Food for thought... for Women

In light of the upcoming celebration of International Women's Day here are some inspiring and interesting quotes about women....


“Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men.” 
― Joseph Conrad

“You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.” 
― Brigham Young

“The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it. ” 
― Roseanne Barr

“If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things.” 
― Plato, The Republic

“No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother.”
― Margaret Sanger

“As a woman I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a woman, my country is the whole world.” 
― Virginia Woolf

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.” 
― Alice Walker

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” 
― Eleanor Roosvelt

“I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.” 
― Mary Wollstonecraft

“There is a growing strength in women but it's in the forehead, not the forearm.” 
― Beverly Sills

“You don´t have to be an anti-man to be a pro-woman.” 
― Jane Galvin Lewis

“Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths.” 
― Lois Wyse

Celebrating Health on International Women's Day

This year in Bersahara we want to celebrate International Women's Day celebrating health. We believe healing is a fundamental basic that all women need in order to progress in the road to personal and social empowerment.

Many women in Indonesia suffer from health issues, like unstable blood pressure, diabetes, infections, TB, typhoid fevers, all of them problems that can be easily prevented with simple knowledge on health basic care and healthy nutrition habits.

This year Bersahara wants to celebrate women's day by offering the women a healthy present: some education on basic health care and nutrition, as well as free blood and glucose tests. Hopefully this will be a first corner stone on the way to improving the women's health and therefore their life standards.

Want to help us contribute to Health? Check our Donate tab in this website or come by our office to donate.

And everyone is invited on March 8th to celebrate with us!

Happy Women!

Starting March 2012, this group of 18 women started putting their savings into the common box month after month. At the beginning they were a bit scared to take loans, but once they started they have already helped 13 women with a total of 9,000,000IRP (approx. 900US$) in loans, which have been used for different needs like: investing in their little businesses, paying back other loans, building toilets and other daily needs.

Last Wednesday February the 6th, the women from Bangkang group were very happily surprised when they shared the profits after 1 year of investing and saving in their group. The total profit of 924,000IRP (approx. 92US$) comes from the interests paid for loans by the group members. Each women received their share of profits, which depends on the amount of shares owned in the group: a 23% gain over their savings, much better than any bank!

Therefore, with this methodology, women are owners and beneficiaries from the Savings & Loans groups at the same time. You should have seen the smiles in their faces as they were being called one by one to get their money!

Opening of the Bersahara Store

         

On Sunday the 16th of December 2012, Bersahara celebrated the opening of its store. It was attended by women from Ujung and the ceremony started with an opening prayer which was led by Hj Saibi, the leader of the group

The Bersahara store has been open since December the 2^nd 2012 and is located across from the Matahari Inn in Kuta, Lombok. The store is open from 9am to 5pm on Monday to Fridays and from 2pm to 7pm on Sundays.

Bersahara store sells handmade products that are made by the local woman from Ujung Village Kuta Lombok.   The woman use fabric created using traditional weaving techniques and are inspired from modern designs.   Most of them using hand woven ikat which has been made by craftswoman from Sade Village.

Craftswoman from Sade Village

A bag made from hand woven ikat

Every Sunday afternoon you can meet a group of woman from Batu Riti Village  Kuta making bangles at our store. 

               

If you are looking for nice presents from Lombok stop by at our store. By choosing to buy our products you are supporting the empowerment of local women and contributing to the improvement of their family life standards.

Come by and shop at the Bersahara Store !

Third Handicraft Market

On 18 November 2012 Bersahara conducted the third handicraft market that has taken place at Solah Beach Bar & Restaurant in Kuta Lombok. The market was run from 12 to 8 pm and attracted many tourists. The purpose of this program is to give the woman the opportunity to interact with buyers who are mostly foreigners and explain their work.

Fifteen visitors shopped at the market coming from Mataram, Jakarta, in Indonesia and from as far as England, and Australia. Total sales made almost RP 2,000,000 ( US$222 ) making the day a great success for all involved. Thank you Solah and all the visitors. We look forward to seeing you at the next market.

                                        

                

Profit sharing of Ujung Group and Batu Riti

On November 2^nd and  December 4^th 2012, the Ujung and Baturiti groups respectively, had their first Profit sharing experience, resulting from their first year of savings and loans. 

The Profit gained is the result of the interest rate payed by all the members for taking loans from the groups. The interests from loans are kept in the box during the year, so they become a capital increase for the group, and then after 12 months they are shared among the members according to the number of shares or savings. 

Ujung Group shared a total of Rp 1,036,168 (aprox. 1000US$), while Baturiti  group shared a total of Rp 664,000, (aprox. 625USD) Members received cash payment based on the number of their shares accumulated for the year. The resulting profit earning was of 9 -14% of the total number of shares for a year,  much greater than the interest for savings offered by the banks, which is 4% per year!

The more loans disbursed to members the more benefit the members will get. Likewise, the more shares owned by members more benefit will get. Another advantage for the members is the lack of an administration fee.

Congratulations Women!

                                                            

Second Handicraft Market!

Last Sunday October 21st we celebrated the II Handicraft Market by the Women in Ujung, part of Bersahara program. The venue was held at Solah Beach Bar & Restaurant, in Kuta Lombok. From 12-8pm the women had the opportunity to interact with foreigners and explain their work, based on traditional fabrics and inspired by modern designs taught by our Spanish volunteer, Babette.

Bags made from Sarongs, Songkets and Batik traditional fabrics

Embroidery and Sewing during the market hours

Selling

We had visitors from many places, Indonesia, Australia, America, Spain, France and Holland, among others. The women were very happy with the almost 1,500,000Rp sales they made, which gives them enthusiasm and hope to continue. Additionally, Solah Beach & Bar Restaurant donated a % of their sales from 5-8pm to support Bersahara Organization Costs.

Women Happy to have their own market running

The Women in Ujung and Bersahara are very grateful and appreciate the support from Solah and all the visitors.

See you next month!