Empowered Women Transform Ramba Village Through Economic Resilience Initiatives

Ramba village: Once hesitant to speak during village meetings, Febrianti now stands as a beacon of empowerment in Ramba Village, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. She currently serves as the Chair of the Women's Economic Business Group, Kelompok Usaha Ekonomi Perempuan (KUEP), guiding around 25 women in financial management and fostering a supportive community. This initiative has been instrumental in enhancing women's participation in decision-making and building economic resilience. According to UN Women, the transformation in Febrianti's life and leadership journey was significantly influenced by the WE NEXUS project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and implemented by UN Women alongside Yayasan CARE Peduli and Karsa Institute. Through this project, Febrianti gained confidence, leadership, and financial management skills, which now aid her in supporting women to build economic resilience. KUEP provides a platform for women to save money, access interest-free loans, and support each other, particularly aiding women farmers who face challenges such as floods affecting their harvests. Febrianti recalls a time when she felt her role was limited to listening. Despite having ideas to share, fear of being wrong or not being taken seriously held her back, a sentiment echoed by many women in the village. Life in Ramba, largely dependent on farming, poses challenges, with families often turning to high-interest loans from informal lending services like Bank Emok during tough times. The turning point came when Febrianti participated in trainings on leadership, public speaking, gender equality, disaster preparedness, and financial literacy provided by Yayasan CARE Peduli and Karsa Institute. These trainings not only equipped her with new skills but also transformed her self-perception, making her more confident and determined to empower other women. Under Febrianti's leadership, KUEP has become a crucial support system, especially for women farmers. By saving money after harvests and preparing t ogether for potential disasters, the women of Ramba have strengthened their community's resilience, one step at a time. Ramba Village has also embraced change by becoming a Women-Friendly and Child-Caring Village. This shift has increased women's involvement in village planning and decision-making. Additionally, community-based integrated child protection networks, such as Perlindungan Anak Terpadu Berbasis Masyarakat, offer support to women and children facing violence, emphasizing communal responsibility in safeguarding vulnerable groups. Reflecting on her journey, Febrianti expresses pride in her evolution from a housewife hesitant to speak in public to a leader entrusted with guiding KUEP and contributing to village development. She emphasizes that resilience involves learning from challenges and inspiring other women to lead change.