Coinciding with the commemoration of International Women's Day 2024, Pundi Sumatra held a Public Campaign with the theme Investing in Women; Accelerating Progress.

This action was carried out at the Bungo City Car Free Day on Sunday, 3 March 2024 in front of the Regent's Office.

In carrying out this action, Pundi Sumatra also collaborates with the PEKKA Foundation (Women Headed Family Empowerment) which is also a partner of INKLUSI.

‘This collaborative action is actually our way of garnering community support and acceptance for our empowerment programme,’ said Dewi Yunita, CEO of Pundi Sumatra.

The commemoration of International Women's Day has come a long way. On 8 March in the World War II era, the whole world celebrated the day as a momentum to advocate for gender equality.

The Public Campaign Action in Car Free Day also became a promotional media for Pundi Sumatra to convey the role and involvement of SAD women in all aspects of empowerment carried out since 2014.

"We want to highlight the involvement of women in economic, social, cultural, political, educational, health and religious aspects. So that people know that gender equality is no longer a secondary issue but instead must be fully supported," said Dewi.

To encourage community acceptance and support, especially for the women's group, the Public Campaign was also filled with promoting products made by the women of the Suku Anak Dalam community assisted by Pundi Sumatra. Ulvi as Pundi Sumatra's field facilitator showed some of the handicraft products displayed such as woven plates, tasselled mats, ambung, and smoked fish products.

‘We also have smoked fish, which is the first food product from the tribe that can be bought here,’ he explains.

People visiting the booth can see a collection of photos of Pundi Sumatra and PEKKA activities. ‘The banner contains the hopes, dreams and desires of SAD women, visitors can write their support for the SAD Community on this banner,’ Ulvi invited visitors to the booth.

The booth, which opened at half past 7am, attracted the attention of Car Free Day participants. Some claimed to be interested in SAD's handicraft products.

"Every time there is a public event like this, the committee should help promote stands like this. The government must be quick to respond if there is a community that wants to open a stand at the bazaar," he concluded.

Ira and other visitors also expressed the same opinion that women from various groups must be empowered and strong independently for the progress of the nation.

‘Hopefully, what Pundi Sumatra and PEKKA are doing can produce good results for women in Bungo,’ she said.