation session was held for five women leaders from Sampit, formally beginning the Peace Lecturer Training Education (PLTE) program. The initiative aims to cultivate local women as certified peace instructors who will promote peace culture within their communities.

Joint International Cooperation for Peace Education

The program is jointly organized by IWPG’s Jakarta Branch in Indonesia and the Icheon Branch in South Korea. The full curriculum is conducted by Hwang Mi-seon, Branch Director of IWPG Icheon, and is delivered in three languages: Korean, English, and Indonesian.

The structured program consists of ten online sessions, followed by a two-night, three-day in-person workshop that will conclude with a graduation ceremony. The course is designed to strengthen participants’ civic capacity for peacebuilding, grounded in core peace education values and an understanding of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).

Rather than lecture-based instruction alone, the curriculum incorporates discussion-based learning, assignments, and interactive engagement.

Empowering Women Leaders in Sampit

Ahead of the orientation, participants shared their motivations and aspirations regarding peace and women’s leadership.

Gita Anggraini, a professor at Muhammadiyah University of Sampit, expressed her desire to serve as a peace instructor for students, families, and women in her region. She emphasized the importance of teaching peace values to the next generation in Sampit, an area that has previously experienced ethnic conflict.

Dwi Winayanti, CEO of Rimba Makmur Utama Company, stated her goal of becoming a strong and independent woman who can inspire others through meaningful action and contribute to positive change in her community.

Anggraini Shinta Devi, head of an online marketplace branch, described peace as a condition where people live happily without war, expressing hope that the program would become a starting point for realizing such peace in practice.

Participant Reflections and Engagement

Following the orientation, participants expressed strong satisfaction and emotional encouragement.

Rose Ermawati, an education practitioner at Quantum Polytechnic, shared that she felt inspired to learn alongside women dedicated to peace and appreciated the opportunity to develop a mindset that fosters happiness and harmony.

Pipit Novita Handayani, Secretary of the Lentera Kartini Foundation, noted that communicating with others who actively practice peace provided her with positive energy and renewed motivation.

Education as a Tool for Sustainable Peace

Kang Yeon-kyung, Global Director of IWPG Global Region 1, stated that education is one of the most powerful tools for planting the seeds of peace. She expressed hope that participants in this first cohort would play a leading role in expanding peace culture throughout Indonesia.

Instructor Hwang Mi-seon likewise expressed expectations that the participants would grow into peace messengers capable of embedding peace values within the Sampit community.

The Sampit PLTE 1st cohort will continue through April 24, 2026. Upon completion, graduates are expected to serve as local peace instructors and community activists, contributing to the broader expansion of peace culture in Indonesia.

Expanding Women-Led Peace Education in Southeast Asia

IWPG’s Women’s Peace Education (PLTE) program focuses on helping women practice inner peace and spread positive change throughout families and society. By combining international collaboration with localized leadership development, the Sampit initiative reflects a broader strategy of building sustainable peace through education and women’s empowerment.

As women leaders in Indonesia take on roles as peace educators, the program represents an example of how grassroots leadership and structured training can intersect to strengthen long-term peacebuilding efforts.

Source: https://vo.la/ugh2rPt