Land was a vital asset for people, not only as a site to live but also as source of livelihood and social identity. In the legal context, land ownership was proven by certificate that had solid legal standing. Yet, in many areas where YAPHI worked, owning certificate did not mean people understood what was written in the certificate – the content, the function, and legal implication of the document.

The low level of legal literacy in the community, particularly in reading and understanding land certificate, was a major issue. Many communities hold certificate as administrative document without understanding the information contained therein, i.e. status of right to land, size and border, and name of official owner of certificate. This situation became dire when complexity of terms and administrative procedure were taken into account, which lay people would find it difficult to read/understand.

On the other side of the issue, increasing economic value of land and rapid development increased potential conflicts and land dispute. A number of cases showed that certain individuals/parties exploited the ignorance on the part of the community regarding land ownership documentation to deceive, to falsify certificate, and to take over land rights illegally. In addition, conflicts often emerged internally within communities, i.e. disputes about land border amongst neighbours and conflicts over family inheritance.

Vulnerable community groups, such as women, elderly, and low-income peopledan were at more risk of losing due to limited access to information and legal accompaniment. Without capacity building, they would potentially be losing the rights to land that they wanted to protect.

That situation necessitated a legal education program to target communities, particularly with regards to reading and understanding land certificate. The program not only aimed to increase knowledge, but also to build critical awareness with regards to people’s rights, and to strengthen people’s ability to prevent and deal with land conflicts.

With this background, Yayasan YAPHI conducted legal education and training entitled “Reading certificate” targeting congregation of GKJ Bahtera Kasih Eromoko, Pepantan Cemangkah, on 29 April 2026 with 35 participants, and three resource people from Yayasan YAPHI - Haryati Panca Putri, Handharu and Adi, with an opening by Father Yudha. Haryati Panca Putri quoted a Javanese proverb “sadumuk bathuk, sanyari bumi”, a meaningful philosophy adhered in Java society, particularly relevant to land ownership, which literally meant: Sadumuk bathuk: “a finger-length human temple” (a very small area of human body), Sanyari bumi: “a finger-length land” (a very small plot of land). The philosophical meaning was: However small a person owned a land, even when it was only a finger-width land, would be protected to death.

In this context, land was not merely economic asset, but an identity for the self and the family who owned it, a source of livelihood, a sacred inheritance, a symbol of dignity and respect.

The resource person then explained that legal education for communities, particularly with regards to land certificate, was not merely to transfer knowledge, but strategically to protect rights and prevent conflicts. There were a number of key reasons that can be explained in simple terms, but with significant impacts: To prevent deception and land mafia. Many cases occurred because communities failed to understand the letter of the certificate. By understanding each part of the certificate (owner’s name, size, border, and right status), communities may become more alert to manipulation or forgery. The second reason was to ensure official ownership, land certificate was solid legal proof. If communities read it right, they knew whether their land truly belonged to them, or had joint ownership, or in trouble. The third reason was to reduce conflict and land-dispute.

Many conflicts occurred in communities and/or in families because of their ignorance to understand the official borders to their land and the status of their land. Education helped communities understand official borders, hence conflicts could be prevented from the beginning. The fourth reason was to increase bargaining power of the communities. When they dealt with outsiders (i.e. investors, government, or other parties), communities who understood their certificate would not be easily pressured or suffering losses. They became more self-confident in making decisions. The fifth reason was to support access to legal and economic services. Land certificate was used for a variety of reasons, such as bank loan or government program. When communities understood the content and status of their land, they could use the asset legally and safely. The sixth reason was to change view from “ignorance” to “empowered.” Legal education was not only about knowledge, but about awareness of rights. Communities became more critical, dared to ask, and not being easily manipulated. The seventh reason was protection of vulnerable people.

In many cases, women, elderly, or poor people were often losing in land dispute. Through education, they have an instrument to defend themselves.

Through such training, YAPHI expected communities to be able to identify key information in land certificate, to understand the status and legal standing, and to be more prepared to protect their asset and rights on their own. This way, the program became essential part of protecting community empowerment and preventative strategy to reduce conflict and injustices with regards to land issue. (ast)