Training program helps poor, illiterate women find jobs

Kadek Eniarti, 18, has never been to school. She comes from an extremely poor family in Kutuh village, Nusa Dua, close to a string of Bali’s famous luxury resorts.

She was one of the estimated 7 million illiterate women in Indonesia. Her illiteracy severely hampered her chances of employment in the island’s thriving tourist industry.

However, this changed three years ago when she was informed about a training program focusing on women’s literacy, work and life skills and vocational skills programs conducted by the R.O.L.E Foundation for the poor and disadvantaged.

She immediately signed up to study Indonesian, English, mathematics, computing and various basic life skills at the foundation’s training facility in Nusa Dua. She also earns a small allowance for working five days a week at the foundation’s non-profit café.

“My life has changed because before I didn’t know anything and I didn’t have any hope of getting a good job,” Eniarti said, adding that she earns Rp 600,000 (US$70) to Rp 800,000 from the monthly allowance.

“I didn’t know any Indonesian or English, but now I am fluent in Indonesian and I know a little English. I feel so lucky to gain new experiences and learn new skills.”

She said she now has an opportunity to get a job although she has no school graduation certificate. Her dream is to get a job in the kitchen of a restaurant or hotel.

Eli Herawati, 30, might have been luckier. She attended formal education until junior high school in her hometown in Banyumas, Central Java, but could not afford to continue her studies.

She moved to Bali last year and was working as a cleaner at a hotel when she was offered the chance to join a similar training program.

“I got many new opportunities to study English, computing, cooking, gardening, food and beverage services, and what I am most interested in, spa treatments,” said the trainee who is currently training at a spa school in Sanur, funded by the foundation.

Ni Kadek Mas Agus Tyarini joined the training program two years ago after being told about it by her friend.

She dropped out of elementary school in fifth grade because her parents, seaweed farmers from Kutuh village, could not afford further education for her.

“I joined the literacy program as well as the basic work and life skills course and now attend the vocational training program. I’m so excited because I have new experiences, meet new friends and can have direct interaction with foreigners at the foundation,” said the 17-year-old girl whose good performance led to her being chosen as the best trainee. The foundation also partnered with Ayana Resort by holding 10 weeks of hospitality training in which Eni, Eli and five other students participated.

The students recently served at a charity event at the resort which raised some Rp 54 million from a four-course dinner, silent auction and wine sales, the funds being donated to the foundation to support its training program.

They even received some job offers from guests at the dinner. “We got at least four or five job offers on the night from wine companies, hotels and restaurants,” said R.O.L.E Foundation’s Mike O’Leary.