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KUEP in Pesaku Village: A Space for Personal and Group Empowerment for Women 

Stories

A group of housewives from Pesaku Village, Sigi District, Central Sulawesi, have joined forces to bring change to themselves and their families. 25 women initiated this transformation by forming a group called Women’s Economic Business Group (KUEP) Mombine Sintuvu Maroso, aiming to enhance their skills and empower their households economically. 

Fadlun, a member of KUEP Mombine Sintuvu Maroso, never imagined herself being able to speak in a public forum. She says that her courage to speak up came after joining the group. “In the past, I used to stay quiet during meetings, afraid I might say the wrong thing. But now I’m confident because I’ve gotten used to speaking. In our group meetings, we’re free to express our suggestions without blaming one another,” Fadlun said with a smile. 

According to Fadlun, KUEP is not just a place for saving and lending money, but also a learning space for the women of Pesaku Village. Her husband’s support in joining the group has further motivated her to learn. “My husband supports me in joining KUEP. He said it’s a good place to learn, including financial management and understanding gender equality and equal access between men and women,” she added. 

Similarly, Suprihati, also a member of KUEP Mombine Sintuvu Maroso, stated that the group provides solutions for family financial issues through interest-free loans. Some members have used this opportunity to fund small businesses. “As members, we really benefit from the savings and loan services in KUEP. Many of us use it as additional capital for our home-based businesses. Because it’s close to home, we don’t have to go far into town to withdraw money,” Suprihati explained. 

According to her, the benefits that she and the other 24 members have received have sparked interest among other women in the village to join KUEP. However, she emphasized that membership selection must still follow agreed-upon rules. “I often share information about KUEP activities, such as the importance of gender equality at home and in the community, and financial management. I share this when chatting informally. From those conversations, many women have shown interest in becoming members,” she said. 

Siti Utami, Facilitator Officer at the KARSA Institute, stated that the women and youth empowerment efforts in Sigi District are part of a collaboration between Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP) and the KARSA Institute, supported by UN Women and funded by KOICA. The initiatives include economic empowerment, capacity building, and women’s participation at the village level. KUEP was established as a platform for empowerment and to promote gender equality awareness. 

According to Utami, the progress of KUEP Mombine Sintuvu Maroso members is due to their mutual support and eagerness to learn. “KUEP meetings are held twice a month. Each time, the location changes based on mutual agreement. Members also agree to bring food to each meeting. These are initiatives by the members themselves, with no external prompting,” she explained. 

She further shared that KUEP has a social fund intended to support members facing hardships. The fund is sourced from member contributions of IDR 5,000 at every meeting. “One of our members, Mrs. Nurhayati, recently lost her husband. She received IDR 200,000 in aid from the KUEP social fund,” Utami said. 

Karmila, Chairperson of KUEP Mombine Sintuvu Maroso, explained that the social fund is an important element outlined in KUEP’s regulations and is mandatory for all members. “Even though it’s mandatory, the social fund is not burdensome because the contribution is small. Its benefits are significant and can help ease the burden of members experiencing misfortune,” Karmila said. 

Karmila also mentioned that in June 2025, the group will hold an end-of-cycle meeting, which includes distributing the remaining savings to members, conducting a group evaluation, and planning for the next cycle. This includes plans to start a group business. 

“Our plan is to conclude this six-month KUEP cycle. We’ll evaluate what needs improvement and discuss future plans. We also aim to start a business making cassava and banana chips. We chose this business because the raw materials are abundant and affordable in our area,” Karmila concluded. 

Writer: Kukuh A. Tohari 

Editor: Swiny Adestika 

Women Groups in Bintan Grow Mangroves from Nursery to Coast

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More than 42,000 mangrove seedlings have been cultivated and planted in the Marine Tourism Park (Taman Wisata Perairan/TWP) conservation area in Berakit Village, Bintan District (26/4 – 12/5) by the Community Surveilance Group (Pokmaswas) Srikandi, the Women’s Economic Business Groups (KUEP) Melati and Tenggiri, as well as the Panglong Community Business Group.

