Makimur Special Presidents Appeal

We are pleased to share the latest and final report from SI Jakarta on the cumulative progress and achievements of their project on the ground in Lombok.

This project was carried out under a Tripartite Agreement between SI, SISWP and SI Jakarta whereby SI President's Appeal 2017-2019 - Women, Water and Leadership provided funds for the water and sanitation components including women empowerment training, while SISWP took over funding in 2020 to cover the capacity building programmes out of funds from the SWP Special President's Appeal.

In summary, the weaving programmes have been a brilliant success with international sales to the women weavers who are sole breadwinners of their household. Youth and community awareness programmes, health, hygiene and sanitation became major focus areas during the pandemic as well as sewing classes where sling bags, cosmetic pouches and carry bags were made for sale.  An education and awareness programme to Prevent Child Brides and Violence Against Women was prioritised as abduction of girls as brides in the villages of Lombok was a serious threat.  SI Jakarta is pleased that many of these capacity building programs are ongoing and involve many of the adults and youths. 

This phase of the SI Jakarta project is expected to end on 31 December 2021. Discussions are currently taking place to decide whether SI Jakarta can replicate some aspects of this project in the neighbouring village where water is scarce and training opportunities for women and girls are basically non-existent. The goal in extending this project would be to provide a well to supply clean, running water to the villagers. This would greatly assist the women and girls in the village who have no option but to walk 4-5km every day to fetch water for their families, and also to provide, if funding permists, weaving and sewing training to enable the women to supplement their family's income. 

You can read the full report HERE.

Phase 2 of the Makmur Tsunami and Earthquake appeal is now beginning. Phase 2 will rebuild lives, rehabilitate and build capacity of women and their families. Read about the Weaving, Sewing, Literacy, Mathematics, Baking and Organic farming training which is to be provided under Phase 2 delivery. 

Read a recent report from Isla Winarto, Project Director on the progress on the Indonesia Earthquake Recovery through Water, Shelter and Capacity Building Project in Rembitan, Lombok.

Read a recent report from Isla Winarto, Project Director for Lombok on the completion of Water Piping Works Project at Gangga Village North Lombok by the village women!

President Anusha Santhirasthipam of Soroptimist International of the South West Pacific (SISWP) has launched a special appeal to support those affected by the disaster in Sulawesi and Lombok:

SISWP President's Special Appeal: вЂњSoroptimist Makmur Indonesia” Tsunami and Earthquakes Appeal

SISWP and the people of Indonesia desperately asked for your help.All donations helped with funds being used to provide essential temporary shelter, emergency medical supplies, personal care and hygiene items, potable water and sanitation facilities.

"Our hope for those affected is to once again flourish and find peace in their homeland. MAKMUR being the opposite of poverty, meaning prosperous, articulates our plan for this Appeal and its recipients."

What happened?

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia on September 28, 2018 ravaging the island of Sulewasi, and other parts of Indonesia. The earthquake and following 10ft tsunami destroyed many parts of the region, killing more than 2,200 people with another 5,000 still missing.

Around 68,000 homes had been damaged or destroyed leaving 330,000 people without adequate shelter. With limited access via the airport and roads, many areas are yet to receive assistance.

What are we doing?

SISWP initially funded SI Kemang, who partnered with local medical teams, to provide immediate emergency medical assistance for 500 families. More funding had been given for SI Kemang to dispatch medical supplies, personal care and sanitary items to Sulawesi.

SISWP had funded SI Jakarta to supply family-sized tents and blankets, primarily to women and girls in Sulawesi areas who had not received any aid assistance. They were homeless, vulnerable and in danger from violent crimes as well as serious illness caused by heavy rains and mosquito borne diseases, like Malaria.

SI Jakarta had been working in Lombok to support disaster-affected families with shelter and essential emergency supplies. However, further relief funds are needed to help families across Indonesia that helped to:

• heal and recover with emergency healthcare and safety supplies;
• improved their access to water and sanitation facilities;
• built temporary and transitional shelter and schools;
• rebuilt their livelihoods through early recovery interventions.

How your donation helped.

Your donations went towards helping those affected, especially vulnerable women and children. Which helped to:

• Provide tents and plastic sheets for flooring;
• Delivered clean water equipment and sanitation facilities;
• Built temporary safe schools and supply education materials;
• Built toilets and enclosed bathing facilities for women and girls to take showers and manage their hygiene and feminine care;
• Provided first aid kits, sanitary packs and new mother-baby packs;
• Harvested rainwater;
• Provided food security through farming and animal rearing.

Indonesia suffered a multitude of earthquakes in 2018.Which affected Lombok, Bali and Sulawesi. SISWP Federation President Anusha Santhirasthipam launched a President's Special Appeal called “SOROPTIMIST MAKMUR INDONESIA” Tsunami & Earthquakes Appeal on 17th October 2018.

