This intervention effort will take place in the Blora district of Central Java. It includes three new assisted areas for Difabel Blora Mustika (Kunduran District, Jepon District, and Banjarejo District) as well as three new assisted areas for Difabel Blora Mustika (Kunduran District, Jepon District, and Banjarejo District) (Bogorejo District, Tunjungan District, and Ngawen District). The project to strengthen the living ability of women with disabilities and leprosy survivors has identified difficulties and requirements in three long-assisted areas of action. These include the weakness of aided groups’ enterprises, difficulty in selling items, and reliance on the Blora Mustika Difabel team (DBM) to carry out the Women with Disabilities Association’s activities (PERDIFA). As a result, it is vital to build self-sufficiency and develop enterprises owned by the aided groups so that they are not reliant on the DBM team for activities and company management. Meanwhile, in the new aided areas, self-stigma among women with disabilities remains high, and the community treats women with disabilities who have not participated in the activities with discrimination. DBM will reinforce and develop the quality of the aided groups in this project, with the goal of enhancing their present potential and making it sustainable through the creation of an inclusive business. As a result, women with disabilities, including those who have had leprosy, would be allowed to participate in the management of their enterprises without facing stigma or discrimination. Within two years, three techniques will be implemented as part of this intervention. The first technique is to support women with impairments in developing their self-potential. This is accomplished through organizational training and the instillation of an entrepreneurial mindset. This exercise is required in order for them to be able to manage batik enterprises, food processing, and bamboo crafts in a group setting. The community, the environment, and families are all part of the second strategy. This activity is carried out by visiting the families and environments of the aided groups in a direct (face-to-face) manner. DBM believes they play an important role in the long-term viability of the aided groups’ activities and companies. The third option is to lobby the appropriate government with evidence-based and rights-based lobbying (Social Service, Trade and UMKM Office, Manpower and Industry Office). It will be utilized as material for advocacy to the relevant agencies based on the data collected in the field. This advocacy is anticipated to gain access to the government’s side in order to deliver empowerment training to the assisted groups.

Empowering Women with Disabilities through Economic Empowerment 

There are still a lot of stigmatizations for people with disability, especially women. Mostly, women with disability are not included in the decision-making, get discriminated at the workplace, and even no access or opportunity for work. Difabel Blora Mustika, an organization that focuses on people with disability at Blora, East Java, has strengthened the community especially women with leprosy through economic empowerment in six areas because of their low educational background, organizational management, and entrepreneurial skills. DBM aims to enhance and strengthen the potential of women with disabilities and expected to become self-sufficient.  

The intervention has strategies that are strengthening the development of self-potential for women with disabilities through organizational training, approaching the family because it plays an important role in the long-term viability since most of the family also see the rightsholders as a burden on the family, and lobbying to the stakeholders to enhance the products.  

In one of intervention areas, Jepon, about ten women with disabilities are involved in running the business. The woven bamboo crafts are currently being promoted and but PERDIFA Jepon (The Association of Women with Disabilities) has faced a challenge in marketing and promoting the products. Therefore, the facilitator conducted the online marketing training and they marketed the products by utilizing various social media platforms and existing marketplaces. This training also including the guideline how to take and upload product photos with captivating captions. 

Perdifa Jepon has indirectly implemented the inclusive economy by competing with people without disabilities regarding the sale of bamboo weaving products. This will increase public confidence in the ability of women with disabilities. They managed the online sales and expand the business to several cities such as Semarang, Cilacap, and Rembang.  

Perdifa Jepon which is an organization for women with disabilities, has now offered the opportunities for men with or without disabilities. By this means, there is an open job opportunities for the people around Jepon area. 

Through the economic empowerment, before, they lacked self-esteem and were not financially independent due to their shortcomings or the negative perceptions from the public. Now, they begin to adapt to technological developments and it makes them proud.