The Berdaya Project is a Women's Empowerment initiative developed by Church World Service in West Timor, Indonesia.
Pictured here are the pregnant Mothers of Nomuke Village: (L to R) Yakoba, Orince, Derni and Augustina. These women are involved in Church World Services’ Berdaya project, which is Indonesian for ‘empowerement’ focusing on women's sexual and reproductive health. The program focuses on supporting women and building their skillsets to make or improve small business endeavors. These grow into income-generating opportunities that allow women to feed their children and send them to school.
The images were taken at the home of Derni. All women pictured are involved in CWS’s #TimorZeroHunger project, where they are taught sustainable agricultural practices to farm and grow their family’s food staples.
Derni is a member of both the Berdaya and #TimorZeroHunger initiatives.
Augustina is a member of both the Berdaya and #TimorZeroHunger initiatives.
Yakoba is a member of both the Berdaya and #TimorZeroHunger initiatives.
Orince is a member of both the Berdaya and #TimorZeroHunger initiatives.
Unce is a new mother at 17 years old. Her baby, unnamed, is one week old. Unce is a target candidate for the Berdaya project on Sexual and Reproductive Health. Many young kids in the village do not understand the consequences of unprotected sex or early marriage and motherhood. The project aims to educate volunteers, cadres, to teach young members of the community about sexual and reproductive health.
Mother, Orance Neno Lou, with her fifth son, Nofrando. Orance is a member of the Berdaya project so that she may better understand family planning and her reproductive health. The Berdaya project will allow her to build an income-generating opportunity to help provide for her five boys.
Pictured left to right are Emanuel, Fredis, Farris, Mother: Orance Neno Lou with baby, Nofrando; Father: Yakobus Tulaka with son, Okie
A mobile is made from CDs and cigarette packages to hang as decoration for the children.