Overcoming Fear and Anxiety with Child Participation
Kris, as he's usually called, is a child from a village supported by Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) in Landak Regency, West Kalimantan. Kris used to be a shy child. Whenever he was in front of a crowd, his face would immediately flush, his body would stiffen, and the words he wanted to say often got stuck in his throat. Even when there was a task to speak in front of the class, Kris would find every way to avoid it, or only speak in a very soft, almost inaudible voice. "I also rarely left the house to socialise, but now at school, I'm more confident. I've started participating in many school activities, like extracurriculars, and I've started to make many friends," said the Year 9 high school student.
Kris's courage to express his aspirations and get involved in various activities came about when he became one of the participants in an activity facilitated by WVI. He still remembers one day when the children in his village attended a meeting about a global issue: climate change. In this session, Kris learned that climate change was getting worse due to waste problems, especially plastic waste that is difficult to decompose. Kris felt interested but also afraid to express his thoughts. He wanted to overcome his shyness, but a feeling of doubt always held him back. "Can I do it?" he thought. However, this doubt was eroded by the presence and guidance provided by WVI staff. Kris felt enthusiastic about participating in the activity and even offered ideas he could implement with his friends in the village regarding climate change, specifically waste management.
After attending the session on climate change, Kris also got involved in a session discussing the steps for conducting Child-Led Research. His self-confidence grew even more. He began to actively participate in collecting data with his friends. Although the process was challenging, one thing Kris realised was how important the research he was doing was. He started to actively engage in discussions with his friends, which at first felt very daunting. In every meeting session, he felt himself growing.
After the research activity was completed, Kris felt like a different child than before. He felt more confident not only in speaking in front of people but also in making decisions and voicing his opinions. The research he initiated with his friends not only provided new knowledge but also paved the way for significant changes within himself. He realised that fear and anxiety could be overcome by doing positive things and trusting in one's own abilities.
Kris is an example that change doesn't happen on its own; children need to be given ample space to participate so they can discover their potential and boost their self-confidence. WVI's assistance in Landak Regency will continue to provide space for every child to have the opportunity to participate in various transformative activities.
Author: Kristianus Yopi Pamungkas (Freelance for Landak Area Programme)
Editor: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)
