Pekerti Foundation

Barbara Brower together with Herman and Yvonne Meijer came to visit Pekerti

hekuro — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:43:48 +0000

A pride to Pekerti has a visit from Barbara Brower, one of the Pekerti founding initiator. Mrs. Barbara came with two volunteers from Holland, Herman and Yvonne Meijer. Herman Meijer is Senior Project Manager City of City Support Program, a program to assist local governments in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam to recovery, re-organization, and re-structure the cities in Aceh province that devastated by the disaster tsunami 2004.
For the purposes of that project, Herman and his wife will stay in Aceh until 2010. And while they were in Aceh, Yvonne wants to do something for the people of Aceh. Limitations information owned, encouraging them to find out and eventually they met with Barbara and she introduced them to the Pekerti.
In this meeting Peketi share many of its experiences working with people of Aceh. With who Pekerti working to, anywhere, any project undertaken by the division presented by Community Development of Pekerti to give ideas to Yvonne about what Pekerti done for the community. These discussions are expected to provide ideas or inspiration to create a program for Yvonne to help people of Aceh. Pekerti provides the contact of people who may be contacted by Yvonne so she can take more data in the field.
After a brief discussion, Barbara, Herman and Yvonne look around of Pekerti’s products at Pekerti office. They were very interested in many products owned by Pekerti. These products also will be an inspiration for Yvonne if it will make product development in Aceh.
Barbara, Herman and Yvonne were extremely grateful for the opportunity that Pekerti given to them. They hope that what they discussed will benefit the people of Aceh.

Pekerti visit the earthquake victims

hekuro — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:52:15 +0000

The earthquake that hit the area of Tasikmalaya encouraged Pekerti to provide assistance to the victims. On 5-6 September 2009 Pekerti assigned 2 staffs to go straight to the field see first hand the conditions of earthquake victims in Tasikmalaya.
Two areas visited by Pekerti were Regency of Ciamis and Tasikmalaya. There are 6 districts in Tasikmalaya and several areas in Ciamis which visited by Pekerti. In this visit Pekerti provide assistance in the form of money - which is distributed through head of local sub-district. Limited time make this aid is less than the maximum aside the area affected by the earthquake are spread far apart one region to another.

In this visit Pekerti also collect data about how many casualties, wounded, and buildings damaged also what aid is urgently needed by disaster victims. From the results of this visit Pekerti found that there are still many areas not yet touched by the aid, both from government and from other communities. Tents and blankets are the current items are needed by residents because residents are still afraid to return to their home lives so they prefer to live in emergency tents and cold natural conditions make the people really need a blanket.
From this data Pekerti then plan to have housing programs to help the victims of the earthquake disaster in Tasikmalaya. This is done by Pekerti because Pekerti already have experienced in doing this assistance during the earthquake in Yogyakarta in 2006, which at that time Pekerti built 500 units of temporary shelter, however to provide temporary shelter assistance, Pekerti lack funds and adequate personnel, for temporary shelter takes relatively quick and also government already started doing temporary shelter assistance for the community, when this news published, government and some social institutions already started doing temporary shelter assistance for the community. The program planned by Pekerti is a long-term assistance programs.
To realize this assistance program Pekerti is currently drafting a proposal that will soon send it to Pekerti partners. But Pekerti also give opportunities for the Pekerti partners to participate ease the burden on victims of the earthquake Tasikmalaya. For that purposes, if you can support the victims, please direct your donation to our bank account:

The Earthquake Update

hekuro — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:41:02 +0000

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 14:55 pm the Indonesian community in West Java region shocked by 7.3 magnitude earthquake centered in Tasikmalaya. 7 days after the earthquake, various activities related to disaster response and evacuation has been carried out by the government with the helping from community.
Until the day Wednesday, September 9, 2009, at 18:00 pm, the victim died from Tasikmalaya earthquake were 80 people from 8 districts in West Java. Also reported as many as 47 people are listed as missing, 1158 people were injured and 186,637 people still displaced.

Based on data collected by the national disaster management agencies most damage is in Regency of Bandung, which is 15,156 units of houses collapsed / major damaged, 26,400 units houses were minor damaged, 281 units of places of worship were severely damaged, 166 units schools were severely damaged, 369 units schools were minor damaged and 43 units office were of light slightly damaged the