With support from Traveloka, CARE Indonesia, and the Ecology Foundation, the women’s groups have been actively involved in caring for mangroves from seed selection, nursery management, planting, maintaining and monitoring the condition of the mangroves.

Raising Voices for Safe Spaces for Women Workers in the Garment Industry

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To commemorate International Labor Day, the Bipartite Cooperation Institution (LKS Bipartit) and the Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Violence (GBV-SV) Task Force at PT. Glory Industrial Semarang Demak, in Demak District, engaged around 150 workers in promoting a safe and supportive work environment for women.

With support from CARE Indonesia and its partners, all participants were encouraged to speak up when see violence in the workplace. The GBV-SV task force also took the opportunity to reintroduce the official reporting procedures for cases of violence to ensure that all workers are informed and empowered to act.

Prevent Violence Against Women and Children in The Family

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Over 300 participants, including community members and public figures from Bumi Kencana and Sri Gunung Villages in Musi Banyuasin District, took part in the prevention of violence against women and children, as well as anti-bullying socialization (13 & 14/05). This Event facilitated by CARE Indonesia with the support of its partners.

The Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Violence (GBV-SV) Protection Task Force provided participants with insights on how to prevent violence, introduced its members and shared their upcoming work plans with participants. The team encouraged the public to report any known cases of violence and educated them on how to report violence cases, especially those involving women and children.

Fostering Gender Awareness in Garment Factories: Strategies to Create a Safe Workplace

Stories

The issue of gender equality in Indonesia’s industrial landscape remains a critical and ongoing concern. The rate of gender-based violence (GBV) among factory workers in Indonesia remains considerably high. According to data released by the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), the 2024 Annual Report on Violence Against Women (CATAHU) recorded 2,702 cases of violence against female workers.

A study published by UN Women and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2019 shows that workers who lack an understanding of gender equality tend to be unaware of, or normalize, gender-based and sexual violence (GBV-SV), as well as other forms of discrimination in the workplace.

Yohanna Tantria, Project Manager at Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP), stated that one of the reasons for the lack of understanding among factory workers about gender equality is the limited access to capacity-building programs on gender issues in the workplace and the importance of creating a safe space at work.

“Gender issues are not yet prioritized in the workplace due to the strong influence of patriarchal culture. As a result, female workers still operate in environments that do not support women’s leadership and where gender-based violence is normalized,” she said.

Yohanna further explained that support from company management to improve workers’ understanding of gender equality is essential. In fact, research by the ILO has shown that companies that respect workers’ rights, including gender equality, can increase profits by 5 to 10 percent.

“Business practices that respect human rights—including gender equality and fair working conditions—can enhance worker productivity, reduce employee turnover, and increase company loyalty and reputation. Moreover, companies that implement human rights standards are more likely to be trusted by consumers and investors,” she added.

Yohanna emphasized that building gender equality among factory workers is vital. According to her, achieving gender equality in the workplace requires a holistic approach, beginning with individual awareness, followed by collective awareness and action, and ultimately, strengthening company policies and regulations.

“Changing workplace culture and mindsets is not easy. However, companies can take concrete steps to create a more gender-responsive and violence-free workplace by regularly holding training and education sessions on gender equality, formulating gender-sensitive policies, and supporting female leadership,” she added.

Echoing this, Muhammad Zainudin, Quality Control at PT. Glory Industrial Semarang Demak, said that educating factory workers on gender equality is crucial in eliminating Gender-Based and Sexual Violence (GBV-SV). “Training and educational materials on gender equality are very important. From the training we received—one of them from CARE Indonesia—workers here have become more aware of the importance of creating a safe space for female workers. Previously, some male workers thought that playfully poking a female colleague was harmless, but now we all understand that it can constitute gender-based violence,” he said.

