Women Congress
LoGA
Micro Credits
Balai Inong
Research
           

BALAI INONG - Modernising the Traditional Women's House

Women in Aceh face a number of difficulties getting their voices and needs heard at a community level. Community meetings are often held in mosques, or at night, when women are reluctant or unable to participate due to cultural prescriptions regarding appropriate female behaviours or spaces . Women that do attend community meetings are, nearly without exception, a minority. When women manage to come together to discuss matters as a group, they are often unable to find a secure space to do so.

Over three days in June 2005, 400 women with backgrounds ranging from grassroots and rural to urban and policy making spheres came together for the second All Aceh Women's Congress. Sponsored by UNIFEM and USAID, the Duek Pakat Inong Aceh II or DPIA II (2 nd All Acehnese Women Congress) generated a number of recommendations that were subsequently taken to the Director of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Executing Agency of Aceh and Nias (BRR), Dr Kuntoro Mangkusobroto.

BRR identified the recommendation for the re-establishment of traditional women's houses, Balai Inong, in all communities as an amazing opportunity to give women readily and permanently available spaces to come together and voice their hopes, needs and expectations in the reconstruction and rehabilitation process. Dr Mangkusobroto stated that this could “create a revolution” and stated that these facilities must be prioritized in the rebuilding of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

THE BALAI INONG MODERN

In many rural communities a public structure, a balai , can be found. It is here that communities come together to discuss the issues taking place in their lives. According to a long-standing Acehnese tradition , the balai used to have a counterpart specifically for women's use: the Balai Inong – ‘Women's Houses' . These houses were traditionally found in every village in the province, and provided a forum in which women could come together to network, discuss their needs and conduct joint projects. The identification of this simple need is one that reflects Acehnese women's desire to re-knit their communities, strengthen their networks and ensure that women are involved in decision making at community level.  

Balai Inong Rumpet (Pilot Project)

The community in Rumpet, Aceh Jaya had lost 75% of its population to the tsunami and only some 20% of the survivors were women. The community have since then been living in tents on the site of their village, with little humanitarian support and no information regarding what is happening in relevance to the reconstruction work concerning them. BBF's built 41 houses for the village and a Woman's Centre – Balai Inong .

The Balai Inong Modern in Rumpet is a 15m x 10m permanent, brick and concrete structure and includes: administration room, cooking area/kitchen, large discussion space, front and back verandahs, computer room, female toilet/wash room and child care/play room.

Since the inception of the Balai Inong in November 2005, 25 tsunami women survivors in Rumpet village, have benefited from them. The Balai Inong offers a safe space for the women to meet and plan their social and economic activities. UNIFEM has supported the project by equipping the center with matting, whiteboards, flip charts, basic computers and printers, mobile phones, communal cooking equipment, tables, chairs, radio, and appointed a coordinator to run the center. The services that are being supported by UNIFEM include forum for discussion groups, livelihood activities including basic computer training, sewing training and cooperative management training.

More 'Balai Inong's

Moving forward, UNIFEM is contributing to the UN Joint programming in Meuraxa sub district, Banda Aceh by revitalizing its Balai Inong. One of the main actions which have been designed under this program is mainstreaming gender equality issues in reconstruction and recovery of Meuraxa. The construction of the new Balai Inong will witness full participation and involvement by women through consultative meetings and discussion. UNIFEM also is supporting the center with capacity building program and livelihood training skills for women. An estimated of 3,000 women in Meuraxa will benefit from the new Balai Inong.