MAKMUR means PROSPEROUS or flourishing, to be wholesome and peaceful. It is the opposite of POVERTY. SISWP launched this special appeal on October 17 2018 in conjunction with International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

When natural disasters strike it is the women and children who are the most vulnerable and in the greatest danger. They were displaced, homeless, without food,  medical supplies, water and sanitation, they were under threat of sexual violence, rape, murder, crime, slavery and trafficking.

SISWP worked in partnership with SI Kemang and SI Jakarta in Indonesia to provide disaster relief funds to the following programmes to support disaster-affected families in Sulawesi and Lombok. These funds helped the families:

• heal and recover with emergency healthcare and safety supplies.
• improved their access to water and sanitation facilities.
• built temporary and transitional shelter and schools.
• rebuilt their livelihoods through early recovery interventions.

Current Situation

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Friday, September 28 2018. The quake, and the resulting 10-foot tsunami waves, levelled buildings and brought destruction to the city of Palu (pop. 335,000) and surrounding areas. As of October 15 2018, the death toll had exceeded 2,200 people, with up to 5,000 more missing and feared dead due to landslides and liquefaction. Thousands had been seriously injured. Around 80,000 people had been displaced, staying in over 200 sites. About 68,000 houses were damaged or destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami, leaving some 330,000 people without adequate shelter.

Access to Palu was difficult as the airport is small and was damaged in the earthquake and therefore could handle only a limited number of aircraft; road access had also been affected by the earthquake. Priority needs were identified as: temporary shelter items (tents, tarpaulins, blankets, plastic floor sheets and mattresses), emergency medical supplies and other non-food items, transitional shelter, water supply, sanitation, and hygiene promotion and early recovery. Many areas had yet to receive any assistance. It was the monsoon rainy season and diseases like malaria, flu outbreaks and pneumonia are life threatening.

Soroptimist International of the South West Pacific & SI Indonesia: Immediate Emergency Response (Phase 1)

SI Club Kemang and local partner medical team acted immediately as news of the disaster broke across Asia, since the first hours of the crisis to determine how best to respond.

SISWP had provided emergency disaster funds to supply health/medical kits and sanitary/toiletries supplies for 500 families. SI Indonesia team carried out assessment of recovery and rehabilitation needs of IDPs (Internal Displaced People survivors) and had requested support from SISWP and SI clubs and members worldwide.? 20 health facilities had been damaged and only two (2) health facilities operated in an emergency mode.

SI Jakarta carried out work in earthquakes affected Lombok to support disaster-affected families with shelter and essential emergency supplies. Rehabilitation programmes had been identified and were ready to commence once funds are secured.

Soroptimist Makmur Indonesia Tsunami & Earthquake Appeal ' Rehabilitation (Phase 2)

SISWP prioritised the healthcare, hygiene and safety, shelter, education, empowerment and enabling of women and families. Basic amenities such medical aid kits and sanitary supplies, tents, floor coverings, mosquito nets and drinking water were supplied first.

SISWP Federation teamed up with Soroptimist International under SI President's Appeal 2017-2019 Women, Water & Leadership Project which enabled SI Indonesia to establish Water & Sanitation projects in Sulawesi & Lombok for the supply and installation of water and sanitation facilities, building of toilets and enclosed shower facilities for women and girls, rainwater harvesting equipment, training of women to maintain and manage all such necessary amenities and facilities.

SISWP funded the building of temporary schools and provision of education materials, trauma counselling and post-disaster mental and emotional rehabilitation of survivors, provided assistance programmes for crop cultivation and animal rearing to overcome malnutrition, ensure food security and economic empowerment of rural families and prioritised for women-led households.

These programmes commenced on November 2018 with emergency phase activities. Once liquefaction and bacteria from decomposing bodies had subsided, SI clubs in Indonesia undertook rehabilitation phase activities.

As soon as the Government of Indonesia determined the new sites for relocation of all displaced survivor families, building of toilets and shower facilities, installation of water and sanitation equipment, building of schools and carrying out of education and empowerment programmes for women and children happened.

SI President Mariet Verhof Cohen and SISWP President Anusha Santhirasthipam were in Indonesia recently from 3-8 February to visit victims of recent tsunami and earthquake affected areas, assess potential project sites for rehabilitation work and to rebuild lives in Palu, Sulawesi. This initiative is a collaboration between SI President's Appeal-Women, Water and Leadership and SISWP President's Special Appeal “Soroptimist Makmur Indonesia” Tsunami & Earthquake.

SISWP President Anusha Santhirasthipam visiting a local women managed social enterprise in Lombok Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia.

SISWP President Anusha Santhirasthipam has recently travelled to Indonesia to visit earthquake and tsunami affected villages and meet with women and children in need of assistance.

Read more from Anusha on her visits to other villages in need of assistance.

During SISWP Anusha Santhirasthipam recent visit to Indonesia, she has met with Her Excellency Deputy Governor of Nusa Tenggara Barat, Dr. Ir. Hj. Sitti Rohmi Djalilah who has jurisdiction over Lombok.

Article by Anusha Santhirasthipam.