04 September 2024
Syafrijal S.Kom
SAMOSIR - The Community Service Team of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of North Sumatra (FISIPOL USU) recently carried out a series of community service activities aimed at alleviating poverty and violence faced by the community of female ulos weavers in Samosir. This activity was carried out in collaboration with the Jabu Bonang Foundation, an organization that focuses on empowering women in the traditional weaving industry.
The issues of poverty and violence are serious problems often faced by women's groups in various cultures, including in Samosir. Female ulos weavers often face gender inequality, where they have to play dual roles in the family and society. They are not only involved in economic activities such as weaving, but also play a role in social and customary life, although the social recognition and appreciation they receive are often not comparable.
The FISIPOL USU Team, coordinated by Dr. Hadriana Marhaeni Munthe together with Dr. Ria Mnaurung, Dr. Asimayanty, and Dr. Tunggul Sihombing, raised two main themes in this community service activity: social and economic empowerment. Social empowerment focuses on efforts to eradicate domestic violence (KDRT), while economic empowerment is directed at eradicating poverty by improving business skills for female ulos weavers.
The activity began with a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) that discussed the practices of violence experienced by female weavers, including the double burden they have to bear. This FGD also aims to motivate women to dare to speak up about their experiences of domestic violence, as well as to identify cultural values and potential perpetrators of violence in the family. In addition, an economic empowerment dialogue was held that aimed to motivate female weavers to become potential weaving entrepreneurs in the community.
This activity received a very enthusiastic response from the female ulos weaver community. They showed great interest in opening up new market opportunities for their woven products, with the hope of increasing their selling value and overcoming the economic difficulties they face.
The community service event ended with an exhibition of the diversity of ulos and Batak woven motifs produced by the female weavers. In addition, the song "Mars Perempuan Penenun Ulos" was also performed, depicting their spirit and resilience. This activity was closed with a group photo session, marking the end of the FISIPOL USU community service activities in 2024 in collaboration with the community of female ulos weavers fostered by the Jabu Bonang Foundation.
This community service is a concrete step by FISIPOL USU in supporting women's empowerment and poverty alleviation efforts in local communities, as well as supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the local context.
Source: https://medan.tribunnews.com/2024/08/02/pengabdian-fisipol-usu-untuk-mengentaskan-kemiskinan-pada-komunitas-perempuan-penenun-ulos-samosir
