INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Women's Advancement -- Jakarta Small Grants

Published: Mon 3 Dec 2007 10:55 AM
VZCZCXRO1956
PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #3304/01 3371055
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031055Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7250
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1687
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2103
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1234
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 003304
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP. EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN KPAO KCRM SOCI EAID ID
SUBJECT: WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT -- JAKARTA SMALL GRANTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
REF: A. STATE 136319
B. SURABAYA 00081
C. MEDAN - EAP/RSP 311/30/07 E-MAIL
1. (U) SUMMARY: Mission is pleased to recommend the
following three proposals for EAP's 2007 Women's Issues Fund
Competition for Small Grants. Mission closely reviewed and
carefully weighed 45 applications in total before choosing
these proposals. Each of the recommended projects would
advance--in targeted, measurable ways--women's economic
empowerment or contribute to curbing violence against women.
Detailed descriptions and budgets for each recommended
proposal have been emailed separately to EAP/RSP. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) Capsule summaries of the proposals are provided
below. They are not in any preferential order.
---------------------
Maarif Institute for Culture and Humanity, Jakarta
Project Title: Women's Literacy Empowerment Program
Total Amount Requested: $24,945
Project Overview: Promoting women's economic empowerment is
recognized as a necessary step toward enabling women to
become full participants in society. Founded by a former
president of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah - Indonesia's
second-largest Islamic organization with nationwide networks
- the Maarif Institute for Culture and Humanity will advance
women's economic empowerment in three villages of East Java.
The Maarif Institute will work with East Javanese NGO SITAS
DESA to support women's groups in three villages of Blitar.
Working with an established network of women's groups, the
proposed project will provide microfinance services and
develop small enterprises among these groups. The capital
raised through these economic enterprises will sustain four
kindergartens that these women's groups recently established.
These kindergartens - initially founded with the villager's
own capital but facilitated by SITAS DESA - currently provide
education and nutrition for local children and basic health
education for parents.
The initial creation of these kindergartens improved women's
participation in the villages' public life as they lead
public decision-making on issues important to them. The
Maarif Institute's proposed program would provide these women
with the economic tools to sustain these recent developments
and make a difference in advancing women's leadership in East
Java.
---------------------
Women Institute (Institut Perempuan), Bandung, West Java
Project Title: Empowerment of Rural Women by Developing
Rural Women's Organizations, Advancing Economic Rights,
Ending Violence, Especially Trafficking
Total amount requested: $25,000
Project Overview: Poverty among women in rural areas of
Indonesia has caused a host of social problems including
trafficking, violence against women and children, urban
exploitation of women and children, and urban blight. West
Java, where this project would focus, is a densely populated
province (16 percent of national population) ranking low on
major social indicators: it ranks third for the largest
number of people living in poverty, totaling 12.1 percent or
4.3 million of its residents. Because length of school is
low for its children (boys less than 8 years, girls less than
7), large number of children aged 12-18 seek work, and the
decline in the region's textile industry has driven these
youth to urban areas and abroad, where they are routinely
exploited. West Java is a major sending area for trafficked
women and girls.
This project will address the economic and social source of
poverty among women and girls through a holistic and
practical approach combining grassroots organizing, economic
empowerment training, supporting micro-economic initiatives,
and providing rehabilitation services. The networking would
draw in large numbers of women, the training will empower
women to stand on their own feet, the support of market
initiatives will get women started, and the rehabilitation
will incorporate the thousands of women who return home,
JAKARTA 00003304 002 OF 002
broken down from exploitation. The project proposes to
sustain itself through sales of women's products and teaching
women how to fundraise on their own. With this type of
education and empowerment, Indonesian women can oftentimes
manage to succeed on their own, lacking awareness and the
meager resources to start an enterprise otherwise. Many
female migrant workers return home with nothing more than
shame and debt. This project has never been funded by the
USG, is innovative and has a strong multiplier effect. The
four women running the project are all well educated and have
rich experience in working in women's advocacy with
international organizations. They have strong reputations
that lend credibility to the project.
---------------------
The Foundation for Solidarity and Self-Supporting Community
(SEKAM), Jakarta
Project Title: Empowerment and Protection Assistance Program
Total Amount Requested: $25,000
Project Overview: Women and girls affected by urban poverty
are among the populations most vulnerable to social problems
such as physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and economic
exploitation. Many "street girls" - young women living their
day-to-day lives on public streets - drop out of school
because their parents cannot afford to pay the fees
associated with Indonesia's public education system. Out of
school, these girls lack a social network and life skills to
make better life decisions. On the fringes of society's
social fabric, these girls lack basic health knowledge -
often making life decisions to the detriment of their own
personal health and safety. Reintegration into schools and
economic empowerment to enable the parents to protect girls
from economic and sexual exploitation. To date, few
comprehensive programs address the needs of girls living on
the streets in Indonesia's urban centers.
This project will address the social and economic source of
street girls' vulnerability. The project will address the
social aspects by providing life skills training and
counseling for street girls. At the same time, SEKAM will
work with the parents of these young girls - providing
empowerment not only to the girls themselves but to their
families in order to foster a comprehensive network that will
protect girls from exploitation. SEKAM has a strong
institutional track record, having worked with street
children since its inception in 1997 on community-based
reintegration projects. SEKAM has previously received
USG-funding as a partner for Save the Children.
3. (U) The full proposal applications have been sent by
e-mail to EAP/RSP Ruth Kurzbauer and Gabriel Alvarado as
requested ref A. Post POC is Political Officer Aryani
Manring.
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