Sokola is a non-profit organization supported by young education practitioners and anthropologists based in Jakarta. Since 29 December 2005, Sokola volunteer started its humanitarian work as one of pioneering civil society groups in Aceh to reach survivors and assist with evacuation. It found its niche among the community of Ujong Muloh, Lembeusoi, Aceh jaya, NAD. The organization provides life skills through education activities for survivors, especially children and women?s groups, respecting community?s capacity to help themselves through their strong sense of community. All volunteers of Sokola live in the community temporary shelters. The SSGF supports Sokola to facilitate children, teenage girls and women to learn sewing and dress making. Together with other funds managed by Sokola, the community has developed its own curriculum for basic education programmes and cottage industries development.

The USD 15,000 grant from SSGF was utilized to buy 10 sewing machines, 3 sewing accessories applications and 4 embroidery machines. These procurements came with training. All machines belong to community group and are stored in wooden community house called the ?Rumah Jahit? or ?Sewing House? for women and children to learn sewing, handicraft, simple printing techniques, micro-enterprise and self-organizing skills.

Initially, the sewing training was held in tents and barracks. The implementation of the training was adjusted with their daily activities. Currently, the women and children agreed to convene every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday for Ujung Muloh. On top the list of needs as identified by participants is development of a marketing system for clothing and handicraft products. Arrangement for asset management and community-owned business approaches have also been identified as crucial steps to ensure sustainability. Based on their simple market research, the communities can procure materials and sell the products through the local market. Parents and relatives of the children attending the locally managed children?s education center have expressed their willingness to become customers and traders for the sewn products and will function as links in the market chain.

The women of neighboring villages of Teumareum and Kuala are now learning from Ujong Muloh?s sewing and embroidery training. The new groups are in the process of mobilizing funding in support of their small cottage industries based on Ujong Muloh experience.