WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT -- JAKARTA SMALL GRANTS

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. HUME