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Self-Help Project
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Self-Help Project |
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The project was managed by a series of expatriate volunteers until 1990 when Connie Titaheluw, an Indonesian lady who has experience in both business and social work, took over as manager. Connie continued to be assisted by a small group of expatriate volunteers. Maranatha was under the coaching of a well-established charity for one year before becoming a “Perusahaan Dagang” (Registered Cottage Industry). In 1990 the project moved from Senen to Tanjung Priok and the product line expanded to include sewn shopping bags, necklaces and hair scrunches. Also the export market was tapped with mostly cards being exported to the US, Canada, and Holland.
Today 24 women continue making Maranatha cards on a limited basis and 7 women produce the sewn items. There are seven families who, for various reasons - mainly illness, single parenthood or drug related problems – are not able to support themselves. Maranatha has sought sponsors to assist these families with their annual house rent.
If you are interested in helping in any of the various Maranatha projects or require further information about Maranatha, please contact: Connie Titaheluw, Manager Maranatha Self-Help
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The
Maranatha Self Help Project was started in 1986 by two expatriate women.
The objective was to give work to very poor women of Jakarta to help them
supporting their families and sending their children to school. They started
by teaching several women living along the railway tracks in Senen, Central
Jakarta, how to make greeting cards using batik material. The cards were
then sold at various churches and women’s meetings and bazaars.
Following
the 1997-1998 economic and political crisis in Indonesia the market for
Maranatha products was greatly reduced since so many expatriates (who
are Maranatha’s main customers) left Jakarta. Consequently, the
women got very little income from the project. To assist them Maranatha
offered small business loans to all the women who chose to submit loan
proposals. Thirty women were given loans to start their own businesses
such as selling food in the markets and establishing tailor shops with
one enterprising woman buying a shrimp pond. In 2000 the project again
moved – this time to Marunda Bekasi Utara, west of Tanjung Priok.
Through
donations Maranatha has been able to buy a small plot of land near the
work center and to start building a four-plex housing unit to assist the
neediest families.