Providing a sense of safety and comfort for workers is essential to protect women workers from gender-based violence. Twenty-two representatives from the management and employees of PT Glory Industrial Semarang, along with representatives from the PT Glory Industrial Semarang Bipartite LKS members, participated in the “Training on Handling Gender-Based and Sexual Violence Cases in the Workplace” on October 24-25. At the end of the training, all participants agreed to commit to not tolerating gender-based and sexual violence in the workplace. The formation of a task force to handle gender-based and sexual violence cases will be carried out, along with the development of a case handling guidebook, case handling procedures, and standard operating procedures, as well as capacity building in case management.
Improving the Welfare of Women Workers in Tea Plantations through Multi-Party Forum
Reporting from Republika.id, 77 percent of tea plantations in Indonesia are in West Java Province. Pangalengan Sub District in Bandung District has been one of the tea-producing areas since the 19th century, when the Dutch colonial government established tea plantations and factories. To this day, Pangalengan is one of the highest quality tea producing areas in Indonesia. Even so, the positive impact of the commodity has not been felt evenly. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), in 2023 there were 245,50 thousand residents of Bandung District who fell into the poor household category.
Irwan Herdiawan, HR and General Assistant for Malabar Plantation of PTPN 1 Regional 2, said that the lack of intense communication between the community, village government, and the company is one of the causes of obstructing the improvement of human resources and infrastructure in villages included in the tea plantation area. “I hope the community and tea plantation workers are really involved in the Community Development Forum to achieve gender equality. Usually the workers do not hesitate and are more fluid when expressing their hopes and desires to the management team,” said Irwan at the socialization meeting of the Community Development Forum (CDF) initiation on Thursday (3/10), organized by Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP / CARE Indonesia), as part of the Tea Community Empowerment Program in Indonesia. According to Irwan, collaboration and communication forums between companies, village governments, and communities need to exist to improve the welfare of tea plantation workers.
21 participants from PTPN 1 Regional 2, PT Kabepe Chakra Bersama representatives and representatives of the Banjarsari Village Government, Margaluyu Village, and Indragiri Village joined to discuss the formation of a Community Development Forum (CDF).
Silvia Dewi, YCP Project Manager in Pangalengan explained, from observations made by YCP, one of the problems that occurred so far could not be resolved properly because each party had not exchanged ideas. “Efforts to bring together plantation management, village government, and the community can be a means of finding solutions to existing problems. All participants who attended the meeting also expressed their commitment to play an active role in CDF,” said Silvia.
In line with Silvia, Deni Sahidin, Head of Banjarsari Village explained that good collaboration and communication efforts can be an effort to improve community welfare. “The collaboration that has been running between the Banjarsari Village Government and YCP in handling stunting is one form of collaboration that we feel is appropriate. Hopefully, multi-party collaborations like this will continue to be carried out. CDF hopes to also be one of our platforms to collaborate in handling problems in the community,” said Deni.
During the socialization, according to Silvia, all parties agreed to commit and play an active role in the efforts to establish CDFs in the three villages. “The participants who attended the socialization wanted the forum to be a platform for improving community welfare and also the realization of gender equality. The CDF will also be a collaborative forum for women’s empowerment and utilize the potentials in the three villages,” said Silvia.
Silvia further explained that the next target is to conduct socialization to the community at the plantation and village levels to select the CDF formation committee. She mentioned there will also be recruitment of prospective CDF members and administrators in each village. “The big target is that CDF can become an active forum for stakeholders in the tea plantation area, such as plantation management, village government, and residents to sit together to overcome social and economic problems in their area,” Silvia concluded.
Nurturing Children’s Nutrition, Women’s Business Group Develops Fish and Plant Cultivation in Buckets
Animal-based protein, as reported in the SehatNegeriku page from Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, is considered have a more complete nutritional content. Complete essential amino acids in animal-based protein are important for children to consume as it plays a major role in helping children’s intelligence growth. According to the Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, low animal-based protein intake can cause stunting that align with other researches in 49 countries.
