Kardinah goes to and lives with people<\/p>\n
By Irawati Wisnumurti<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): During the Fourth World Conference on Women in
\nBeijing in 1995, an Indonesia grassroots organization, the Family
\nWelfare Movement (PKK), was internationally recognized for its
\nleading role in a global campaign against illiteracy.<\/p>\n
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
\nOrganization granted PKK the Noma Prize for \"creating a national
\nmovement conducted by the wives of civil servants, dedicated to
\nthe education and social welfare of women\".<\/p>\n
Named after the late Japanese literary figure Shoichi Noma,
\nthe prize was given to PKK for \"emphasizing the fundamental
\nimportance of educating women and girls as a means of
\ncontributing to long-term family welfare in a rapidly changing
\nworld\".<\/p>\n
PKK had demonstrated \"the effectiveness of combining literacy
\nand post-literacy activities with income-generating activities as
\na means of encouraging learning, alleviating poverty and
\npromoting family welfare\".<\/p>\n
The lofty praises were only a few given in recognition of the
\norganization, but they do not sit well with Kardinah Soepardjo
\nRustam, the 65-year-old grandmother who has worked tirelessly to
\npopularize the organization and its concept throughout Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"I haven't done anything special,\" dismissing the recognition
\nthat came her way. \"Without the participation of every volunteer,
\nI am nothing.\"<\/p>\n
Born April 4, 1932, in Banyumas, Central Java, Kardinah has
\nsince the beginning shown a strong compassion for others. She
\ntaught her grandmother to read and write. In 1947, she became the
\nyoungest volunteer at the Indonesian Red Cross.<\/p>\n
She recalled being captured at Karang Mangan Hospital by the
\nDutch, who then moved her and other volunteers to Purwokerto
\nHospital where they were held prisoner for three months. Though
\nshe managed to escape, the experience made her ill and she had to
\nhave a lung operation years later.<\/p>\n
In 1946, when her family fled from the Dutch out of
\nPurwokerto, she remembered seeing the sparse conditions of the
\ncountryside and realizing how basic needs such as water were not
\neasily available.<\/p>\n
\"We were only five kilometers from our home, yet there was
\nsuch a difference. I knew I wanted to do something about it, but
\nI didn't know how to then,\" Kardinah recalled.<\/p>\n
A family friend<\/p>\n
In 1951, Kardinah married a close family friend, Soepardjo
\nRustam, who had just returned from the United States Army
\nInfantry School in Georgia and was about to be posted as
\nsecretary to the Military Attache at the Indonesian Embassy in
\nthe Netherlands.<\/p>\n
She accompanied her husband on military and diplomatic
\nassignments. In 1974, Soepardjo became Governor of Central Java
\nfor two five-year terms.<\/p>\n
As head of Central Java PKK for ten years, and as head of
\nFamily Welfare Headquarters (1983 to 1988) -- when Soepardjo
\nbecame minister of home affairs -- Kardinah traveled to towns and
\nremote villages in Central Java and all over Indonesia to promote
\nPKK.<\/p>\n
PKK originated at a home economic seminar in Bogor, West Java,
\nin 1957, which established Education on Family Welfare as a
\ncurriculum, targeting the women's role in building a prosperous
\nfamily.<\/p>\n
In 1967, the curriculum was implemented in Central Java and
\nwas nurtured by the wife of then governor Munadi. In 1972,
\nPresident Soeharto instructed then home affairs minister Amir
\nMachmud to implement the curriculum nationally.<\/p>\n
However, it was conducted sporadically throughout Indonesia
\nand was not well-organized.<\/p>\n
\"People still lack an understanding of what PKK really is,\"
\nKardinah said.<\/p>\n
In Central Java, after Soepardjo replaced Munadi as governor,
\nKardinah sought to continue what Mrs. Munadi started. She
\nthoroughly learned PKK's concept and implemented it while
\nmodifying it, focusing on the household, paying attention to
\ndetails and visiting homes in villages and talking to locals.<\/p>\n
Her work paid off. PKK quickly evolved and later attracted
\ninternational attention. \"Other countries did not really have a
\nnational program like PKK to reach rural women,\" she said.<\/p>\n
In 1980, PKK mobilization teams were set up in provinces at
\nall district levels, and the national budget allocated funds for
\nthe movement. In 1982, a home affairs ministerial decree
\nestablished the Central Mobilization Team at PKK Headquarters,
\nand PKK officially became a national program.<\/p>\n
In 1983, a decree of the People's Consultative Assembly
\nrecognized PKK as a vehicle to improve women's roles in
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
Through the movement, Kardinah has worked to increase
\nawareness in family planning, nutritious eating, maintaining a
\nhealthy living environment and improving literacy.<\/p>\n
Kardinah's friendly and gentle ways have made her popular
\namong villagers. Her creativity and sense of leadership has
\nenabled her to lead and expand the program.<\/p>\n
Today, PKK is a household term. Practically every neighborhood
\nhas a PKK branch.<\/p>\n
\"PKK is effective because it has been applied in accordance
\nwith local needs and local resources. It's been a flexible
\nprogram,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Kardinah has organized training sessions for PKK cadres.
\nDuring natural disasters, such as the gaseous eruption of the
\nSinila fumarole in Central Java in 1980, she would travel despite
\nvery rough terrain and help rescue workers find missing victims.<\/p>\n
\"The budget for PKK is not large and, although the cadres are
\nvolunteers, the programs need funding,\" Kardinah said. \"However,
\nwe have found many creative ways to raise funds.\"<\/p>\n
For example, activists save coconut fibers, which are usually
\nthrown away, sell them to doormat makers and use the money for
\nPKK programs.<\/p>\n
At the end of his term as coordinating minister for people's
\nwelfare in 1993, Soepardjo fell ill.<\/p>\n
On Kardinah's 61st birthday, he gave her a book called Small
\nSteps of Kardinah Soepardjo Rustam toward a Prosperous Indonesian
\nFamily. He died a week later.<\/p>\n
Always close to each other, it was a difficult time, but
\nKardinah's inner strength enabled her to continue working.<\/p>\n
She is now a member of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(1992 to 1998), chairwoman of the Organization for Eradication of
\nTuberculosis, and holds various posts at a host of organizations.<\/p>\n
\"I just continue with what Ibu Munadi started in Central Java.
\nWithout other volunteers who are always full of ideas, I would
\nnot have been able to do anything. I only help encourage and
\nmotivate them,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Her motto in life is a Chinese saying:<\/p>\n
Go to the people, live with the people,<\/p>\n
Learn from them, love them,<\/p>\n
Start with what they know, build on what they have,<\/p>\n
When the task is finished, the people will say:<\/p>\n
\"We did it ourselves!\"<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kardinah-goes-to-and-lives-with-people-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }