MESTARA BERDAYA
Empowering and improving the life of underprivileged young girls in Indonesia
Located in 4 different cities in Indonesia, Mestara Berdaya aims to empower at-risk girls to break-free from constraints of poverty, child marriage, and school dropouts. Through our workshops and scholarships, we equip these girls with guidance and resources to become self-sufficient and earn better access to education. Starting our first initiative in Bojonegoro in 2022, we are now expanding our reach to Yogyakarta, Bogor, and East Sumba.
Our Journey
Testimonials
Intan
Student at PP Alhamdulillah
Take this sewing training so I can have sewing skills, who knows, maybe one day I can openmy own tailor service and open my own boutique
Morgan James, NY
Lisa Driver, MI
Zaskia
Student at SMA N 1 Ciampea
The event was exciting, I have new insight and a lot of new information related to higher education. I want to continue my dream of becoming a bank manager
Gabriela
Student at SMK N 5 Waingapu
Thanks to Mestara, I can stay in school without worry. I used to help my siblings work at the sea, from early mornings to late nights, to make ends meet and pay for school. But I don't need to do it anymore. I feel more encouraged to study, reach my dreams, and make proud of the families who believed in me.
Bojonegoro
Mestara's first empowerment program took place in an Islamic boarding school located in a small village in Bojonegoro, East Java, where child marriage rates increased by 207.5% in 2020. Given that girls between the ages of 15 and 17 are commonly married off, they often become vulnerable to domestic violence and poverty.
To promote sexual health awareness and help young girls take charge of their lives, Mestara organized a sexual health education and women empowerment program that was attended by 60 girls. The program aimed to prevent underage marriage by providing sexual health and welfare education, as well as a sewing bootcamp that included 92 participants.
Furthermore, Mestara supported the sale of 24 tote bags made by women in Bojonegoro, with all profits going directly to them. This initiative not only helped the women become self-sufficient but also contributed to the overall goal of preventing child marriage by providing economic opportunities for women.
Yogyakarta
Conducted in collaboration with Yayasan Rumah Impian, Dinas Sosial Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Teruntuk Project, and Accenture Indonesia, Mestara Berdaya Yogyakarta offers a series of workshops designed to inspire and empower street children in Sleman, Yogyakarta.
Our program features Inspiration Class, which includes educational sessions on the importance of higher education, Scholarship Info Session, and CV and Interview Preparation for Job Application Seminars. By introducing these young children to scholarship pathways and equipping them with job-seeking skills, we aim to foster a mindset of resilience, ambition, and self-determination as they work toward building a brighter future.
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Yogyakarta faces pressing socio-economic challenges, ranking fourth in Indonesia for poverty rates, with a staggering 280% rise in street children between 2022 and 2023. Motivated by this reality, we developed the Mestara Berdaya Yogyakarta program to uplift these young individuals, enabling them to overcome barriers and dream big.
Through our efforts, 36 children from vulnerable backgrounds received the guidance they needed to pursue education and career goals. Notably, 25 of them expressed a strong desire to find employment post-graduation to support their families, and each child left the program determined to pursue higher education through scholarships.
Bogor
Gender inequality and cultural norms in Indonesia continue to hinder girls' access to education, particularly for those from middle to lower-income families. The lack of access to higher education opportunities, coupled with safety concerns and the perceived high costs of education, has discouraged many girls from pursuing their education.
In West Java, despite its proximity to the nation's capital, the region ranks third in Indonesia for dropout rates, particularly among girls. To address this issue, Mestara organized a program attended by 330 young girls aimed at preventing dropouts through seminars on educational opportunities and scholarships.
Our program empowers young girls to unlock their full potential by pursuing higher education, which in turn, will enable them to compete in the global job market. By supporting young girls in their educational pursuits, we hope to break the cycle of gender inequality and cultural norms that have hindered their access to education and create opportunities for them to build better lives for themselves and their families.
East Sumba
One of the poorest regions in Indonesia, East Sumba presents a huge challenge for the proliferation of female education. With 4 out of 10 girls aged 16-18 no longer accessing education in East Sumba (source: BPS),
Mestara aims to prevent further dropouts by alleviating the financial struggles of female students to stay in school.
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Through providing over Rp 65 million worth of grocery assistance (sembako), scholarships, and school supplies for 51 girls in 3 different schools in Waingapu, we are determined to reduce their financial constraints and ensure they finish secondary education, graduating with better hopes for the future.
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With Mestara Berdaya Sumba, going to school should no longer be seen as a burden or a waste of money. Hopefully, we can further cut the cycle of school dropouts that lead to early marriages and child labor.
What's Next?
With each new initiative, we strive to expand our reach and deepen our impact, helping young women unlock their full potential.​
1
Mestara Berdaya Bogor
We are expanding our seminars to more schools in Bogor area, sharing guidance on higher education and scholarships to inspire students and their communities.
2
Mestara Berdaya Sumba
Building on our success in Sumba, we are increasing participants and providing scholarship opportunities to support young women in continuing their studies.
