His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Humanitarian Envoy of the Big Heart Foundation, has concluded his visit to charitable projects in Indonesia. This initiative aligns with the strategic direction of the Big Heart Foundation towards expanding its humanitarian and developmental partnerships in South and Southeast Asia.
Empowering Women Through Coffee Farming
During his visit, His Highness explored a coffee plantation in Central Java supported by Nama Foundation, which focuses on enhancing women’s empowerment. He engaged with several women participating in the programme, learning about efforts aimed at equipping around 2,800 women with essential skills and knowledge to improve their involvement in the coffee farming sector. His Highness witnessed the coffee-picking process and ensured the quality of the coffee produced.
His Highness the Humanitarian Envoy of the Big Heart Foundation also sampled various coffee varieties cultivated on the plantation and gained insights into the roasting, grinding, and preparation techniques. He listened to the women working there as they explained the training programmes designed to support their livelihoods, enhance their economic resilience, and enable them to secure more sustainable income sources. Additionally, the training involves advanced agricultural practices, financial literacy, entrepreneurship education, and access to markets and leadership opportunities.
Localised Approaches and Sustainability
His Highness learned about the support provided by Nama Foundation for this programme as part of its collaborative approach with local partners who possess deep insights into the communities’ needs. This ensures that women empowerment initiatives are rooted in local realities and contribute to building skills, opportunities, and capacities that can achieve sustainable long-term impacts. Nama Foundation aims to enhance women’s participation in economic and community life, enabling them to contribute more significantly to the development of their families and communities.
His Highness also reviewed the challenges women face in entering the coffee sector and advancing along the associated value chain. He discussed how training, development of agricultural practices, financial inclusion, and improved market access can provide more sustainable livelihood opportunities, which will have a broader impact on their families and agricultural communities. The Big Heart Foundation is working to bolster support for coffee farms through future expansion plans, including the establishment of integrated factories that could potentially double the income of women working in coffee farms.
Addressing Housing and Basic Needs
In the village of Gunung Kidul, His Highness wrapped up his series of visits in Indonesia with the “One Home for Every Household” initiative, which has been launched by Arada in partnership with the Big Heart Foundation. Habitat for Humanity Indonesia is implementing this programme on the ground, and His Highness met with several beneficiary families to understand the impact of providing secure housing, clean water, and essential infrastructure on improving their living conditions and enhancing stability.
His Highness toured several homes delivered to beneficiary families, observing how these houses provide a suitable living environment that contributes to the stability of families and fosters dignified living conditions. This support facilitates their ability to improve their living and economic circumstances, helping to build a more sustainable future and enhancing their self-reliance and long-term stability.
Representatives from Habitat for Humanity provided a visual presentation outlining the foundation’s work and its approach to housing within a broader context. They shared plans to construct 250 new homes in Gunung Kidul village and adapt 50 homes to meet the needs of people with disabilities, benefitting over 3,700 individuals in the village. The necessary infrastructure to supply clean water to these homes will also be established, along with activities aimed at enhancing local community capacities.
Expanding Humanitarian Efforts
The Big Heart Foundation continues to mobilise humanitarian efforts and expand its support for refugees and the needy across the globe. This is achieved through direct engagement with communities to understand their priorities and forming partnerships based on field knowledge and local expertise. Since its inception, the foundation has provided assistance to over six million beneficiaries in more than 37 countries through sustainable humanitarian and developmental projects that have exceeded a value of 350 million dirhams. This support has spanned key sectors including education, healthcare, improving living conditions, emergency responses, security, and protection, bolstering the ability of the most vulnerable groups to build a more stable and sustainable future.