Wisye Sahambangung, a woman fisher from Serawet Village, never imagined she would one day board a plane and travel to Australia. She still finds it hard to believe that she was selected to speak at an international conference such as the Women Deliver Forum, representing dozens of women fishers and grassroots women leaders from coastal villages in North Minahasa District.

Wisye’s journey was driven by her commitment to share the daily realities of women in coastal communities in North Sulawesi, women who are actively conserving mangrove ecosystems while strengthening their economic resilience. As the Head of the Women-Led Economic Business Group (KUEP) Rhizophora, she has played a key role in linking mangrove conservation with women’s economic empowerment and advancing community-based gender equality.

“I never imagined I would have the opportunity to speak about our mangrove conservation efforts and economic empowerment activities. I feel very proud. This experience proves that coastal women can also step into global spaces when they are given the opportunity,” she said with a smile while speaking to the CARE Indonesia team upon her arrival in Jakarta, as she waited for her flight to Melbourne the following day.

As a mother of two, Wisye shared that being selected required her to learn many new things. She practiced public speaking and deepened her knowledge of mangroves to prepare for the forum.

“To improve my confidence, I practiced speaking in front of a mirror and with members of my group, explaining our work on KUEP, mangroves, and women’s activities. With support from Yayasan Bumi Tangguh and CARE Indonesia, I also learned more about mangroves, as previously most of our knowledge came from hands-on experience in the field,” she explained.

At the forum, Wisye highlighted the role of women in climate change adaptation in Serawet Village. She emphasized how mangrove conservation efforts led by women are closely linked to improving household incomes.

“At such an important forum, I shared how women collect seedlings and plant mangroves, as well as the economic activities we run together. I believe it is important to share these stories, as they demonstrate that coastal women are capable of stepping forward. When I spoke, there were many participants from different countries, including Australia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and several African countries,” she said.

Beyond speaking on stage, Wisye also participated in various conference sessions. Despite language barriers, she remained actively engaged in learning from the discussions.

“While in Australia, I was supported by a colleague from CARE Indonesia who helped translate the sessions into Bahasa Indonesia. This allowed me to understand discussions on important topics, such as the role of women in society. I plan to share this knowledge with other women in my village,” she added.

Wisye described the experience as deeply meaningful. She had the opportunity to speak before a global audience and was interviewed by international media. Through this experience, she realized that coastal women can confidently express their voices in public spaces.

“My journey at Women Deliver made me realize that women can step forward and speak out. I believe that women can create positive change, especially in conserving mangroves in our village,” she said.

She also expressed her hope to share her experience with members of her KUEP group and local government stakeholders.

“This experience is very valuable, and I want to share it with other women in KUEP. If possible, I would also like to engage with local government to strengthen support for our efforts in protecting mangroves,” she added.

Wisye’s participation at Women Deliver received strong appreciation from fellow delegates. Fatema Johora, a delegate from CARE Bangladesh, expressed her admiration for Wisye’s work.

“I am deeply inspired by Wisye and her group’s efforts in climate change adaptation, which are closely linked to women’s economic empowerment. This exchange has been very meaningful, and I hope we can continue sharing ideas and staying connected in the future,” she said.

Prutha Kulkarni from the Melbourne Convention Bureau also shared her perspective after hearing Wisye’s story.

“Listening to Wisye’s story was truly moving. It provided valuable insights into the role of women, even in remote areas, in protecting mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia. It is very inspiring. I hope communities around the world can learn from CARE Indonesia’s efforts, not only in mangrove conservation but also in creating space for women to grow,” she said.

In closing, Wisye shared a message for women everywhere, especially those in coastal communities like her own in Serawet Village: to embrace courage and confidence.

“To women in coastal communities, do not be afraid to step forward. Confidence and courage are the key to raising our voices and representing women wherever we are,” she concluded.

Author: Kukuh Akhfad
Editor: Swiny Adestika