What are some of the organizations that are structured under the banjar? Part III

Within every banjar in Bali there is a women’s organization called PKK. This stands for Pemberdayaan Kesejahteraan Keluarga, meaning something like ‘Guidance of Family Welfare’. If a female joins the banjar, she will automatically become a member of the PKK when she marries.

Women’s groups like PKK are in fact not unique to Bali, and are found all over Indonesia. Even the wives of civil servants have their own association called Dharma Wanita – who get together on a regular basis.

They have a 10-part PKK program that the members use as a guide, which is loosely translated as:

1. Understanding and following Indonesia’s moral code (Penghayatan dan Pengamalan Pancasila)
2. Teamwork (Gotong Royong)
3. Food and nutrition (Pangan)
4. Clothing and craftwork (Sandang)
5. Housework (Perumahan dan Tatalaksana Rumah Tangga)
6. Education and life-skills (Pendidikan dan Keterampilan)
7. Health (Kesehatan)
8. Banking (Pengembangan Kehidupan Berkoperasi)
9. Conservation of the natural environment (Kelestarian Lingkungan Hidup)
10. Health education (Perencanaan Kesehatan)

This program will differ according to region, depending on their tradition, culture and religion, even within Bali.

The PKK will be instrumental in a large number of banjar activities including: offering making, cleaning the banjar, food and beverage preparation, child-raising (Posyandu), and sporting activities like aerobics etc. Members of any women’s gamelan group in the banjar will also be part of the PKK.

Being a member of the PKK doesn’t always revolve around serious matters, however. Getting together is also a time to catch up with friends, chat about village issues, and of course the hottest village gossip. However sexist the PKK may seem to an outsider, its very existence seems to help the women of the banjar feel like they really belong and feel responsible for many of the issues and activities in their local area.

Copyright@ Kulture Kid 2007
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