Work With Us
STORY
The spirit of women from the direction of the sunset
09 July 2025 - by Admin

The journey along the coast from the learning house to Solol Village. This was my second time there. That afternoon, we were accompanied by several members of the Bentara team. The sound of crashing waves and birdsong created a peaceful atmosphere. After walking approximately 900 meters, we arrived at the Solol Village settlement. We were warmly greeted by the locals as we made our way to Mama Nelce Dimara's house. Mama Nelce's house is located on the sunset side (facing west, according to the cardinal points).

Mama Nelce greeted us with a warm smile and invited us to sit on a woven bamboo platform, accompanied by several members of the Bentara team, village youth, and Mama Nelce's husband. Mama Nelce is a wise woman known for her knowledge of social life. She is the head of the Family Welfare Development (PKK), a community organization that empowers women to participate in development. Father served us siri pidang, adding to the warm atmosphere. My mother began the conversation by discussing the natural beauty of Solol Village and its potential, then continued with the training sessions held by Bentara Papua at Solol Station. Her gentle, wise voice soothed me, and I enjoyed every moment of her story.

Mama Nelce first joined Bentara Papua after participating in a coconut shell briquette-making training in 2022. "Mama is very happy to participate in this activity, I'm very enthusiastic, Sis," said Mama Nelce. Then, Mama also participated in a training that was just held this month, June 2025, which was making meatballs from mackerel. Initially, Mama didn't know how to make meatballs because until now the fish they caught were only cooked immediately for daily meals. "Mama has a freezer, so when Mama learned how to make meatballs, Mama wanted to open a meatball noodle business in front of the house, Sis." The training conducted by the Bentara Solol Station team had a positive impact on the community, especially Mama Nelce.

While telling my story, I accidentally glanced towards the yard where it turned out to be planted with various vegetables such as kale, long beans, eggplant, chilies, and tomatoes. It turned out that Mama Nelce also likes planting, she said, "Yes, Sis, this is the plant that the guest saw yesterday. Mama is very enthusiastic because she can see that Mama has plants." Bentara Papua at Solol station also contributed by sharing vegetable seeds for Mama Nelce in developing yard farming. This mother of five children apparently realized that we can utilize the yard for planting. "Brother Tongmo goes far to the garden, so Dad helps Mama build a trellis here," added Mr. Isak Klasin (husband of Mama Nelce) who is the head of Bamuskam (Village Consultative Body). The location of Mama Nelce's garden is far behind the headland of Solol village, so it requires quite a lot of money to buy gasoline because it has to use a boat, so with the initiative of Mama Nelce and her husband to plant in the yard.

There is a message and hope from Mama Nelce for the Bentara Papua team in Solol Village to not stop conducting useful training, share as much knowledge as possible with the mothers in Solol Village so that not only one or one person can advance but all the women in Solol Village can advance together.

 

Other Story

Dapatkan Informasi dan Update Terbaru dari Kami

Rumah Bentara Papua
Jalan Asrama Jayapura, Manggoapi Dalam, Angkasa Mulyono-Amban Manokwari - Papua Barat Indonesia, 98314

Photos and images ©Bentara Papua or used with permission.
© Bentara Papua. All Rights Reserved

Web Design by SOLV