Aiding People Beyond the System
In Through the “comment” column those interested directly expressed their intention to buy. First buyers grabbed the goods sought after
In Through the “comment” column those interested directly expressed their intention to buy. First buyers grabbed the goods sought after.These seemingly forgotten people are now taken care of by a social movement for their assistance, which also develops a program for guidance and empowerment.
This is being undertaken by Perkumpulan Suara Kita (Our Voice Association), which is focused on helping waria (transvestites) and transpuan (transgender women) in Greater Jakarta. Visited on Tuesday (29/9/2020), Hartoyo, director of this nongovernmental organization, said he had intentionally chosen to defend gender equality and justice for transvestite and transgender communities.
Generally, they experience multiple violence in society, such as social, psychological, physical and sexual abuses. Minimum care for these communities has forced their members to make a living as street musicians or commercial sex workers that endanger their health and safety.
“We have provided guidance to make them aware of citizens’ right to protection besides implementing an empowerment program directed at
small and micro-scale enterprises for their economic inclusion. But not long afterward the Covid-19 pandemic prevailed,” he added.
Baca juga : Working Together to End Covid-19 Pandemic
At first, Perkumpulan Suara Kita raised funds by selling garments through an online boutique called Srikendes under their management. The garments are made from various traditional cloths, with their models designed by association members.
Apart from Srikendes, they also organized sales at different craft exhibitions, bazaars and gender mainstreaming events. According to Hartoyo, this method allows Perkumpulan Suara Kita freedom and independence without relying on funds from corporations or foreign institutions.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit Greater Jakarta in March 2020, the majority of transvestites and transgender women guided by the association could not earn income due to PSBB, which imposed a lockdown on eateries. They were in trouble with their livelihood while the budget of Perkumpulan Suara Kita was barely enough for program operation.
“Social aid from central and regional governments is beyond the access of transvestite and transgender communities because they usually never settle in certain regions so that they are not recorded by neighborhood units (RT) and community units (RW),” said Hartoyo.
Perkumpulan Suara Kita later reviewed its funding strategy. In the pandemic period the clothing sold by Srikendes could not turn out money quickly. Furthermore, the market share of traditional products is limited to their enthusiasts rather than mass buyers.
Srilove
Hartoyo revealed that idea of selling used articles had struck him. Perkumpuan Suara Kita promptly contacted Srikendes boutique customers, asking them to contribute secondhand items they no longer used. In the middle of April, 200 clothes and bags were collected, 95 percent in saleable condition.
Through the “comment” column those interested directly expressed their intention to buy. First buyers grabbed the goods sought after.
With his smart phone, Hartoyo launched a live instant market on Facebook. He openly announced that sale proceeds would be spent on basic necessities for transvestite and transgender communities in Greater Jakarta during the PSBB period. He promoted all the items by offering fixed prices. Through the “comment” column those interested directly expressed their intention to buy. First buyers grabbed the goods sought after.
Unexpectedly, all the articles were sold out and delivered by mail to the buyers. At the first live sale, Perkumpulan Suara Kita earned Rp9 million, partly for the purchase of necessities for 150 transvestites and transgender women. The remainder was spent on the cost of operation including assets maintenance.
This fundraising activity was later called Srilove, a combination of Srikendes and preloved goods, secondhand items once loved by other people.
“Srikendes customers as well as people who had newly got acquainted with this activity showed high enthusiasm. We received more used articles, many even carried the genuine brands of Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch and Gucci with packages from their original boutiques,” noted Hartoyo.
Especially for garments, shoes and bags with famous brands, they are sold by the auction method on Srilove Facebook and Instagram. Although based in South Jakarta, buyers of Srilove goods come from all over Indonesia. Orders have once been delivered to buyers in Banda Aceh and Jayapura.
Now the Srilove online market conducts two live sales weekly with proceeds totaling Rp3 million - 20 million per session, excluding the auction sale of branded products. Totally, 1,750 packs of basic staples have been sent to transvestite and transgender communities in Greater Jakarta.
Each pack is worth Rp125,000 – 150,000 and each recipient has received three times. There are also 100 packs being delivered to help transvestite communities in Lampung and Bandung as well as 200 others for poor residents in Kalibata.
Expansion
This activity has developed into an inclusive donation method, not restricted to transvestite and transgender groups. Srilove collaborates with Dapur Umum Rusun Bidara Cina (apartment communal kitchen) in East Jakarta. Kitchen Coordinator Evalina Tobing said originally, she and several apartment residents shared the cost of cooking food for poor children and aged people living in this complex.
There are 150 children whose parents do casual work or have been dismissed due to PSBB and 50 seniors living alone. Their meals are supplied by Dapur Umum Rusun Bidara Cina. To date, these people haven’t yet received social aid from central and Jakarta provincial governments.
She continued that Srilove later approached them to offer aid to buy food ingredients for cooking from the proceeds of secondhand goods sales. “The communal kitchen management has learned that the association has so far provided guidance for transvestites and transgender women. We have no problem with the offer,” said Evalina.
In May, as the collaboration was underway, a disabled teenage girl in the Bidara Cina apartment area became her neighbor’s sexual abuse victim. The teenage, initialed Z, was under the care of his father working at the local parking lot so that her post-abuse handling was not optimal.
Through Srilove, Rp20 million was raised, which was utilized to finance Z’s rehabilitation until June 2021. It was for the honorariums of a resident functioning as Z’s attendant. Besides cooking for the girl, the attendant also had intense interactions with Z, like teaching social etiquette and personal security, among others by rejecting invitation with money or goods as enticements.
The attendant also served as an intermediary between Z’s father, RT and RW on the one side and the Jakarta Integrated Service Center for Women’s and Children’s Empowerment on the other, to collaborate in the program for the relief of the teenager’s sexual abuse trauma.
“The money was also used to buy Z’s clothing, including underwear and sanitary napkins, besides special textbooks for disabled youngsters. These requirements have escaped the attention of her father as a poor single parent and breadwinner,” added Evalina.
Sustainable
In Hartoyo’s view, while it is environment-friendly for being based on the transaction of preloved goods, fundraising for empowerment through the sale of used articles also brings different members of the public closer. This becomes a gateway for the public to get acquainted with gender mainstreaming and justice.
“Everybody will someday be uninterested to keep some of the belongings owned. It means there are always new stocks of used goods for Srilove so that the continuity of its program needn’t wait for a certain period as is the case with funds being derived from donors alone,” he said.
Philanthropy Indonesia Executive Sita Supomo described philanthropy as a manifestation of local charity originating in society. This method is more effective because its donors can select and precisely recognize the utilization of the funds or products they contribute (Kompas, 17 November 2018).
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