BALI —-— Dompet Dhuafa held the Women Empowerment Bali Edition event at The Keranjang Bali in Kuta, Bali, on Saturday (May 9, 2026). Featuring a mini-talk show format, the event brought together female entrepreneurs, social activists, and orphans in a single economic empowerment initiative titled Belanja Bareng Yatim.
The event, which took place from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM WITA, was attended by media representatives, content creators, women’s communities, and social activists in Bali. A total of 20 orphans under Dompet Dhuafa’s care were also present and received financial assistance as part of the organization’s commitment to supporting their education and well-being.
65 Percent of MSME Leaders Are Women
Etika Setiawanti, Director of Resource Mobilization at Dompet Dhuafa, emphasized that this event was designed to strengthen the collaborative ecosystem among women, communities, and business owners.
“As a philanthropic organization, Dompet Dhuafa is concerned with women’s empowerment across various aspects. We have initiated various empowerment programs that drive the community’s socio-economic development, such as lurik batik and women’s skills enhancement,” said Etika.
She emphasized that women play a strategic role in the national economy, given that 65 percent of the key drivers of MSMEs in Indonesia are women. Dompet Dhuafa is also committed to supporting women to continue moving forward by developing their potential.
Business Must Make an Impact
Sally Giovanny, founder of The Keranjang Bali and owner of Batik Trusmi, enthusiastically welcomed this initiative. As the host, she emphasized that business must have a tangible impact on the community.
“We’re creating a space for the community to network, learn, and share with orphaned children. Hopefully, this becomes a movement that spreads,” said Sally.
Sally also shared the story of how The Keranjang Bali was built with a spirit of innovation despite being hit hard by the pandemic. She emphasized the importance of collaboration between business owners and SMEs to improve shared well-being.
“A strong mindset is key. Business isn’t easy, but fighting and innovating are what must be done to survive,” she said.
From Chicken Coops to the Stage of Inspiration
Mary Ellen Barkey, a beneficiary of the Dompet Dhuafa program, shared her experience of building a chicken farming business using an innovative approach. She proved that even small businesses can thrive if managed with dedication.
“We started with a small business, but we always made sure to keep our chickens happy. No business is easy, but what matters is innovating and not being afraid to try new things,” said Mary.
Shopping with Orphans, Donations for Education
The event concluded with the Shopping with Orphans activity, where participants, speakers, and orphans together selected products at The Keranjang Store. All proceeds from this activity will be donated to Dompet Dhuafa’s orphan education program.
Women Empowerment: Bali Edition is part of Dompet Dhuafa’s series of empowerment programs aimed at expanding women’s roles as agents of change in the economic, social, and humanitarian spheres. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Bani K, Dompet Dhuafa PR
Editor: Ronna