Location: Indonesia
Organization: PERI BUMI
Title: Founder
Please tell us about your role in advocating for or strengthening the social service workforce.
There are many ways PERI BUMI advocates for and strengthens the social service workforce, such as:
1. Supporting education and training for social service professionals to enhance their skills and knowledge through the curriculum in our climate crisis mitigation program for mothers, teachers, and children in order to make them change agents.
2. Developing and implementing policies and programs that promote the recruitment and retention of social service professionals.
3. Fostering partnerships between different social service agencies and organizations to share resources and expertise.
4. Advocating for increased funding and resources for social service agencies and programs.
By investing in the social service workforce and supporting their ongoing development, we can help ensure that vulnerable societies receive high-quality services and support, improving the overall health and well-being of our communities.
We also raise awareness about the importance of social work and social workers in addressing social issues, such as poverty, inequality, and social exclusion related to the climate crisis. This can include highlighting the value of investing in social services, improving the working conditions of social workers, and promoting continued professional development and training.
Finally, PERI BUMI strengthens the social service workforce by providing resources and support to social workers and social service organizations, such as providing access to relevant information, training, and mentoring. This can include initiatives to promote collaboration and peer-to-peer learning, as well as efforts to recognize and celebrate the achievements of social workers in their communities.
What motivates you to work in this field?
A passion for environmental sustainability, a desire to make a positive impact on the world and future generations, a commitment to educating and inspiring others toward a more sustainable future, a belief in the importance of family and community in shaping positive outcomes, and a dedication to social responsibility and advocacy.
Additionally, creating a nonprofit such as PERI BUMI provides a sense of fulfillment and purpose, as it allows individuals to contribute their skills and expertise towards meaningful causes that align with their personal values and beliefs.
From your experience, please describe one or two key challenges that you face in strengthening the social service workforce?
One key challenge that PERI BUMI faces in strengthening the social service workforce is ensuring adequate resources for our training program. The most difficult thing is ensuring that the final project, that are done by our beneficiaries, are carried out properly. Because our program is an online workshop for mothers, teachers, and children from all over Indonesia. In 2023, there are nearly 900 registrants in the mother class and 300 registrants in the teacher class. We chose 250 mothers and 50 teachers to get 11 workshops which lasted for 3 months, and in the end, they had to work on the project so that it could become a solution for the surrounding environment.
Ensuring beneficiaries carry out their projects, attend workshops until the end, and maintain the integrity of the community to continue to engage is our biggest challenge with a minimum number of workers. We also face limited funding and must prioritize empowering needs, making it challenging to invest in staff development and capacity-building initiatives.
Addressing these challenges may require creative and innovative solutions, such as exploring new funding models or partnerships, leveraging technology to improve service delivery, building interdisciplinary collaborations, and advocating for policies that prioritize social services and strengthen the social service workforce.
How long have you been a member of the Alliance?
Less than one year
What was the primary reason you decided to join the Alliance?
I need to learn more about this workforce, in order to keep my organization sustainable. I also want to expand my network through everyone in this field.
What value does the Alliance bring to your efforts to strengthen the social service workforce?
Alliances are essential for PERI BUMI to build a collective voice and drive change by bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders, including social workers, educators, policymakers, and community members. These coalitions offer an opportunity to share expertise, experiences, and perspectives, and work collaboratively towards common goals.
Additionally, alliances allow for effective knowledge sharing, joint learning, and capacity-building among us. Through workshops, training sessions, and other collaborative initiatives, our community members can enhance their skills and improve their ability to provide quality services to communities.
