Empower Women with Sustainable Livelihood

Following the Training of Trainers (ToT) activity in Ponorogo, INFEST Foundation Yogyakarta continued implementing the Financial Literacy Module for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) and Their Families in Blitar Regency. The training was held on Monday, 4 August 2025, as part of INFEST's commitment to strengthening community-based facilitation for safe migration and financial literacy education.

The Blitar training was attended by 17 participants, including representatives of KOPI at the village and district levels. Participants were selected as prospective facilitators who are expected to play a key role in delivering financial literacy and safe migration training to migrant workers and their families in Blitar Regency.

The training was facilitated by INFEST Foundation’s team. The facilitators guided participants through a structured learning process using participatory approaches, group discussions, and practical exercises based on the Financial Literacy Module developed by INFEST.

 The training began with an introductory session that provided participants with an overview of the activity's objectives and the role of facilitators in promoting financial literacy among migrant communities. Participants were encouraged to reflect on their experiences in supporting migrant workers and to identify common financial challenges faced by PMI and their families.

 In the first substantive session, Wahyuni introduced the concept of gender and its relevance to Indonesian migrant worker families. The discussion explored how migration affects family roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes, particularly in relation to caregiving, income management, and household leadership. Participants shared insights from their respective communities, highlighting the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into financial literacy and migration planning.

 The second session, facilitated by Novia, focused on financial literacy concepts, including an introduction to financial institutions and financial products commonly accessed by migrant workers and their families. Participants discussed their experiences with savings, loans, and other financial services, as well as challenges related to access and trust in formal financial institutions. Through group exercises, participants practiced developing simple household financial plans that reflect the realities of migrant worker families, emphasizing budgeting, prioritizing needs, and setting long-term financial goals.

 In the final session, facilitators guided participants to reflect on the importance of communication and shared decision-making within migrant worker families. The discussion emphasized the need for clear agreements between migrant workers and their families regarding migration objectives, financial planning, and the use of remittances. Participants identified common communication gaps and explored strategies to strengthen family coordination throughout the migration cycle.

 Overall, the Training of Trainers activity in Blitar strengthened participants' understanding of gender-sensitive approaches, financial literacy, and the role of effective communication in safe migration. The training also enhanced participants' readiness to serve as facilitators at the community level, using the Financial Literacy Module as a standardized and practical learning tool. This activity represents an important step in expanding the communities' capacity in Blitar Regency to support migrant workers and their families in achieving safer migration pathways and more sustainable financial management.