Child Daycare Opens Wider Participation for Women at the Gerbang Barito REDD+ Project

In one corner of Batampang Village in the Gerbang Barito REDD+ project, several children were busy coloring. Some were folding brightly colored paper, others were listening to stories, while a few played together with tutors. The room felt lively, but not noisy. In the same space, mothers sat and took part in community discussions.

This scene unfolded during the Social and Biodiversity Impact Assessment (SBIA) workshop held over two days in Batampang Village. For the first time, Wildlife Works prepared a simple childcare space so that mothers could join the discussions without having to constantly worry about their children.

The presence of this childcare space was not a coincidence. In earlier discussion processes, women had expressed a desire to be more actively involved in conversations about the Gerbang Barito REDD+ project. Yet one recurring challenge kept surfacing, uncertainty about who would look after their children during meetings.

Some women chose not to attend because there was no one to care for their children at home. Others came but struggled to focus, worried that their children might disrupt the meeting. These reflections were taken seriously by Wildlife Works and responded to by providing a childcare space during the SBIA workshop held on 16–17 December 2025.

Throughout the two-day activity, children were accompanied by volunteer tutors from the reading club or known as "Sekolah Karbon" program. A range of activities was prepared to keep them engaged and comfortable, including coloring sheets, colorful folding paper, storybooks, and simple games facilitated by the tutors.

For Nety from Batilap Village, the presence of childcare made a significant difference.

“In previous Wildlife Works activities, I did not attend because there was no one to look after my child at home,” she said. “That’s why yesterday my child didn’t come, but today I brought them because I knew there would be a place for children and someone to watch over them.”

She felt more at ease participating in the discussion, knowing her child was safe and supervised.

“In my opinion, facilities like this are very helpful. When someone looks after my child, I feel much more at ease taking part in the activity,” Nety said. “My child is also happy to be here.”

A similar experience was shared by Atik from Batampang Village. In the past, she had missed several invitations because of responsibilities at home.

“I was invited before, but only my older child came. At that time, I had to take care of my parents and my younger child,” she explained. “If my husband had been at home, maybe I could have gone. But he wasn’t, so it was difficult.”

During the SBIA workshop, she was finally able to attend while bringing her child along.

“I came with my child. I didn’t know there would be childcare here,” she said. “It turns out my child feels comfortable because she can see her friends here.”

Having a place for her child allowed her to take part in the discussion with greater focus.

“With childcare, I feel much calmer. My child is being looked after, and there are teachers as well,” she added. “My child also joins Sekolah Karbon every week. Our house is close to the tutors.”

Nikmah, another parent from Batilap Village, shared a similar experience.

“I’m happy there is childcare. It doesn’t disturb our concentration when we join the activity,” she said. “At first, I was worried, afraid my child might fall or wander off. But because I can still see them during breaks, I feel more at ease.”

According to her, childcare is especially helpful for activities that last the whole day. “When there is childcare, we can focus better on the activity without constantly worrying about our children,” Ibu Nikmah said.

“Tomorrow I plan to come again and bring my child. It feels calmer knowing my child can be looked after and still remain within sight.”

For Wildlife Works Indonesia, providing childcare is part of a shared learning process. Listening to women’s feedback does not stop at discussion but is translated into changes in how activities are designed. The childcare space is not merely an additional facility, but an effort to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate.

With the presence of childcare, the atmosphere of discussion also shifted. Mothers were able to sit longer, follow the flow of conversation, and share their views without repeatedly checking on their children. This small space created a larger impact on the quality of dialogue within the forum.

The SBIA workshop in Batampang shows that participation does not always require large or complex solutions. Sometimes, small changes that emerge from listening can open wider spaces for voices that have long been held back.

And from this small space where children played, discussions about the future of the forest could take place more calmly.