Indonesia shocked by 7.3 magnitude earthquake which struck Tasikmalaya, West Java

hekuro — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:47:18 +0000

Again Indonesia got earthquake disaster which now is centered at a depth of 30 km below the conscious Indonesia Ocean, or 142 km southwest Tasikmalaya, West Java. At 2:55 pm, local time, an earthquake with strength of 7.3 magnitude, the tremor was felt not only by West Java societies but also citizens of Jakarta which is about 380 km far from Tasikmalaya even be felt by people in Bali and Sumatra.
Base on the data from the national disaster management agencies until Friday 4 September 2009 at 08.00 am the total victim died of 59 people from 9 districts in West Java and in Cianjur District there were 37 people listed as missing. The total refugees were as many as 25,242 people from 7 districts in West Java and 2388 refugees in Cilacap regency, Central Java. This earthquake also resulted in approximately 31,778 homes from 12 districts in western Java and 1 district in central Java was badly damaged, 22,453 homes was lightly damaged, 739 schools damaged, 1628 places of worship were destroyed and 193 office building damaged .
This earthquake also caused landslides in the village of Cikangkareng, Cibinong, Cianjur, West Java. This landslide caused 11 houses and 1 mosque buried in the ground and rocks. On Thursday, 3 September 2009 the last evacuation, 24 died bodies have been found but there are still 32 people who have not found .

West Java is an area of a few Pekerti’ crafters partners come from. Pekerti’ supplier was in the Ciamis, Sumedang, Tasikmalaya, etc. After the earthquake, Pekerti trying to contact Pekerti-crafters, some craftsmen become victims, whose homes have suffered minor damage but there was also a workshop collapsed. Realizing the damage caused by a severe earthquake in the community Pekerti plan provide first aid to victims of this earthquake disaster. These activities will be held on 5 September 2009. Pekerti hopes that with the help, Pekerti can take the pain ease of disaster victims. Beside provides the first aid, Pekerti also will gather any data and information of victims and the area that affected by the earthquake to set what Pekerti can do to help these victims.

Pekerti’s artisans joint Fair Trade training

hekuro — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:14:55 +0000

As a Fair Trade activator institution in Indonesia, Pekerti always retain the commitment to implement the principles contained in the Fair Trade movement. One of the Pekerti done is to make promotion programs include the Fair Trade training given to the craftsmen Pekerti partners. As implementation of this Fair Trade promotion programs are then carried out a Fair Trade training for Pekerti’ craftsmen in Subang, West Java.
On August 19, 2009 Pekerti conducting Fair Trade training in one Pekerti craftsmen house, Warsa, at Binong village, Subang, West Java.18 crafters of the 3 crafters groups in the area of Subang present in this training. With enthusiasm and hope to get the knowledge you know about the Fair Trade and know better Pekerti craftsmen participated actively involved in each training session.
This training not only provides material that the introduction of what the Fair Trade and its principles, but also provides knowledge about who actually Pekerti and what is done by Pekerti. Introduction Pekerti deemed necessary because there are a few crafters who do not know about Pekerti, since they new producers who cooperated with Pekerti. With participatory methods and group discussions, Fair Trade material submitted to the artisans so that they can better understand what’s Fair Trade. In this training, Pekerti, focuses on 4 out of 10 of Fair Trade principles, capacity development, gender equality, working conditions and environmental principles. This is should be done because of the limited time and the condition in crafters.
Active involvement of the crafters in this training is also because they thing that this training is very useful to them, other than to add their insight and to know each other well among fellow crafters. Expectations of the craftsmen can be fulfilled in this training, because they got knowledge of Pekerti, the Fair Trade and also be familiar with other groups in Subang. However, it should be concerned that in order to get better understanding and willingness to implement the 10 principles of Fair Trade, this kind of Fair Trade training and socialization can not be implemented only once to each producer but it should be a continuously training and its evaluation of the understanding and implementation of the training result. Unfortunately, to held continuous training it bounded by the limited fund that Pekerti have.

Celebrating 34th years Pekerti’s existences

hekuro — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:09:46 +0000

Dated August 11, 2009, Pekerti commemorate exactly 34 years of its existence in the community, dedication to the development of handicrafts in Indonesia. Attended by all staff and one member of a foundation builder, Pekerti held a simple celebration. Gratitude for the grace of God to Pekerti can survive for 34 years in the various crises that occur. Not forgetting to pray and hope offered to Pekerti so it become more develop in order to remain able to fulfill the vision and mission, beside that Pekerti can continue to contribute to the nation of Indonesia, with the continued to raise welfare of the community are also stakeholders Pekerti.

