Back-to-School Support and Kitchen Staples for families in Indonesia

At PT Ungaran Sari Garments, an apparel factory in Ungaran, Indonesia, workers identified educational support for their children as a top priority during a recent needs assessment. With many employees raising school-age children, back-to-school expenses often strain household budgets. However, during discussions led by the Fair Trade Committee, workers emphasized a core principle of fairness. They wanted to ensure that all 4,400 employees shared in the benefits of the Fair Trade program, including those who do not have children in the 12-year compulsory education system. To meet these diverse needs, the workers allocated $14,900 USD of Community Development Funds in June 2025 to launch a comprehensive dual-support program. Families with children enrolled in school received essential school bags and books to support their educational journey. Meanwhile, employees without children in the compulsory education category received cooking oil. This staple item is essential for daily meals and represents a consistent household expense for everyone. This thoughtful approach provided meaningful assistance across the entire factory. For families with children, the new school supplies helped students get ready for the academic year and significantly reduced out-of-pocket education costs. For the rest of the workforce, the cooking oil offered direct financial relief on a daily necessity. This inclusive strategy reflects different household realities and provides practical value for every employee reinforces the shared ownership of the Fair Trade program. It also highlights the success of collective, worker-led decision-making.