Pleasure is Power

Lunas Collective Leads Open Space on Consent, Pleasure, and Clean Language in Bali

By Jeza Rodriguez, Chief Operating Officer, and Ria Landingin, Director of Communications

From June 9 to 11, 2024, the AwareNest CoP on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) convened in Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia, for a pivotal in-person forum. Set against the backdrop of Tulamben's tranquil environment and the historic USAT Liberty shipwreck, this unique location provided an inspiring setting for participants from Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. They engaged in vibrant knowledge-sharing sessions, impactful plenary discussions, and visited the Sekolah Ekoturin in Ban Village, a local initiative highlighting community-driven efforts in SRHR education and empowerment.

Creating a Community of Practice

Since 2023, the AwareNest CoP has evolved through a year of virtual meetings, culminating in this enriching in-person gathering. Organized by Perkumpulan Pamflet Generasi and supported by EMpower — The Emerging Markets Foundation, the forum's open space sessions and the immersive visit to East Bali Poverty Project’s Sekolah Ekoturin exemplified its commitment to fostering collaboration and sharing best practices among SRHR practitioners across East and Southeast Asia.

Participants not only shared their successes and challenges but also explored innovative approaches to address regional SRHR issues, underscoring the forum's pivotal role in shaping future strategies and initiatives.

Our Open Space Session

Representing Lunas Collective, we facilitated an outdoor open space session focused on "Consent, Pleasure, and Clean Language." The session delved into the foundational principles of consent as a cornerstone of respectful interactions and relationships. Drawing on insights from EMpower’s Learning and Training Methods consultant Charles-Louis de Maere, Founder of Exploration Labs and Licensed Visual Thinking Trainer of the Biklabo method, we applied Clean Language techniques as one of our applied practices rooted in Feminist Care principles.

During our session, we dissected pleasure to encompass various forms of joy, happiness, and the sense of safety and comfort in our sexuality. This approach not only facilitated meaningful dialogue but also empowered participants to explore and share their experiences openly, enriching the collective learning and understanding within the CoP. Roots of Health (Ugat ng Kalusugan) led a session on "Legal Literacy for Human Rights," further enriching the diverse topics discussed during the forum. Philippines, represent!

Reflections
Following our open space session and the enriching opportunity, we reflect on the insights gained and the ongoing impact within the AwareNest CoP and broader SRHR community. Our commitment to Feminist Care principles, guiding both our advocacy and daily practices, was evident in our application of Clean Language during discussions. The experience also included a one-day free day in Denpasar, Bali, providing additional moments of connection and reflection.

Jeza, Chief Operations Officer
Although I've facilitated workshops for international audiences before, this experience marked my first time implementing the "Open Space" concept outdoors. Bringing our participants outside and actually using and applying the "Open Space" idea was a unique opportunity.

I have to admit that the idea of bringing people outside was heavily inspired by the bike workshops I've been doing for the past few months. This approach not only encouraged us to break away from traditional workshop settings, but it also supported our idea of "third spaces," places where we can interact with members of our community and even turn strangers into friends.

Not only did we enjoy our time discussing the concepts of Consent, Pleasure, and Clean Language, but we were also moved by the grassroots efforts of the East Bali Poverty Project (EBPP), where we met young people actively campaigning against child marriage in their community. We also learned about different advocacy approaches from the sister organizations. 

It has truly been our “pleasure” to meet everyone and share what we have been doing in Lunas Collective. What a meaningful and relaxing work trip it has been. Matur suksma, Bali!

Ria, Director of Communications
After nearly four years with Lunas Collective, representing our non-profit at a regional activity was a profoundly meaningful experience for me. Sharing how we turn theory into practice and integrate our learnings into real, tangible care work was incredibly rewarding. Seeing our practices resonate with fellow EMpower grantees was heartwarming and opened many doors for future collaboration. The sense of care felt like a ripple effect, spreading through the community. I felt deeply honored to have represented Lunas on the regional stage.

This opportunity was a powerful source of inspiration to continue putting in the work. Our immersion brought so many things into perspective for me, making it even clearer why our call for collective action and our emphasis on the importance of care spaces at Lunas Collective are at the heart of our mission. This reaffirmed my commitment and passion for our advocacy and inspires me to keep contributing to our collective goals with renewed energy and dedication.

As a bonus, Jeza and I had some free time in Denpasar before our early morning flight. I reconnected with the Grab driver who toured me around Bali two years ago! We experienced coffee tasting, enjoyed local Balinese food, and shared a meal with the Grab driver who gave us a tour around Denpasar. In Lunas Collective, we put in the work, but we never forget to celebrate our joys and pleasures, too!

Read EMpower's article about this Learning Session.

Watch this highlights reel to get a glimpse of what transpired during this event:

Photo Credit: Perkumpulan Pamflet Generasi and EMpower — The Emerging Markets Foundation

by Ria Landingin