Full Breakdown
Women Volunteers Combat Fires in Ketapang, Indonesian Borneo
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In the Ketapang regency of Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), a group of women volunteers known as “Power of Mama” patrol their villages each morning, detect smoke, and actively fight forest and plantation fires. Their efforts aim to protect local communities from the health hazards and property damage caused by recurring blazes.
Origins and Growth
Formed in 2022, the “Power of Mama” initiative was created by women who wanted to supplement limited official firefighting resources. The volunteers, who refer to themselves as “Mamas,” have expanded to more than a dozen villages across the Ketapang regency, establishing a grassroots network that operates daily during fire season.
Scope and Participation
The program now includes over 100 women, many of whom are homemakers balancing household duties with firefighting responsibilities. Their volunteer work involves early-morning housework followed by several hours of fire monitoring and suppression, often using basic equipment and community-provided tools.
Community Impact and Challenges
The women’s rapid response has helped reduce the spread of fires that previously left residents exposed to smoke-related illnesses. However, their visibility has also triggered a backlash rooted in gender bias; community members have expressed sexist attitudes toward the women’s involvement in what is traditionally seen as a male-dominated task. Despite these social pressures, the volunteers persist, citing a commitment to safeguard health and livelihoods in their villages.
Official Responses
No formal statements from local authorities or government agencies have been reported in the source material regarding the “Power of Mama” program or the surrounding gender-related controversy.