Eka Diana, ABDYA
Eka has been a Field Supervisor since May 2010. She was the first group facilitator in her area of activities to enter without brandishing money or inducements convinced that with the right approach and tools community members could be motivated to develop their own potential from within their own strength and assets.
With a double degree in economics and agriculture, and years of experience working on health, education and livelihood programs as a Development Coordinator for World Vision, Eka has always felt that her place is in and with the community, leading by example and role modelling a positive and practically productive attitude.
Eka works with 11 KSM groups producing balms, tempeh, tofu, nata de coco and various snacks. She maintains her motivation by acknowledging the positive impact that communities have on her, and holds the personal ambition of one day becoming a successful micro finance consultant.
Eka has been a Field Supervisor since May 2010. She was the first group facilitator in her area of activities to enter without brandishing money or inducements convinced that with the right approach and tools community members could be motivated to develop their own potential from within their own strength and assets.
With a double degree in economics and agriculture, and years of experience working on health, education and livelihood programs as a Development Coordinator for World Vision, Eka has always felt that her place is in and with the community, leading by example and role modelling a positive and practically productive attitude.
Eka works with 11 KSM groups producing balms, tempeh, tofu, nata de coco and various snacks. She maintains her motivation by acknowledging the positive impact that communities have on her, and holds the personal ambition of one day becoming a successful micro finance consultant.
Abdullah, Aceh Jaya
Abdullah’s mission is to help his community and he fulfills this as a social worker with the Calang Family Planning Office, FBA Local Motivator and informal community leader assisting members of his community with business issues. Abdullah first joined FBA in 2006 and knew it was a good organization when the first delivery of equipment and stock arrived for the businesses he was assisting. Abdullah will never forget the look of happiness and hope in the eyes of the recipients who were struggling to support families while living in temporary barracks. The assistance of FBA within these communities have provided a renewed sense of confidence.
Abdullah’s mission is to help his community and he fulfills this as a social worker with the Calang Family Planning Office, FBA Local Motivator and informal community leader assisting members of his community with business issues. Abdullah first joined FBA in 2006 and knew it was a good organization when the first delivery of equipment and stock arrived for the businesses he was assisting. Abdullah will never forget the look of happiness and hope in the eyes of the recipients who were struggling to support families while living in temporary barracks. The assistance of FBA within these communities have provided a renewed sense of confidence.
Mukhsir Ridha - Aceh Tamiang
Mukhsir has been working with FBA as a Field Supervisors for over a year. His area of work comprises 72 villages, 6 sub-districts and 12 KSM. Quite a busy round for this 28 years old, father of one, but Mukhsir is enthusiastic about his work because he is seeing the results that opportunities like the KSM can create. According to Mukhsir, in Aceh Tamiang there is a lot of poverty and many disadvantaged people, especially women, but the area is suitable for most kind of activities – agriculture, trade, services and manufacturing. Hence the KSM’s in his area are producing fuel briquettes, fruit snacks and fish and shrimp products, improving the economic conditions and quality of life of the members. The future of the KSM enterprises in Aceh Tamiang is looking bright, as most are looking at expanding their marketing opportunities beyond their district.
Mukhsir has been working with FBA as a Field Supervisors for over a year. His area of work comprises 72 villages, 6 sub-districts and 12 KSM. Quite a busy round for this 28 years old, father of one, but Mukhsir is enthusiastic about his work because he is seeing the results that opportunities like the KSM can create. According to Mukhsir, in Aceh Tamiang there is a lot of poverty and many disadvantaged people, especially women, but the area is suitable for most kind of activities – agriculture, trade, services and manufacturing. Hence the KSM’s in his area are producing fuel briquettes, fruit snacks and fish and shrimp products, improving the economic conditions and quality of life of the members. The future of the KSM enterprises in Aceh Tamiang is looking bright, as most are looking at expanding their marketing opportunities beyond their district.
