Transformative Impact: Small Grants Initiative Driving Change in Indonesia
In late 2021 and early 2022, the Small Grants Initiative (SGI) launched by Power to You(th) Indonesia aimed to tackle pivotal issues surrounding faith and religion, child marriage prevention, gender-based violence, sexuality, teenage pregnancy, female circumcision, economic factors, media engagement, and legal/justice studies. The SGI provided a platform for grantees to delve into these critical themes, each facilitated by expert mentors in their respective fields.
Participants engaged in various activities, receiving invaluable mentoring sessions conducted three times over a three-month period. These sessions proved to be a significant asset, especially for many grantees who embarked on managing grants for the first time. Among the participants were students conducting their initial research projects, newly established formal organizations shaping their profiles, and volunteer groups evolving into formal entities after conducting research activities through the SGI.
Each grantee successfully executed their activities to completion, generating a multitude of knowledge products and outputs. These included policy briefs, infographics, websites, campaign videos, research videos, photo books, and even innovative applications aiding judges in decision-making for research-based marriage dispensations.
The impact transcended the grant duration, with several enthusiastic grantees expressing their keen interest in continuing their research and initiatives. Notably, seven grantees re-applied for the second SGI, demonstrating their commitment to their causes. One grantee, focusing on developing an application for judges, although not selected for the subsequent SGI, aspired to return in future cycles to advance their project.
At a national level, profound activities unfolded, offering deeper insights into critical issues. Among these were significant undertakings such as the Analysis of Actors and Discourse on Female Circumcision in Indonesia, a case study that analyzed media framing and identified influential actors and discourses in female circumcision news. Additionally, the National Survey of Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic provided extensive data on harassment from diverse locations in Indonesia. Furthermore, the Workshop of Therapeutic Photographers for Adolescents and Young People with Disabilities aimed to evoke positive behavioral and cognitive changes among individuals, culminating in the creation of impactful photo books.
Rey Pangestu encapsulates the essence of the SGI, stating, “The Power to You(th) Indonesia Small Grants Initiative provided support and resources to individuals, groups, and organizations, enabling them to conduct research and initiatives focused on critical issues affecting adolescent girls and young women. The outcomes, including policy briefs, infographics, and educational videos, have been disseminated within intervention areas, fostering betterment in communities and providing increased opportunities for informal CSOs and youth groups.”