How CARE is Leading a Women-Focused COVID Response in Indonesia

How has the pandemic affected women who care for their families and work outside the home?

A number of women have double roles and responsibilities during the pandemic, even when they are infected by or exposed to COVID. Women all over the world are primary caregivers. For example, even when self-isolating after exposure, women have in turn exposed their families because their responsibilities have not stopped.

“We hope, together with other organizations, to gain community support for our activities in terms of both policy and funding, as well as encourage other partners to work with us.”

For women working in factories, movement restrictions have changed operating hours, lengthening shifts. This has reduced rest time and made it more difficult for women to take care of their families outside of work. The most worrying thing is that many women working in factories never take COVID testing. We know factories have the biggest probability of getting exposed. So when they come home, they don’t know if they have been exposed until they experience symptoms.

How has COVID changed how CARE Indonesia works?

This pandemic brought many changes, both in daily life and in working life. As a humanitarian and development organization, we must adapt. Most of our activities involve interacting with the community, much of that in the field. So we have had to find ways to reduce group gatherings. That means activities that were previously done once now become multiple times because groups are smaller.

Because we must safeguard the safety of our staff, our partners, and the communities we work in, we must look across the entire scope of our activities to avoid risks. So, for sure, health protocols like masks, hand sanitizer and other protections are a priority, which affects our planning. This also affects the timeline – not just ours, but also the community’s. For example, training now takes longer since it has to be done for multiple smaller groups.

For staff, of course we want to make sure we never engage in activity that carries big exposure risk. Of course, we cannot do all activities virtually – donations, assessment and distribution must involve field work. So we must ensure our staff are protected, while avoiding any unnecessary contact.

How do you use your voice to help others? 

CARE Indonesia is not the only organization responding to the impact of COVID. We hope, together with other organizations, to gain community support for our activities in terms of both policy and funding, as well as encourage other partners to work with us.

What does the future hold for you? 

We hope to extend what we have done to other regions where CARE does not yet have a significant presence. In addition to negative-pressure tents and packages of food and vitamins for those self-isolating, we also plan to support health workers with PPE, supplements, and vitamins as well.

We also support the development of community-based self-isolation facilities because many cannot properly self-isolate at home. Of course, to establish these facilities we need participation, support, and acceptance from the local community so we can meet the need and be well prepared for the future should there be other spikes.