Presented by Prof. Dr. Haryono Suyono
President of the Indonesian National Council on Social Welfare (INCSW)
At The 33rd Global Conference of International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW)
Symposium 3
Individuals, Families, Communities...
What are the targets for social work and social policies ?
Workshop: Empowering Civil Society

Cover


Preface
EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY AS AN EFFORT TO REVIVE THE CULTURE OF SELF RELIANCE IN COMMUNITY SOCIAL SECURITY

The Indonesian National Council on Social Welfare (INCSW) was officially established in 1975 as a social organization. The aims of INCSW are :
• To coordinate Social Organizations and their efforts in social developments
• To study problems commonly shared by various communities in Indonesia
• Extending cooperation in a relationship of mutual trust and benefit
INCSW focuses its programs on Social Empowerment, listening to what they have to say about their problems and offer ideas for possible solution. INCSW shares the experience of member organizations and other relevant organizations in solving social problems. INCSW develops effective national and international training programs for institutions and administrators throughout Indonesia. ICSW budget has been supported by the central and local government of Indonesia, communities and supplemented by local, national and international donors for training and program activities.

1. Introduction

Indonesia, with a population of about 230 million people in 2007, is home to more than 50 million families living in borderline poverty associated a low educational background. Consequently, with or without natural disasters or social upheavals, Indonesia constantly faces a high number of families either in poverty, or in danger of sinking into it.
The Government's work to reduce the numbers of poor families - or of those susceptible to it - is not easy. Rescue measures based on creating a social safety net are confronted by the harsh reality of the sheer numbers of poor and of the "nearly poor'. Poverty relief measures developed tend to suffer a lack of integration and an absence of focused and disciplined measures towards community empowerment. They attract heavy criticism for failing to educate; just endless stop gap emergency charity based measures. They stand accused of nurturing passive acceptance and resignation-even laziness-among recipients.

2. Development of Indonesian Social Participation
To support grassroots level integration, the Indonesian National Council on Social Welfare (INCSW) or DNIKS, Damandiri Foundation, tertiary institutions and numerous community organizations are striving to socialize the concept to regional government and the broader general community.
In the first phase, the Damandiri Foundation invites tertiary institutions having concerns for local communities to begin these programs in the neighbourhood of the tertiary institution. Cooperative institutions involve students from poor economic backgrounds, under the guidance of lecturers, and with the incentive of tertiary fees (SPP) being paid by the Foundation as a means of empowerment for the students involved. These students are invited to work off-campus to help low-income families and high school students in the local area.

3. Formation of the Posdaya Groups: Scope, Goals and Objectives
Posdaya is a communication, advocacy and education forum simultaneously institutionalizing and integrating measures to strengthen family functions. Posdaya can be developed as a vehicle for delivery of integrated family services- encompassing family health, education, training and small enterprise support. It may also be an agent for promoting environmental consciousness and a facilitator of self-sustaining family initiatives. In hard economic times, it promotes initiatives to help neighbours and other poor families, it also can function as an effective local safety net.

4. Empowerment Programs
Real empowerment must be based on accurate family mapping. Data collection should focus on poor families that are home to children under 15 years of age.
Three family groupings should be identified; poor families in need of assistance to be able to escape poverty, those self-sufficient but without extra resources to help wider family, and, thirdly, established families capable of providing resources to wider family members when needed.

5. The Future Outlook of Posdaya
Under influence of these three or four priorities, it is hoped that communities will gain impetus for continuous development. When undertaken with a high level of commitment, sustainedly and over the long term, communities can expect progress to be reflected by regular rises across a range of living standard and quality indicators (HDI).