Single mothers in low-income urban communities of Yogyakarta are experiencing financial and social stressors preventing them and their families from living healthy, fulfilled lives. Many women are living in street situations, the primary income earner of their family, and working informal jobs with unpredictable daily income. Facing intersectional vulnerabilities, single mothers and their children are disproportionately impacted by social discrimination. Unfortunately, this extends to bureaucratic discrimination, where women and their children are unable to access Bansos due to systematic and administrative barriers. While Bansos is inaccessible to those most vulnerable, the government also provides little education how to budget Bansos allowances, and the spending is rarely tracked.
We, Harapan Fian, are piloting a new small-scale social support program as an adaptation of the Bansos Conditional Cash Transfer program.
The 6-month program will support 10 young single mothers living in Yogyakarta, providing alternative, more impactful social welfare support. Each mother will receive Rp 250000 ($15 USD) per month to contribute to pressing living costs such as rent, transport and healthcare. Alongside the cash transfer, mothers will meet monthly with Harapan Fian to receive tailored one-on-one assistance to address their personal challenges. In meetings, participants will be developing skills to create a personalized financial planning strategy that aligns with their needs. There is a potential that the program will extend beyond 6 months and through these meetings, we will collaboratively adapt the program accordingly.
This program will facilitate single mothers to become more confident, resilient, and economically independent, increasing their social connectedness and financial literacy.The program will also act as an example for future social welfare advocacy, highlighting the importance of responsive and community-oriented programs.
We are currently fundraising to support the 6-month program costs, with a fundraiser goal of Rp 21000000 ($1280 USD). All donations are welcome and will go directly towards financially empowering single mothers in street situations.
Please donate via GoFundMe https://gofund.me/9b7f89bef
