Bogor – Community resilience is not only built through infrastructure or assistance when a disaster occurs. Resilience also grows from the habit of mutual trust, help each other, and manage resources independently. This principle is the basis for implementation Saving & Internal Lending Communities (SILC), a community-based economic empowerment approach accompanied by the Indonesian Scale Foundation through the Program Urban Communities for Resilient Action (STRONG).
SILC is an internal savings and loan group that is managed directly by its members. Each group consists of around 15–30 people, members regularly set aside savings, building social funds, as well as providing access to loans for members who need them, both for urgent needs and productive business development.
This approach does not only strengthen people's access to simple financial services, but also foster a culture of discipline, transparency, and accountability in managing joint funds. The whole process, starting from recording savings, granting loans, until the distribution of results at the end of the cycle, carried out through mechanisms agreed upon and carried out collectively by group members.
Through assistance provided by Skala Indonesia, SILC evolved into more than just a savings and loan group. This group becomes a shared learning space, strengthen social solidarity, increasing community leadership capacity, and expanding opportunities for women to play an active role in decision making at the community level.
In areas supported by the KUAT Program, Nanggewer Village and Pondok Rajeg Village, Cibinong District, Bogor Regency, has formed eight SILC groups which involves hundreds of active members from various backgrounds, like a housewife, informal workers, and micro business actors. Independently managed funds continue to grow and are used for productive needs and emergency funds, thus strengthening the economic resilience of the family while strengthening the social cohesion of the community.
For the Indonesian Scale Foundation, Building a resilient society is not just about disaster preparedness, but also about society's ability to manage economic risks through inclusive and sustainable mechanisms. In line with the organization's vision to build resilient communities through partnerships and empowerment, SILC is a real practice that shows that big changes can start from simple steps at the community level.
Through the spirit of mutual cooperation, Every rupiah saved is not just savings, but it is also a social investment that strengthens mutual trust, expand opportunities, and building a more resilient future for society.
“Small funds today, great protection for the future.” (DM)
