Mama Tia: Igniting a Better Well Being and Safety for Children and Families

Mama Tia, or Ibu Sumaryati to give her full name, is a 49-year-old housewive and the head of the PKK Working Group 4 in her village in Tangerang Regency. Beyond her domestic responsibilities, she is also actively involved in managing the local Posyandu (integrated health post). Well-known in her community as a dedicated advocate for children and families, Mama Tia has been at the forefront of various community initiatives. 

Her village, situated in Tangerang Regency bordering Serang City, is frequently threatened by the overflowing Cidurian River. The river has caused significant flooding on several occasions, submerging homes with nearly two meters of water and disrupting daily life. These natural disasters, coupled with the community's limited economic resources, have presented significant challenges. Many residents work as food vendors, factory workers, or farmers, earning inconsistent incomes. As a result, some have resorted to borrowing money from loan sharks. 

"Many people here don't think about the future and aren't very good at managing their household finances. When they get money, they'll spend it without a second thought, even if it means going into debt. It's even harder when their homes are flooded or damaged, especially if they fall ill," Mama Tia explained. Societal pressures to keep up with the latest trends have further strained family budgets. 

Living in a flood-prone area with fragile household finances has a detrimental impact on the well-being of children and adults alike. Determined to address these issues, Mama Tia introduced S4T, or the Saving for Transformations, to her village. 

"When I first heard about S4T through the PKK, I decided to join. My main goal was to save money. I realised the importance of saving for the future. Other women also joined ASKA to increase their business capital," she said. 

S4T, an initiative of Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), aims to improve household economic conditions and financial literacy. Here's what you need to know about S4T: 

• S4T groups consist of 15-25 members who contribute to a common savings pool. 

• The program provides basic insurance through a social fund that operates in cycles (typically 9-12 months). 

• All rules are based on mutual agreement. 

• The primary goal of S4T is to promote the well-being of every child in every family. 

S4T in Tangerang Regency is part of the USAID KUAT project, a consortium program with Miyamoto International, Catholic Relief Service (CRS), and WVI funded by USAID. 

As her S4T cycle neared completion, Mama Tia was delighted with the growth of her savings. She regretted not saving more and realised the need to continue saving for future family expenses and emergencies, especially in case of floods. Inspired by her own experience, Mama Tia began encouraging others to join S4T. 

"People often ask me about S4T. They want to know what it's all about. I explain that it's a savings and loan scheme with low interest rates. The profits are distributed to members at the end of the cycle. The group is managed by the members themselves, so everyone knows where their money is going. I want people to trust and understnad the safety of their savings," Mama Tia said. 

Through her efforts, Mama Tia established three new S4T groups, involving around 60 women. These groups are now in their second savings and loan cycle. 

For Mama Tia, S4T offers a lifeline for families in her village, enabling them to save, borrow, and prepare for disasters. "I hope more people will join this and avoid falling into debt with loan sharks. S4T can help families meet their children's needs and provide financial security in times of crisis, especially when floods hit our village," she said. 

Author: Ezra Bonita (USAID KUAT Project Officer) 

Editor: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)