Micro Finance Initiatives for Gender Based Violence Survivor Next to Leuser Forest

Gender based violence is a significant issue in Sumatra, particularly in North Sumatra where domestic violence and sexual violence in reported in quite high number. Provincial data on 2024 shows that about 100 reported cases related to the domestic violence in Langkat regency, as the project location of Nuraga Bhumi Institute in 2024. With this high number, we believe that Sumatran women are still far from being empowered and achieve their basic human rights. For us, it is important to see conservation in holistic and intersectional perspective as in order to ensure the forest standing and its protection, we can’t leave everyone behind especially the marginalized ones.

Ijah food stall (warung)

Credit photo : Bonnie Sanders

To address this issue, we initiated the Micro Finance program in order to help the domestic and sexual violence women who live around the Gunung Leuser National Park to thrive and survive by supporting their business initiatives. One of the beneficiaries is Lija Asmida whom we helped to support her small food stall initiatives. With this initiative, she is not only being empowered to support herself but gain her confidence. As indigenous woman who lives far from privilege and no access to any help, it is important to support women and other marginalized communities benefitting as much from the forest standing. Not only in ecological functions but also in economical benefits without the Leuser forest, any initiatives such as our small organization wouldn’t be existed to help her. Women like Ijah might be not the front liner protectors of the forest, but she is a mother who raised the forest protectors and continue the efforts to protect it on her way in her communities.

We believe, as human protector each of us has our own role that interconnect to each other. The planet need each and every one of us. By protecting the forest, we also protect the human, wildlife and everything that we share the planet with. But we can’t do it ourselves. We need your help to continue. Kindly please help us to continue by donating here if you can.