Pekerti had honor to welcome Marilyn Price from Ten Thousands Villages Canada

hekuro — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:58:20 +0000

Back, Pekerti honored with the arrival of one Pekerti’s buyer, Ten Thousand Villages Canada, which has more than 20 years of cooperation with Pekerti. Ten Thousand Villages, Canada, which had existed since 1968, sent Marilyn Price, product development staff, to visit Pekerti. Marilyn was in Indonesia from date 1 to 3 August 2009. In addition to strengthening trade relations have been made by both sides, the visit was also intended Marilyn to discuss business plans between the two sides.
Marilyn’s visit began with a visit at the National Museum, National Monument and a craft shopping center to see the trend of handicraft in Indonesia that can become ideas for product development for Pekerti’ artisans. On the second day, Marilyn went to Sumedang to find out the skill and show also understand the production process is done by one Pekerti’ craftsman directly, Heru Firmansyah, along with his group. The group was deliberately chosen because this group is become suppliers of products for Ten Thousand Villages, Canada. Marilyn, in addition to seeing the production process is also directly exploited the opportunity of this visit to talk with the head of the group and group members crafters.
On the last day of her visit, Marilyn visited Pekerti office in Jakarta. Marilyn gave the updated information about Villages Canada and its activities. Pekerti team, on the same time, also shared the updated information about Pekerti’ activities on community developments as well product development. They also shared about the product development, sales target and also the market trend. After that, Marilyn chose some new product samples from Pekerti.

Handicraft Bazaar @Pekerti

hekuro — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:51:28 +0000

Other programs conducted by Pekerti to promote the Fair Trade to the community by hold a craft bazaar. Craft bazaar was hold in July for three days from 28-31 July 2009. The Bazaar was conducted in front of the Pekerti office in Jakarta. The target customer of this bazaar is the communities around the Pekerti office and wider community in Jakarta.
Bazaar which has many times held by Pekerti this time providing goods such as handicrafts, ornaments, musical instruments, toys, tools, household appliances, home decoration etc.
From the results of monitoring of the stand guard at this bazaar, the visitors who come and buy the product is very enthusiastic. They are using the opportunity to get handicraft products from Indonesia.

PEKERTI’S ANNUAL MEETING AND WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY CELEBRATION 2009

hekuro — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:40:50 +0000

Pekerti is a Fair Trade Organisation in Indonesia that very active in Promoting Fair Trade. In World Fair Trade Celebration 2009, with the theme “Fair Trade creates the right climate” Pekerti held three programs those are :
Pekerti’s Annual Meeting
First, annual meeting that was conducted on March 16th , 2009 in Yogyakarta, attended by head of foundation board, Pekerti’s staffs from Jakarta and Yogyakarta also the representatives of the producers from Yogyakarta, West Java, East Java and Bali.

As a part of our transparency to our producers and fellow WFTO members a once yearly meeting is held, purposely to improve harmonious relationships between Pekerti and producers and also as one of means to Fair Trade Principles Socialisation to producers. This activity also reflected that the relationship between Pekerti and producers is not only business commercial between buyer and supplier but it’s a familiarity relationship which they can share the experiences and solve problems together.
Fair Trade Product Bazaar

The second activity for celebrating World Fair Trade Day, Pekerti conducted Fair Trade socialization through bazaar of Fair Trade Products that conducted for 4 days in front of Pekerti’s Office . Bazaar was aimed to introduce Fair Trade Products to the local consumer and local Pekerti’s network in Jakarta. The Products that sold in the bazaar were all the products that usually export to Pekerti’s buyer abroad such as Frame, Yoyo, box, windchime, kitchen utensil, etc.

Environmental Campaign on WFTD celebration
The third programs in World Fair Trade Celebration, Pekerti continue the campaign of environmental concern program through a pilot project of a 3000 plantation that launched since 2007. The pilot project 12,822 m2 of land is located in Bogor District that is about 120 km from Jakarta. The trees that planted in this activity are mahogany (Swietenia Mahagoni Jacq).

This celebration was attended by the Pekerti’ staff, the board of Pekerti, Public Work Department, producer representatives and also some communities in surrounding the land. Traidcraft, is one of Pekerti’s buyer who has taken a part in this activity by giving a donation to help Pekerti implement the conservation project. As a sign of our gratitude on the donations, we have made a special block with the name “TRAIDCRAFT Garden.”
To sustain this program, Pekerti still invite all partner openly to participate in this program through giving donation, idea or other useful things. From the donation collected, Pekerti has plan to expand the conservation land to other area.
This initiative is an effort of Pekerti in awareness of environment preservation especially to keep sustainability of wood material and scarce plants. Beside that this also as the forms of PEKERTI’s consistence in implementation of one of Fair Trade principles

New Director At Pekerti

hekuro — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:21:15 +0000

On Apil 17th 2009, there was a changing position at Pekerti. Imam Pituduh, the director of Pekerti was replaced by Mochamad Ichwani, a man who involve in fair trade with Pekerti for almost twenty years. Furthermore, Imam Pituduh join the board members of Pekerti. Hopefully, through this position replacement, Pekerti can help the marginalized community, both through community development and business development maximally. To all Pekerti’s best friends, Pak Imam said thanks for all cooperation, friendly and sharing during this time and he apologies if he did any mistakes in the past.
Even though, he was not a Director in Pekerti anymore, he will still be active in campaign Fair Trade and Social Entrepreneurship in both Indonesia and where ever his experiences and skills can be utilized.