February 06, 2025
“Imagine you are sexually abused and you carry a baby, but your family and villagers reject you, saying that you are a homewrecker. Your friends and teachers in school, also your religious community rejects you, saying that you are a bad influence. And, your abuser is actually close to you; your own father, uncle, or cousin. You now have 0 money, a trauma, and responsibility—a baby.” – Treat Initiative
While traditions and culture often play an important role in shaping communities, certain practices can sometimes create unintended challenges. In Sumba, Indonesia, for example, traditional social structures have been associated with cases of sexual abuse and domestic violence, particularly affecting girls from the lower social hierarchy.
These incidents, along with other contributing factors, have led to a growing number of abuse and violence victims in Sumba each year, with many more likely going unreported. However, while these cases are never easy to solve, there are people who strive to make better living conditions in Sumba for those affected, and one of them is Treat Initiative’s Founder, Tabita Tanto.
Founding a nail salon and retail shop that supports sexual abuse and domestic violence survivors from Sumba, Treat Initiative was created not as a simple, profit-earning business, but an impact-oriented enterprise. Tabita Tanto initiated this as inspired by her lineage, having a Sumbanese father who had done a similar movement in his lifetime, as well as her knowledge of the high rate of victims in Sumba, deeply motivating her to take action.
Reflecting this goal, Treat Initiative’s name stand for treats and initiatives, both of which they provide, and their logo shows two people in the letter ‘a’, representing the customers of Treat Initiative as well as the children of Sumba, as they receive happiness from each other.
Although Treat Initiative is based in Jakarta, their fashion pieces reflect their goals as well as Tanto’s roots, as they are made from, or inspired from Sumba itself. Their products include tops, scarves, and other clothing that were embroidered by survivors from the safe house as well as other aspiring women from Sumba. This brings the knowledge of Sumba’s culture, as well as the problems they face to the modern city of Jakarta, uniting them both in support for humanity.
With every purchase, every treatment provided to citizens of Jakarta, Treat Initiative donated 20% of their profits, as well as their retail and collaboration event sales, to the Sumba Safe House–a house that provides care for sexual abuse and domestic violence victims in Sumba. This safe house was the first project started by Treat Initiative back in 2019. Despite only being their first initiative, it took a four year long battle to build, with the challenges of the pandemic and many other obstacles hindering its progress. However, with consistency and the help of their supporters in Jakarta, they successfully built the first safe house in Sumba, providing victims with security and a place to live.
As for their most recent action, Treat Initiative introduced their sub-brand, Rambu Initiative, on their 4th birthday. Rambu Initiative is a brand for hand-embroidered goods, in which all their products are made by survivors from the Safe House, as well as other aspiring girls from Sumba. This brand also comes with a brand new house, Rumah Rambu–meaning House of Rising Woman. While this initiative aims to offer victims a job and housing, they also equip them with knowledge regarding various aspects of life through Rambu Community Trainings and Guidance–holistically improving their lives.
Should you wish to book a treatment with Treat Initiative, you may contact their person-in-charge through treatinitiative.com, where you’ll be scheduled for a premium nail treatment at their salon in Gunawarman, PIK, or Serpong. You may also look for the fashion items they sell at their e-commerce store by the same name. With every treat you get from Treat Initiative, you can receive, as well as deliver a positive impact on Sumbanese people who are in need of help. Together, let’s make a positive change for the future.
