On 24 - 25 April 2010 PerMaTa Indonesia conducted a Training of Journalism and Writing Books for members of Permata Indonesia in East Java. The training was held in BK3S Building Surabaya with purpose to introduce and increase the skills of PerMaTa members in the field of journalism and writing books. In the end of the training every member of Permata Indonesia in East Java is expected to be able to transform their thoughts and experiences of life as people affected by leprosy into an article that will then be put together in the book of Life Story of people affected by leprosy.

The training was attended by 13 members of PerMaTa in East Java and facilitated by Alpha Savitri a senior journalist from Surabaya. As a facilitator, Alpha Savitri is more emphasis her material on practical methods and simulation, so that the participants feel easy to understand the material and the participants were also asked to write their own experience becoming people affected by leprosy. Furthermore, the facilitator invited the participants to discuss together the results of these papers and provide feedback on the results of participants' writings.

Most of participants found it was difficult to start the first sentence in the writing story. According to the facilitator, it was generally felt by each person and how to cope is to write whatever is in our mind at that time. Basically the writing is not quite finished but should be read once and again to get a good results writing. At the end of training, the facilitator stressed to participants that each participant must spend a minimum of one hour each day to write. This is very important because if you do not like it then dream to create a book will never materialize. (cak)