The Power of Mama - the first-ever group of female firefighters in Borneo are championing wildlife conservation, changing attitudes towards women in society and building a better world for future generations.
Even in this day and age, it’s still quite unusual to see women working in physical front-line roles in professions more commonly filled by men. And even more so in a country like Indonesia where traditionally women act solely as wives and mothers. However, the world is changing rapidly and, when it comes to issues of gender equality and female empowerment, women in every corner of the globe are finding their voices and flexing their muscles. This is certainly true of a remarkable team of women known as The Power of Mama. They are Borneo’s first-ever female firefighters and what they are achieving goes far beyond simply putting out fires…
The 50-strong team of women who make up the fire prevention and firefighting force are between the ages of 25 and 50 and many are mothers, even grandmothers. They have taken on roles traditionally held by men, revolutionising attitudes towards the role of women in their societies and working to build a better future for the next generation.
The Power of Mama is a community-led initiative supported by YIARI, IAR’s partner organisation in Indonesia, which is inspiring local women to play an active role in forest protection and fire prevention. Fires are one of the biggest risks to the rainforest and to the survival of the critically endangered orangutan.
YIARI’s ultimate goal is to establish and maintain self-sustaining orangutan populations in the wild, by taking a holistic approach to protecting those populations and their habitats. This involves identifying the root causes behind the decline in orangutan populations and working to provide solutions to the problem that benefit all stakeholders - animals, people and the natural environment.
Every year, wildfires (known locally as Karhutla) destroy thousands of acres of Indonesia’s tropical rainforests, causing countless human and wildlife casualties and releasing millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. The predicted return of the El Nino climate phenomenon in the latter half of 2023 threatens to send global temperatures soaring higher than ever in 2024, increasing the risk of severe heatwaves, droughts and fires. The need for the Power of Mama has never been greater.
Fire prevention and suppression are vital to ensure these wildfires don’t negatively affect humans or animals. This is where the Mamas come in. YIARI’s aim is to support the all-female front-line team across four fire-prone forested areas in West Borneo, namely Pematang Gadung, Sungai Besar, Sungai Awan Kiri and Sukamaju.
As long as forests and wet, carbon-rich peatlands are drained for industrial agriculture, ordinary Indonesians who live in villages close to the fire sites will be forced to live with the consequences. Through the Power of Mama, local women are able to find their voices, take control and take action, together with government firefighters and other community members, to protect their native wildlife, their homes and families, and the air they breathe.
Every day the Mamas patrol their respective forested areas and the land around their local villages on motorbikes and on foot, identifying fire hotspots, putting out fires, talking to farmers about land clearing methods that don’t involve ‘slash and burn’, and ensuring their forests stay intact. During the rainy season, they also support communities impacted by flooding and provide education and
resources to improve sanitation and quality of life. For example, they teach communities about the importance of appropriate rubbish disposal and show them how to clear gutters and waterways of rubbish to prevent flooding.
As champions of wildlife conservation, role models, educators and as beacons of hope, the Power of Mama teams are not only transforming attitudes towards the role of women around their villages, they are also highlighting the capabilities and success of females in traditionally male roles. Most, perhaps even all of these inspirational women have overcome adversity, poverty and marginalisation. Their roles as firefighters have and will continue to empower them, enabling them to earn their own living and giving them a voice. They are living proof that females can achieve their goals and realise their dreams and they are showing other young girls that anything is possible.
YIARI’s long-term goal is to provide these inspirational women with the support and the tools to build long-lasting, meaningful careers in conservation.
The last word goes to Mrs Mai, a proud member of the Power of Mama who leads patrols to prevent forest and land fires. She says: “We are a group of mothers who take action to protect the forest around us. I play an active role in patrols to prevent forest and land fires, as well as speaking with local communities about how we can all play a part in improving the health, wellbeing and safety of our families and our entire community. In addition to fire prevention, we also support communities impacted by flooding and provide education and resources to improve their quality of life. I hope that the Power of Mama will grow and that we can inspire our children to share our passion for protecting the forest we call home.”
Mrs Mai and the rest of the Power of Mama team are, without a doubt, true Guardians of the Forest!