Rahmi Jafar, Aceh Tengah
Ask around and those who know Rahmi will say she is very energetic and cheerful—an understatement for sure, as her gaiety, get-up-and-go and motivation are truly infectious—you don’t need to understand her humour to be carried away by her laughter. At 25 and almost married (this is what she says), Rhami works with 12 KSM from the cool highlands of Aceh Tengah. Originally from Bireuen, Rahmi has made Takengon her home from where she seizes on every opportunity to see that tangible outcomes can be reached from the unique micro finance approach her groups employ.
A graduate from Al Muslem – GPAI University in Bireuen, Rahmi was previously a field officer for three years, working with communities affected by the conflict, identifying risks leading to possible resignation of hostilities.
While well settled in the Field Supervisor role, Rahmi nurtures the ambition of one day managing her own business.
Ask around and those who know Rahmi will say she is very energetic and cheerful—an understatement for sure, as her gaiety, get-up-and-go and motivation are truly infectious—you don’t need to understand her humour to be carried away by her laughter. At 25 and almost married (this is what she says), Rhami works with 12 KSM from the cool highlands of Aceh Tengah. Originally from Bireuen, Rahmi has made Takengon her home from where she seizes on every opportunity to see that tangible outcomes can be reached from the unique micro finance approach her groups employ.
A graduate from Al Muslem – GPAI University in Bireuen, Rahmi was previously a field officer for three years, working with communities affected by the conflict, identifying risks leading to possible resignation of hostilities.
While well settled in the Field Supervisor role, Rahmi nurtures the ambition of one day managing her own business.
Evi Wahyuni, Aceh Timur
Evi is 29, married, one child and another on the way (at the time of writing—July 2011). Originally from Banda Aceh, Evi found it difficult to find work in her original chosen career—chemical engineering—a field male-dominated, which gave her the motivation to work in women empowerment projects.
Evi has been a FBA Field Supervisor for 18 months and in this time has established a bonding and trusting relationship with the 13 groups she mentors in Aceh Timur. This is evident by the warm welcome Evi receives on her regular mentoring visits. She also enjoys the esteem of the Local Motivators she supervises in the District.
Prior to taking this position Evi was the Bireuen Coordinator of the Community Education Program Aceh (CEPA). She enjoys working with people, but principally, Evi strives to contribute to a community which sees women less dependent on their husbands, where education is valued and available to all, and women victims of the conflict don’t need to relay on charity to meet their livelihood needs.
Evi is 29, married, one child and another on the way (at the time of writing—July 2011). Originally from Banda Aceh, Evi found it difficult to find work in her original chosen career—chemical engineering—a field male-dominated, which gave her the motivation to work in women empowerment projects.
Evi has been a FBA Field Supervisor for 18 months and in this time has established a bonding and trusting relationship with the 13 groups she mentors in Aceh Timur. This is evident by the warm welcome Evi receives on her regular mentoring visits. She also enjoys the esteem of the Local Motivators she supervises in the District.
Prior to taking this position Evi was the Bireuen Coordinator of the Community Education Program Aceh (CEPA). She enjoys working with people, but principally, Evi strives to contribute to a community which sees women less dependent on their husbands, where education is valued and available to all, and women victims of the conflict don’t need to relay on charity to meet their livelihood needs.
Irawati, Banda Aceh
Irawati’s motivation in life is to help as many people as she can to make the world a better place. That is why she joined the FBA team. Irawati has become a champion in her village by encouraging micro economic development and has adopted a ‘group loan’ approach empowering women as a collective group to start productions of cake making and other products that can take place in the house of the small business owner. The most rewarding part of her job is when she works with FBA staff on the day of loan disbursements as it puts a smile on everyone’s face, motivates and encourages a prosperous future.
Irawati’s motivation in life is to help as many people as she can to make the world a better place. That is why she joined the FBA team. Irawati has become a champion in her village by encouraging micro economic development and has adopted a ‘group loan’ approach empowering women as a collective group to start productions of cake making and other products that can take place in the house of the small business owner. The most rewarding part of her job is when she works with FBA staff on the day of loan disbursements as it puts a smile on everyone’s face, motivates and encourages a prosperous future.
Marlina, Bireun
Marlina graduated as an economist from the Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh. She has a wealth of experience in the community sector, having worked in livelihood, environment and education programs. In her role with FBA, Marlina works with 16 KSM engaged in batik, soya, coconut, and fruit chip production, in addition to saving & lending.