The Women’s Business Group (KUMP) “Sukses Bersama” in Sekongkang Village, West Sumbawa Regency (KSB), is working to fulfil the need for animal-based protein for children. Utilizing a fish-in-a-bucket cultivation method (budikdamber). They do catfish farming alongside vegetables crops. This initiative aims to enhance children’s nutritional intake in KSB and part of the accelerate stunting reduction program, a collaboration of PT Amman Mineral, the KSB Government, and Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP).
Hadiah, Chair of the Sukses Bersama Women’s Business Group (KUMP), shared that the group members have been raising catfish since July 2024 with support and guidance from CARE. This collaboration and hands-on mentoring from YCP have been instrumental in helping the group establish sustainable catfish cultivation. Through their combined efforts, they now consistently produce between 5 and 10 kilograms of catfish per month. “Our primary motivation for raising catfish is to provide a reliable source of animal protein for our children and families,” she said.
Hadiah further shared that the eight KUMP members participating in the budikdamber initiative each maintain two buckets in their yards. “Currently, there are a total of 16 buckets of catfish,” she noted.
The successful catfish cultivation has allowed Hadiah and her group members to earn additional income for their families. “We usually sell the catfish at Rp35,000 per kilogram, and customers can choose between live fish or prepared dishes,” Hadiah added.
Hadiah optimizes the catfish sales from budikdamber initiative by selling online on social media accounts. “Each time we harvest the catfish, after setting aside what’s needed for family meals, the other members and I immediately promote it on Facebook. It helps reduce operational costs since we only need a mobile phone. The local community also uses Facebook, so it’s easier to inform them when the catfish are ready for sale,” she explained.
In addition to catfish, Hadiah and her fellow members also use the budikdamber system to meet their families’ daily vegetable needs. Each member can harvest three bundles of water spinach and mustard greens planted on top of the buckets once a week. “These vegetables from the budikdamber system provide us with a convenient source of greens, reducing the need to buy vegetables frequently,” Hadiah added.
Muhammad Ikraman, Project Manager at YCP in KSB, explained that this bucket-based cultivation model supports family economic strengthening in the village, particularly for households with children in stunting condtion. “This method is very accessible, as it requires minimal space and can be set up right in the backyard. KUMP members receive training on budikdamber, which we’ve organized in collaboration with the West Sumbawa District Fisheries and Marine Department and experienced trainers,” Ikraman shared.
Ikraman explained, moving forward, the budikdamber cultivation method will continue to be developed to enhance its efficiency in producing nutritional sources to help address stuntinga
Writer: Muhammad Ikaraman
Editor: Kukuh A. Tohari and Swiny Adestika
Meet Raffa: Now Loving Veggies and Growing Stronger
Raffa Maulana, a two-year-old boy from Ai Kangkung Village, West Sumbawa District (KSB), has shown significant growth over the past four months. Raffa’s weight and height have entered the normal category, according to his age.
Baiq Juliantin, Raffa’s mother, excitedly shared the rapid growth of her son. In June 2024, Raffa weighted 10.4 kilograms, then in September became 11.5 kilograms. Raffa’s height also increased 3 centimeters, which in June his height was 80.4 centimeters, then in September measurements became 83.7 centimeters. Baiq explained, Raffa’s average weight gain of 0.4 kilograms per month and height growth of 1.1 centimeters per month, was inseparable from the provision Additional Nutritious Meal (PMT) Recovery Raffa received for 90 days. The meals were served with a 4-star menu and presented in an attractive arrangement.
“I am very grateful that Raffa’s weight and height are now in the normal category according to his age at the last weighing in September. The meals that he received were always arranged attractively by the cadres. Attractive shapes were made, including the presentation of vegetables. My son always excited when his food arrives and his appetite increased. Raffa used to dislike vegetables, but now he even excited to eat moringa vegetables,” said Baiq recalling when her son excitement receiving meals from the Healthy Kitchen for Stunting (DASHAT) team.
Provision Additional Nutritious Meal (PMT) Recovery managed by the DASHAT team is part of the stunting reduction acceleration program, a collaboration between PT Amman Mineral, the West Sumbawa District Government and Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP), implemented in 16 villages. The DAHSAT team also plays active role in assisting and providing family consultations, including parenting classes, with YCP.
Baiq explained, from the parenting classes provided by the DASHAT Team, she gained a better understanding on the importance of providing food with complete nutrition such as carbohydrates, animal-based protein, plant-based protein and vegetables. According to Baiq, the parenting classes also conveyed the utilization of plants that are easy to be planted in house yard, the meal creation and presentation that favourable to children, and knowledge about child growth and development. Baiq further shared, with Raffa’s increasing preference for vegetables, she has become more active in utilizing her yard by planting various types of vegetables. Now she can fulfil a four-star menu that meets her son’s nutritional needs.
“Now I make food according to his preference. I am happy to be able to fulfil Raffa’s nutritional needs from the vegetables in our yard,” said Baiq.
Muhammad Ikraman, YCP Project Manager in KSB said, Raffa’s growth had stalled due to improper management of food nutrition intake and family economic limitations. He explained, Raffa’s nutritional intake needs were able to be met after Raffa’s mother was active in parenting classes and attended counselling conducted by the DASHAT team.
“Through the parenting classes she attended, Mrs. Baiq can now understand the sources of affordable and nutritious food around her residence. Such as the use of fish as a main source of animal-based protein which is obtained at a low price because the location where she lives is close to the ocean. She also started to raise chickens at her house as alternative source of animal-based protein. Meeting the need for vegetables became easier as Mrs. Baiq now able to pick the veggies from her small garden,” said Ikraman.
Ikraman further shared, Raffa’s development will continue to be monitored to see his growth through the PMT program conducted by Ai Kangkung Village Government (Pemdes). “The support from the Ai Kangkung Village Government is extraordinary. They have allocated existing village funds to run PMT, including counselling sessions related to stunting and providing complementary foods from the local Puskesmas. These efforts are made so that Raffa’s growth continues to develop well and consistently,” he concluded.
Author: Muhammad Ikaraman
Editors: Kukuh A. Tohari and Swiny Adestika
Transforming Oil Palm Unused Parts Into Valuable Products
Oil palm is one of key commodities in Musi Banyuasin District, but it’s not only the palm fruit that boosts the local economy. The Women’s Economic Business Group (KUEP) Simpati Kencana, from Bumi Kencana Village, supported by CARE Indonesia, has found ways to turn unused parts of the palm tree into valuable products. Winarni, Putri, and other KUEP Simpati Kencana members transform unused parts of palm trees into income-generating products, helping to support their families.
Enhancing Prosperity Through Collaboration Between Government, Companies, and Communities
Collaboration between the government and corporations is essential for improving community welfare, especially in empowering Indonesia’s tea-growing communities. Representatives from PTPN 1 Regional 2 and Kabepe Chakra, along with government representatives from Banjarsari, Margaluyu, and Indragiri villages, participated in a socialization event on forming a Community Development Forum (CDF) organized by CARE Indonesia (3/10). The CDF will serve as a platform where Plantation Management, Village Governments, and Tea Plantation Communities can address social and economic issues within the tea plantation areas.
Beyond Money VSLA Gender Equality
CARE’S COP29 POLICY PAPER 2024
Male Engagement in Gender Equality Training to Strengthen the Resilience of Women and Youth in Sigi District
Involving men and youth is crucial for empowering women and vulnerable groups, as well as achieving gender equality. Approximately 80 men and youth from Ngata Baru, Pombewe, Ramba, and Wisolo villages participated in gender training and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention in both day-to-day and emergency situations. This training, conducted by CARE Indonesia in collaboration with Karsa Institute, is part of strengthening women and youth resilience program in Sigi District, Central Sulawesi.
Strengthening Bipartite Committee for a Safe and Violence-Free Workplace
The active participation of companies and employees in fostering a workplace free from gender-based violence is crucial. 11 representatives from PT Dasan Pan Pacific Indonesia’s Bipartite Cooperation Institution (LKS Bipartit) in Sukabumi, comprising both employees and management, enthusiastically attended a training session. The training focused on strengthening Bipartite committee role as a communication and consultation platform, particularly in preventing and addressing sexual violence in the workplace while promoting gender equality.
