Indonesia
Indonesia is an Asian powerhouse. A country rich in natural resources, which has attracted significant foreign investment, it is the world's third-largest democracy and home to the world's largest Muslim population.
But the reality is that one in four people live below the poverty line. Corruption, inadequate infrastructure and unequal distribution of resources have eaten away at the country’s potential, leaving Indonesians prey to exploitative labour conditions, the devastating effects of the economic crisis and a vulnerability to natural disasters.
Oxfam Australia has been in Indonesia since the 1960s. We’re working to strengthen and support community groups to promote gender justice, fight for labour rights, raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, and respond to natural disasters.
Sari Idayani. 33 yrs old from Cengkareng, West Jakarta. Union leader at Panarub (Adidas). Oxfam supports the empowerment of women workers employed in global sportswear brands. . Photo: Ben Adams/OxfamAUS
Strengthening community organisations
Our work with community organisations strengthens the ability of local people in understanding gender justice, to have a voice and assert their civil and political rights. We support the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development, which works with communities to promote sustainable development, human rights and democracy. We work with Satunama in West Papua who train local community members in fighting corruption by ensuring transparent administration of states funds. We also support local groups who help communities fight for access to clean water, food, and essential services such as health care.
Improving labour rights
Many Indonesian workers suffer from exploitative working conditions. Our work promoting labour rights helps workers, particularly women, ensure their rights are respected and that they have a say in decisions affecting them. We also work to influence companies to ensure they uphold their worker’s rights.
Tackling HIV and AIDS
In 1999, less than 1,000 of Indonesia’s 240 million inhabitants were known to be HIV positive, but in the last few years the number has soared to more than 270,000.
In collaboration with local partner organisations, we are educating secondary school students about HIV and AIDS. We have also supported a group of people living with HIV to start a small restaurant as an income-generating project and to help educate their community.
Responding to emergencies
Indonesia has endured a tragic series of natural disasters in recent years. Following the 2004 tsunami, Oxfam moved quickly to provide life-saving assistance to people in need.
In 2006, we worked closely with partners and communities to respond to a major earthquake in Yogyakarta, the tsunami in Pangadarang, and to the devastating floods in Jakarta in 2007. We’re also working with communities to help them better prepare for future disasters.
In September 2009, a devastating 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit the island of Sumatra. More than 1,000 people were killed and infrastructure was severely damaged. Our emergency response in Sumatra continues.
Improving agriculture
Agriculture is still a key activity for much of Indonesia’s population. Oxfam supports Greenhand, a permaculture school that teaches locals how to grow nutritious food in an environmentally friendly way.
Nurbaiti, 24, attended GreenHand thanks to an Oxfam scholarship. “I am still very shocked to know there’s another way from chemical agriculture like permaculture,” she says. Nurbaiti plans to return to her village and share her new-found knowledge. “People need to be aware and make their lives sustainable for long-term.”
Fast facts
- Life expectancy at birth:
- 70.76 years
- Population living below the poverty line:
- 27.1%
- People living with HIV:
- 270,000
- Infant mortality rate:
- 29.97 deaths/1,000 live births
Source: CIA World Factbook, UNDP
