ACT Feature

Indonesia 02/07

Indonesia: Women reclaiming their lives

By Amalia Soemantri, ACT International

Thousands of people lost their spouses, children, parents, relatives and friends on December 26, 2004 when the tsunami struck parts of southeast Asia. In Indonesia, closest to the epicenter of the earthquake that triggered the massive waves, hundreds of thousands lives were devastated. Zaenah's was one of them.

Zaenah is a forty-five year old woman and lives in the village of Suak Pantebrueh, Samatiga, Aceh Barat. She says, "My financial situation is getting better; it is almost as same as it was before the tsunami. But there is a very big difference, I have no family now." But, she adds that working has helped her cope with the loss of her family.

Zaenah and eleven other women of Suak Pantebreuh have organized themselves into a livelihood development group facilitated by ACT member, Yayasan Tanggul Bencana Indonesia (YTBI). They call their group 'Bungong Jaro' and they design and sell embroidery products.

Responding through a three-year ACT appeal, YTBI is helping communities recover from the long-term emergency caused by the tsunami through activities including child education and recreation, psychosocial care and housing construction. One of its most significant assistance programs is the formation of livelihood development groups, which empower individuals and families to create new sources of income so that they can begin to support themselves.

YTBI currently facilitates close to 250 livelihood groups involving some 2,800 families. Many of the groups are specifically women's groups that carry out trades such as embroidery, bakery goods and kiosk management. There are also many women who are in mixed gender groups, which activities include animal husbandry and trading.

Zaenah, and the rest of her group members learned embroidery as teenagers and had always done it just as a hobby. And before the tsunami, Zaenah's family was supported by her husband's farming income. Today, she earns around USD $84 per month, which is barely enough to cover her expenses. That's why she and the other members of the group are developing their business further. They meet once a month to design new patterns and discuss their challenges.

Another woman, Rosmalita, has faced challenges from life after the tsunami. She is part the 'Srikandi' group which includes 15 other women in Lhok Boubon, Samatiga, Aceh Barat. The women grew up learning how to bake, and today, Rosmalita is able to provide for her son through the group. And, when a cash for work program through another NGO came to an end, she was also able to quickly diversify her business by opening a small shop that sells daily small-wares for her neighbours.

In Teunom, Aceh Jaya, one of YTBI's implementing partners, OPPUK (Organization of Strengthening and Arising People Actions) is also empowering women through livelihood groups. There are women members in 76 groups in 18 villages in Teunom where OPPUK works. In all of the villages where OPPUK operates, there is at least one women kiosk business group, which is very important because it was the primary business of many women before the tsunami hit.

Another aspect of working in Indonesia following the tsunami is increasing the status of women. OPPUK always maintains a high value of gender equity in its programs. Herwin Nasution, the Executive Director of OPPUK, said, "OPPUK does not just involve women in the programs, but women are given equal opportunities to demonstrate their leadership skills as group coordinators."

In the village of Teunom, Batee Ro, women are involved in both kiosk and agriculture projects. The 'Saree Tamita' group has 10 women members, many of whom lost their husbands to the tsunami. They have attained land and now grow watermelon and chili. They do all of the work, including tasks usually done by men. Their labour includes preparing the ground, planting, watering, fertilizing, harvesting and the final selling and marketing of their crops. Despite some obstacles in their first harvest, they are determined to continue in their work.

In Teupin Ara, Teunom, Julinar is the coordinator of the 'Karya Ureung Inong' group, which includes 16 women. Although the tsunami swept her kiosk away, her business sense remained. Julinar and her family didn't stay long in the temporary barrack built by the government. She returned to her village and built a modest house from wreckage left after the tsunami. She then collected fallen coconuts and sold them to get money to start her business, which is now growing very well.

Two and a half years after the tsunami, the strength and perseverance of tens of thousands of women, whose lives were changed in a matter of minutes, continues to contribute, guide and shape the future of Indonesia. It is this strength that has inspired YTBI's commitment to help empower women in rebuilding not just their own lives, but the lives of their families, communities and their country.

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Amalia Soemantri is YTBI's Information Officer, based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.