Single Mother Survive in the middle of Pandemic

Poorness was increasing during pandemic Covid-19. Many people lost their jobs, small-scale vendors close their stores, and not a few students must drop out. Statistics Indonesia Agency (BPS) releases that there is increased poorness more than 2,7 billion people in Indonesia during this pandemic. The majority income of people in Indonesia just got Rp. 460.000/person, or Rp. 2.200.000/family.

IDEP share local seeds to single mother’s family in Sukawati, Bali (Photo: Gusti Diah)

 

 

The decline of economic conditions in Indonesia certainly impacted women, especially women who have burdens. Launch from Tempo, activities that require workers to work from home make women burdens become stuck up. Moreover, students require to study from home too. Furthermore, Sri Mulyani Finance Minister of Indonesia said 93 percent of workers in UMKM (micro, small and medium enterprises) are dominated by women. Those informal sectors have the most impact.

 

 

Women, in general, were impacted by this pandemic, especially women who need to fulfill their family need by themselves. These problems befall single mothers who survive to fulfill family needs and sent their children to school. It happened to Sri Handayani that keep surviving and doing anything to live her family and sent her children to school.

 

 

Family bucket for Sri Handayani’s Family in Denpasar, Bali (Photo: Gusti Diah)

 

 

At the beginning of the pandemic Covid-19, this 37 years old woman was dismissal and didn’t get severance pay. Since that time, Handayani needs to change their mind to find a solution to survive. Although the problem was so sudden, this mother strives many ways, such as selling snacks, bread, and stationary. “Since this corona, I often cry, because I don’t know what kind of job still there for me, but I must stronger now,” said Handayani while holding her children.

 

 

Not only Handayani, but pandemic also impact other single mothers, like Made Pariani who in daily activity selling some clothes in Sukawati Art Market. This single mother needs to survive when tourism is weakening and there are no customers who want to buy her clothes. “For more than 3 months I didn’t get any income from my enterprise,” said Pariani.

 

 

School supplies for Pariani’s children in Sukawati, Bali (Photo: Gusti Diah)

 

 

She can’t take another job, because this 42 years old mother can’t leave her two children. Luckily, Pariani’s children understand and always support their mother.

 

 

The struggle of single mothers in this pandemic was inspired IDEP Foundation to create a program called Family Bucket to Single Mothers. Started on August 10. 2020, IDEP distributed family buckets to more than 70 families.

 

 

Bringing family bucket to single mother (Photo: Gusti Diah)

 

 

Besides groceries, family buckets are also equipped with organic seeds from IDEP. Those local seeds are distributed to every family because IDEP wants to share sustainability spirits. From this program, single mothers will become resilient when they can fulfill their family’s basic needs by themselves. Their efforts will funnel by planting. Because with planting, family food resilience will fulfill sustainably. (Gd)