ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT DIVISION

Cow breeding and fattening

MBM has been working with local farmers to increase community awareness of organic agricultural practices through the Cow Program. The program focuses on two areas: cow fattening and cow breeding. Each cow group also receives the biogas program if requested.

The process of the program involves staff from MBM going to the village to check that the local people are able to accept the cow program. Each group goes through a socialization process, where they are told about the program, cow maintenance, how to build a cow pen and the expectations of them to be involved with the program.

Each group is made up of between 5 to 10 people. Each person receives two cows as part of the fattening or breeding program. The cows come from a central cow market in Bali. Most of the groups house the cows together and share in the profit. When working with the Cow Groups, commonly an MBM Women’s Group works with the wives of the men.

Self Help Group

The Self Help Group program works with groups of people across Bali to provide micro-finance assistance and training to support the strengthening of the economy, provide capital to small business opportunities and improve people’s living standards.

The program works with small groups of people who receive the capital to support their business. Examples of supported businesses are furniture production, food production, basket weaving, farming and livestock.
These groups agree to be responsible for their own organizational management. attend regular meetings, manage principal saving deposits, and manage compulsory savings, voluntary savings and other deposit types.

The program also provides Assistant Revolving Capital and training programs in order to nurture long-term sustainability for individuals and communities. Training programs are conducted in areas of business consultation, small business management, sewing and cake making.

The benefits of MBM’s Self Help Group Program include friendship, cooperation among community members, an increase in confidence and self esteem and skill training.

Women’s Group

MBM has been facilitating Women only groups since 2007 and over the years, has seen an increase in the number of women groups being supported, as well as an improvement in the situation of these women’s lives.
The benefits of this program for the women include friendship and cooperation among community members, increased confidence and self esteem and the chance to learn new skills.

MBM has identified and are concerned that women in Bali are still facing discriminative practices within the social, cultural and political spheres. Studies show these inequalities in society result in limited access to education, health and social services within the community as well as in decision making in development policies.

MBM Women’s Groups are formed by a small group of women who live in close proximity to each other. After each group has appointed a leader who is responsible for coordinating and managing the group, socialization occurs. Each member receives 1,000,000 IDR (AUD $110) for a period of 10 months.

Each month, MBM sends staff to provide vocational and business training, education and developing awareness on HIV/AIDS, gender and global warming, and to coordinate monthly loan repayments.

Environmental Preservation

BioGas

MBM is encouraging the utilization of the waste produced by cows to produce BioGas.

Bio Gas, also known as methane gas, is a form of renewable energy from organic waste materials.The waste produced by the cows is combined with water to produce the gas that powers families gas needs.

BioGas making facilities are provided to the groups who receive the cows from the Cow Program and interested individuals.

Waste management

Since 2006, MBM has been working with the community to promote awareness of how to process household rubbish, through educational workshops, seminars and a pilot program.

Monitoring cards and recycling bins have been provided to improve the quality of segregation of organic and non organic waste.

At the MBM office, staff have been using the waste collected, along with cow manure, to produce organic compost. This compost is then packaged and sold in bags back to the community.

The team has been working closely with a local church community in Abianbase, to educate people about the importance of recycling and waste management for their home and environment.