According to Zainudin, support from both workers and management is crucial when a GBV-SV case occurs. “We strive to implement a Zero Tolerance policy. So when any form of violence happens, there should be no tolerance for the perpetrator. We also make sure female workers are informed about and have access to reporting channels,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Dayat, a Production Supervisor at PT. Dasan Pan Pacific Indonesia, explained that the existence of Bipartite Cooperation Institutions (LKS) and task forces handling GBV-SV is one effort to create safe spaces for female workers. These initiatives offer female workers the opportunity to grow further. “As a member of both the Bipartite LKS and the GBV-SV task force, I always support the female workers on my team to progress. With guidance from CARE, I realized the importance of providing support and opportunities, especially for female workers. Out of 42 women on my team, three have now become leaders and supervisors. As long as they have the capability, I always give them the chance to grow,” Dayat concluded.

Writer: Kukuh A. Tohari
Editor: Swiny Adestika

Strengthening accountability of three local partners in Mimika District

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34 participants representing the Papua Ecology Foundation (YEP), Papua Lestari Foundation (YAPARI), and Rumsram Foundation joint the learning session on how to utilize reports as learning tools to support organizational activities and program implementation (28–29/04).

This activity Initiated by CARE Indonesia, in its role as partner facilitator, together with the Amungme and Kamoro Community Empowerment Foundation (YPMAK) to strengthening program of local partners involved in the Healthy Village Program in Mimika District.

Strengthening leadership for Community Development Forum members in 3 villages

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49 members of the Community Development Forum (CDF) representatives from village governments, tea plantation management, and community members in the villages of Margaluyu, Banjarsari, and Indragiri, Bandung District participated in a leadership and communications training session (11-14/04 & 30/04-01/05).

This training session facilitated by CARE Indonesia with the support of its partners, the training aim to strengthen community resilience and improving communities well-being around tea plantations at Bandung District. Participants also incorporated case studies designed to enhance their problem-solving skill in addressing local challenges and to foster inclusive decision-making processes that actively involve all community members, including women.

Women as One of the Most Vulnerable Groups During Disasters. So, What Should We Do?

Stories

Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest risk of natural disasters in the world. According to data from the World Risk Report (WRI) 2023, Indonesia has a disaster risk index of 43.4 percent, placing it as the second most disaster-prone country globally. Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is highly susceptible to earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) reported in 2024 that women are among the groups most vulnerable to gender-based violence during disasters. In fact, a 2010 study by UNDP found that women are more at risk of becoming disaster victims than men.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded 2,107 disasters in Indonesia throughout 2024. Back in 2018, BNPB stated that women are 14 times more likely to become disaster victims than adult men. This increased risk is largely due to women’s instinct to prioritize saving their families and children over their own safety.

Women are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence during disasters. According to Andy Yentriyani, Chair of Komnas Perempuan, women experience layered vulnerabilities such as sexual harassment, sexual violence, unequal access to aid, and domestic violence (DV) in disaster settings. Citing News.republika.co.id, at least 12 cases of violence against women and children occurred in the refugee camps following the 2019 Palu earthquake. Gender-based violence is often facilitated by factors such as the lack of private sleeping spaces, inadequate sanitation facilities, and the loss of economic access, which perpetrators exploit to abuse women.

The Indonesian government has actually established regulations to protect women and children during disasters, through the Ministerial Regulation of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) No. 13 of 2020 on the Protection of Women and Children in Disaster Situations. Additionally, empowering women must become a top priority in disaster risk reduction programs. Actively involving women in disaster planning and training processes not only enhances their capacity to respond but also enables them to become agents of change within their communities.

According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), involving women in disaster planning can improve response effectiveness by up to 30%. Unfortunately, the BNPB’s 2022 report revealed that only around 20% of women were actively involved in village-level disaster volunteer structures. Capacity building through training to prepare women for future disasters is a crucial aspect.
Strengthening women’s economic position and leadership is a vital strategy in reducing their vulnerability to disasters and enhancing community resilience overall. Women with economic independence and confidence are better prepared to face emergencies.

A 2021 World Bank report titled Gender Dimensions of Disaster Risk and Resilience – Existing Evidence stated that economically disadvantaged women have a higher mortality risk in natural disasters. This is due to their limited access to information, resources, and social support necessary to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. When women have economic resources and a voice in decision-making, community resilience increases significantly. Their involvement can foster disaster-resilient micro-enterprises, manage community emergency funds, and serve as trainers or mentors to others. The UNDRR report also noted that active participation of women in disaster risk management can reduce losses by 20–30%.

Improving women’s capacity and empowerment in disaster response not only protects them but also reduces the risk of gender-based violence, which often escalates in crisis situations. Through training, economic empowerment, and leadership development, women are better equipped to face disasters, prevent violence, and create safer environments.

We witnessed such a disaster in Sigi District and Palu City, Central Sulawesi, in 2018. Recovery and community strengthening efforts, particularly for women, are ongoing. One such initiative is being carried out by the Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP) in collaboration with the Karsa Institute, supported by UN Women with funding from KOICA, to strengthen the resilience of women and youth groups in Sigi District. Women’s economic empowerment, capacity building, and participation at the village level are being implemented. Women’s Economic Groups (KUEP) were initiated as platforms for empowerment, alongside efforts to raise awareness about gender equality in villages such as Ngata Baru, Pesaku, Rarampadende, Pombewe, Ramba, and Wisolo. The involvement of various parties, including relevant government agencies, plays a crucial role in implementation in Sigi.

Collaborative efforts must continue to ensure that women have equal opportunities, support, and access in all situations, including during crises and disasters. Partnerships between the government, humanitarian organizations, communities, and other stakeholders are essential to strengthen the active role of women as agents of change in a more just and violence-free disaster management system.

Writer: Kukuh A. Tohari
Editor: Swiny Adestika

Provision Additional Nutritious Meal (PMT) Implementation Begins in Nagekeo District

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Yayasan CARE Peduli has commenced the implementation of the Provision Additional Nutritious Meal (PMT) for 50 children with stunting, underweight, and wasting conditions in Jawapogo Village and Mauponggo Subdistrict, Nagekeo District, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The PMT program also targets 15 expected mother with Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) and anemia, as well as 10 breastfeeding mothers who are at risk of malnutrition based on their nutritional status during pregnancy.

Supported by BNI Berbagi, the program has been implemented since March 2025 in Mauponggo Subdistrict and since April 2025 in Jawapogo Village. The local governments of both areas have expressed full support to ensure the program runs effectively over a 90-day period. The PMT meals, prepared by the DASHAT (Healthy Kitchen to Overcome Stunting) group, are directly supervised by nutritionists from the local health centers.

Strengthening Women’s Role in Conservation and Local Economic Development

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CEO CARE Indonesia, Dr. Abdul Wahib Situmorang, became one of the speakers at the High-level Discussion session on Tourism Policy on Circular Economy during the 37th Joint Commission Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP) and the UN Tourism Commission for South Asia (CSA) (16/4) at Hotel Mulia, Jakarta. The event was officially opened by the Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, and was attended by members and affiliate members of UN Tourism, as well as international and regional organizations, and global tourism experts.

CARE Indonesia shared its perspective on the importance of ensuring that circular economy practices support the empowerment and resilience of local communities, including women and children, in the development of investments in Indonesia’s tourism sector. In alignment with the Government of Indonesia’s programs in 11 Special Economic Zones, CARE Indonesia collaborates and supports such efforts—one example being the Women Mangrove Warrior program supported by Traveloka. This initiative highlights a successful case of ecosystem conservation through women’s empowerment, where one of the key outcomes was the establishment of microenterprises that produce eco-print batik using natural dyes derived from mangrove trees. CARE and Traveloka believe that the active participation of local communities, especially women’s groups, is crucial to strengthening communities and ensuring the successful implementation of a sustainable circular economy.