Empowering women, changing lives & protecting land

Irma is the PoM coordinator for the Sungai Putri Village.

As part of the all-female Power of Mama (PoM) team, Juana and Irma are working hard to protect forests, communities, and wildlife from the threat of fire. 

By empowering local women like Juana and Irma to lead the way, PoM is raising awareness about the dangers of forest fires and helping communities take better care of their land.

Before joining PoM, Juana and Irma were worried about forest fires but didn’t have the knowledge or tools to help. Now, they are at the heart of community patrols, fire hotspot monitoring, and education programs to teach others how to prevent uncontrolled land burning.

Through PoM, Juana learned about fire risks, government regulations and how to educate her community on fire safety. “After joining PoM I got to know the government…and had the opportunity to share about forest fire hazards with the community” she says. 

The Impact of PoM on the Community

The work of PoM is already having a huge impact. Irma says that landowners, who once burned their fields without understanding the impact, are now more aware of the damage they can cause to both the environment and their neighbours. PoM members like Juana and Irma are helping to change how people think about burning land.

“For the community they were finally aware that burning the land is not only harmful to themselves, but other people as well” says Irma. 

For Juana, the biggest change has been in how people now view her and the PoM team. “Before joining PoM, people didn’t know us. But after that, we became known. We get so many compliments”.

Juana joined PoM to gain knowledge, make friends and connect with her community.

A fire safe future

Looking ahead, Juana and Irma hope that the lessons they’ve learned and shared will bring lasting change. They dream of a time when wildfires no longer destroy their land, when children can go to school without smoke in the air, and when future generations can inherit a safer, healthier environment.

PoM is a testament to the power of community-driven change. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, women like Juana and Irma are leading the charge to protect their forests, families, and futures. 

Your support has helped provide important equipment like helmets, raincoats and training materials. These tools help the PoM team to patrol safely and effectively, keeping their communities protected from the dangers of wildfires.

Juana and Irma hope to see PoM grow even more in the future, helping more people understand how important it is to protect the land. With your help, we can make that happen.

Together, we can build a safer, more sustainable future for everyone! Thank you for supporting this vital work. 💚

Program name: Power of Mama (PoM) 
Location: West Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia
Run by: Program run by Ministry of Forestry and Yayasan International Animal Rescue Indonesia 🌳