Marlina works at the coalface of the poverty that alienates many of her community members. She recalls the circumstances of Mariati, a 23 year old KSM members, who lost her mother and was left with the responsibility of taking care of her father and four other family members, leaving her exhausted and with no time to herself. Through the KSM program Mariati was able to access her small savings to award herself a short respite from her chores and visit family in the country side. When Marlina queried her on the reason for taking all her savings, Mariati disclosed her predicament for the first time and, as a result, releasing, albeit temporarily, her stress and discomfort of her situation.
Marlina is not a counsellor, but finds herself in this role far too often in her constant effort to work with her community to achieve some form of economic security in the midst of inequality and marginalisation. Among some of the gains community members have achieved, Marlina has witnessed their ability to buy fertiliser at market price, not dictated by exploitative agents, meet the utilities costs, pay school fees to secure young people education or put a new roof on the house.
Marlina graduated as an economist from the Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh. She has a wealth of experience in the community sector, having worked in livelihood, environment and education programs. In her role with FBA, Marlina works with 16 KSM engaged in batik, soya, coconut, and fruit chip production, in addition to saving & lending.
Marlina works at the coalface of the poverty that alienates many of her community members. She recalls the circumstances of Mariati, a 23 year old KSM members, who lost her mother and was left with the responsibility of taking care of her father and four other family members, leaving her exhausted and with no time to herself. Through the KSM program Mariati was able to access her small savings to award herself a short respite from her chores and visit family in the country side. When Marlina queried her on the reason for taking all her savings, Mariati disclosed her predicament for the first time and, as a result, releasing, albeit temporarily, her stress and discomfort of her situation.
Marlina is not a counsellor, but finds herself in this role far too often in her constant effort to work with her community to achieve some form of economic security in the midst of inequality and marginalisation. Among some of the gains community members have achieved, Marlina has witnessed their ability to buy fertiliser at market price, not dictated by exploitative agents, meet the utilities costs, pay school fees to secure young people education or put a new roof on the house.
Asri Ali, Pidie Jaya
Asri has been in the Field Supervisor position since August 2010. Previously, Asri was the FBA Cluster Coordinator for Pidie, Pidie Jaya and Aceh Jaya for more than four years, helping to set up hundreds of small enterprises in these areas and providing assistance to individuals and families in need.
The transition from individual assistance to the KSM system wasn’t a smooth one at the beginning, mainly because of a post-tsunami entrenched belief that NGO’s bring money. Asri, however, worked tirelessly to instil a mindset change aimed at developing self-belief in the potential of the people in the communities.
Currently Asri works with 12 KSM groups engaged in a variety of activities. Principally it is the saving and lending system that provides financial assistance to the members, there are also small businesses producing tempeh, tofu, snacks and mushrooms; some businesses are owned and operated by individuals while others are under the management of the collective KSM.
Asri enjoys the constant contact with the community, he also has an affinity with motorbike travel and the open road, and now that most roads between the KSMs are good, he can enjoy the leisurely and relaxed rides to visit them.
Asri has been in the Field Supervisor position since August 2010. Previously, Asri was the FBA Cluster Coordinator for Pidie, Pidie Jaya and Aceh Jaya for more than four years, helping to set up hundreds of small enterprises in these areas and providing assistance to individuals and families in need.
The transition from individual assistance to the KSM system wasn’t a smooth one at the beginning, mainly because of a post-tsunami entrenched belief that NGO’s bring money. Asri, however, worked tirelessly to instil a mindset change aimed at developing self-belief in the potential of the people in the communities.
Currently Asri works with 12 KSM groups engaged in a variety of activities. Principally it is the saving and lending system that provides financial assistance to the members, there are also small businesses producing tempeh, tofu, snacks and mushrooms; some businesses are owned and operated by individuals while others are under the management of the collective KSM.
Asri enjoys the constant contact with the community, he also has an affinity with motorbike travel and the open road, and now that most roads between the KSMs are good, he can enjoy the leisurely and relaxed rides to visit them.
