Maybank Indonesia and the Maybank Foundation Continue the Maybank Women Eco-Weavers Program

PT Bank Maybank Indonesia Tbk (Maybank Indonesia), together with the Maybank Foundation, the foundation that handles corporate responsibility (CR) for the Maybank Group, is continuing its community empowerment program for underprivileged women through the Maybank Women Eco-Weavers (MWEW) program. This time, the MWEW program is entering its second phase, with locations in Tuban, East Java, and Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara.

The Maybank Women Eco-Weavers program is part of the Maybank Group's efforts to promote traditional textiles globally in a sustainable manner and to create economic independence for women weavers throughout the ASEAN region. This program also supports the establishment of an "ASEAN Center of Excellence."

Previously, from 2016 to 2019, the Maybank Foundation ran the Maybank Women Eco-Weavers program, which focused on developing natural dye weaving in four locations: Sawah Lunto and Tanah Datar, West Sumatra, and Central Lombok and East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. In addition to these four locations, the Maybank Women Eco-Weavers program is also being implemented in Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos.

The first phase of the Maybank Women Eco-Weavers program in Indonesia successfully trained more than 400 female weavers and improved their welfare. This outstanding achievement of the program received recognition from ASEAN, and the program became part of the broader agenda of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025. Furthermore, the Maybank Women Eco-Weavers program is supported by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Joko Widodo, and the National Heritage Board of Singapore, which carries out activities to promote ASEAN arts, culture, and heritage.

The second phase of the Maybank Women Eco-Weavers program continued in Tuban, partnering with Sekar Kawung. Maybank provided mentoring to the weavers in the form of training focused on improving productive yarn spinning businesses, producing Gedog woven cloth, and the distinctive Kerek Tuban batik.

All training aimed to assist in marketing the woven cloth, which was then developed into various fashion products from the weavers' work, and ultimately, marketing them. These efforts aim to promote and enhance the position of traditional weaving in the global market in a sustainable manner, while also supporting the independence and financial inclusion of traditional textile artisans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, in Lembata, through its Torajamelo partner, weavers learn about consumer preferences and how to penetrate the woven fabric market and the fashion industry. To support this, weavers also learn the latest design trends, including patterns and threads, color combinations that suit current market trends, woven motifs, and the application of derivative weaving patterns. This training is expected to provide weavers with insight into current design and understanding the basics of design related to weaving preparation. It also provides opportunities for weavers to design their own weaving variations.

To introduce the woven fabrics created by the Maybank Women Eco Weavers to a wider audience, the Maybank Foundation, along with its two partners, is holding a virtual art exhibition showcasing profiles and designs of woven fabrics and their derivatives in contemporary fashion.

A virtual exhibition and fashion showcase with Sekar Kawung took place on March 3, 2021, showcasing the Gedog Seser weaving by female weavers from Tuban, known for its distinctive design features that convey an image of simplicity. Meanwhile, a virtual exhibition launch with Torajamelo, held on March 23, 2021, showcased woven fabrics created by weavers from Lembata. Through these two programs, 67 beneficiaries committed to preserving Indonesian weaving.

Maybank Foundation CEO, Shahril Azuar Jimin, said, "Community empowerment is one of the pillars of corporate responsibility. Through the Maybank Women Eco-Weavers program, Maybank Group supports women's efforts to become economically independent by preserving traditional weaving techniques, thus benefiting the weavers, which aligns with the mission of humanizing financial services. This program also aligns with the ASEAN mission and the five United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: achieving a prosperous life, quality education, gender equality, economic growth and decent work, and reducing inequality."

Ita Budhi, Patron of the Maybank Indonesia Foundation and Board of Trustees Member, Maybank Foundation said, "Even though we are still in a pandemic situation, Maybank Indonesia continues its commitment to provide attention to female weavers through the Maybank Women Eco-Weavers program which aims to improve abilities, increase self-confidence, skills in weaving, knowledge of design trends and "Our hope is that women can achieve financial independence, thereby positively impacting themselves, their families, and their surroundings. We, along with Maybank, are participating in efforts to preserve woven fabrics for current and future generations."

By improving their skills and knowledge, women weavers can not only foster independence and weaving abilities but also create new jobs for their fellow weavers, which in turn will encourage and motivate the surrounding community.

*News reported from Maybank.co.id https://www.maybank.co.id/NewsAndAnnouncement/NewsAndAnnouncements/2021/04/05/02/12/maybank-indonesia-dan-maybank-foundation-lanjutkan-program-maybank-women-eco-weavers and originally written in Bahasa Indonesia.