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Partnering with the COMMUNITY to transform their LIVES through holistic community development & disaster response.

Quarterly Report & Newsletter

April - June 2012

Committed To Training & Mentoring Local Language Facilitators

CFK are committed to training and capacity building Indonesian eld workers, enabling them to deliver effective disaster preparation & response programs as well as development initiatives that are holistic, integrated, sustainable and truly transform the communities in which we serve.
While some level of development is starting to be achieved in Indonesias industrialized cities, with a population of over 230 million people, this nation is still struggling to alleviate poverty and attain justice for all especially in the isolated rural villages and amongst the urban poor. Poverty is a pronounced deprivation of well-being, poor people in Indonesia - and other countries - are particularly vulnerable due to poor health, low education, lack of facilities and infrastructure. They are often effected by adverse events outside their control such as natural disaster and social political manipulation. They have little opportunity to express their opinions or have any real voice in decisions that effect their well-being. Indonesia is also geographically vulnerable to a high risk of natural disasters, 27% of the worlds active volcanos are located in this nation which is made up of over 17,000 islands. Floods, landslides and earthquakes occur regularly, but the one of the biggest risks due to the intense pressure that is constantly building up on the tectonic plates that lie beneath Indonesias oceans - this means that the threat of another devastating tsunami is always on the horizon. Indonesia's large population and rapid industrialization also present serious environmental issues including large-scale deforestation and overexploitation of marine and natural resources. Environment issues are often given a lower priority due to pressing poverty related issues and ineffectual local governance. Unfortunately, training facilities to educate and capacity build people in Community Development and Humanitarian Aid are generally located outside of Indonesia in more developed countries. These facilities are not easily accessible to the majority of Indonesian national field workers. Financial restraints, language barriers and visa requirements all inhibit most Indonesian workers from having the opportunity to improve their capacities and become leaders in the development of their own communities. CFK is currently developing a Pilot Program for a Training Course & Internship. This training course will enable Indonesian national workers to gain theory and practical expertise that is in line with international standards. The Training Course and Internship is aimed at empowering them to meet the challenge of Disaster Response, Poverty Alleviation and Advocating to attain justice for all. After completing the training and internship these Indonesian workers will have a better understanding and be more equipped to take responsibility in finding solutions as well as implementing initiatives that meet their own disaster relief and development needs.

Mentawai Islands - Tsunami Recovery Initiative

Engaging Children In Disaster Recovery

With so many disaster recovery and rehabilitation issues to focus on, the rights and needs of children are often overlooked or given a lesser priority. To ensure that children are not only considered but are actively engaged, CFK are adopting a Child Rights approach in delivering our Mentawai Tsunami Recovery Initiatives. As well as advocating to establish early childhood development facilities such as Kindergartens and Well Baby Clinics in the IDP (Internally Displaced People) Camps, over the past 6 months CFK has also been working alongside the elementary age children to improve the quality of their lives and help them adapt to their new living environment. Program activities were aimed at building the childrens awareness of a healthier lifestyle and a healthy environment. This has been achieved by involving the children in CFKs organic agriculture initiative, through growing their own vegetables the children have learned about personal hygiene, sanitation and nutrition as well as the importance of protecting their natural environment. At the end of the school term, the children participated in evaluating the program activities. They gave input on what they had learned and what they liked about the program as well as how they thought the program could be improved. They also offered their ideas on the types of future after school activities they would like to be involved in, their ideas included a community library, rubbish recycling, sporting activities as well as dance and music lessons.

Mona and Yesi (pictured right) are two of CFKs local language facilitators, together they have been working in the Child Rights Sector. Mona (left) who is originally form the Mentawai Island of Seiberut, says Working in CFKs Childrens Sector has been full of new experineces for me as I have had the opportunity to learn about project management and team work as well as child rights, participation and protection. Ive really enjoyed working with the children, its so rewarding because all of the children are so eager to join the activities. Before the tsunami their villages were in very isolated locations where the children had limited access to join in creative activities, in fact many children did not attend school as their villages did not even have a school. Now all of the children have access to a school, even though the facilities and teachers are limited. CFKs elementary school activities has helped to inspire the children, Im amazed at the changes that are taking place in them, they are healthier as their hygiene habits are changing, they are becoming so creative and are full of new ideas about activities that they want to have in their next after school activity program.
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Quarterly Report & Newsletter April - June 2012

Mentawai Islands - Tsunami Recovery Initiative

Dealing With Community Health Challenges In Disaster Recovery

The CFK team continue to work towards improving the community health conditions of the tsunami survivors living in the IDP (Internally Displaced People) Camps. The lack of a permanent clean water supply is still a problem which impacts the hygiene and sanitation situation and access to medical facilities is still limited. However, working on the old adage that prevention is better than cure, CFK have been providing awareness building in the IDP camps to improve the overall health, hygiene and nutrition of the people. To improve the pre and post natal care of children and mothers, CFK have also been providing capacity building training to the traditional midwives and village health volunteers as well as advocating to the Dept. of Health to provide a monthly Well Baby Clinics at each IDP Camp. In May 2012, CFK facilitated Family Health Promotion Days at 3 of the IDP Camp locations. with competitions, a health quiz, entertainment, a puppet show and prizes. The Promotion Day was attended by over 70% of the village members who had a great fun family day that really boosted the moral in the IDP Camps. Competitions included The Best Menu based on nutrition, taste and the use of locally grown organic produce and The Healthiest Babies (per age group) based on national standards for height & weight, physical response, maneuverability, immunization and regular attendance at the Well Baby Clinics.

Reda & Noel (pictured left) are two of CFKs local language facilitators, they have been working in CFKs Community Health Development Sector. Reda (far left) has been working with CFK since the tsunami, she says I never get bored working with CFK, every day I learn something new about community development and every day I also learn something new about my own personal development. As a CFK facilitator I have been helping to deliver Community Health awareness sessions in the Mentawai language. Using the local language is really helpful because it makes it easier for the community members to understand the materials. Ive really enjoyed working with the Traditional Birthing Women, seeing them learn and then use the new techniques that are safer and more hygienic has been a blessing for all of the mothers and babies in the IDP camps. I am so happy working here because the CFK team has become my extended family, we really care about each other and the people in the communities where we work.
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Quarterly Report & Newsletter April - June 2012

Mentawai Islands - Tsunami Recovery Initiative

Tackling Food Security & Livelihood Development In Disaster Recover

The Mentawai peoples traditional diet consists of sh, bananas and a starchy root vegetable called tallas. After the tsunami the people were moved from their costal villages to inland IDP (Internally Displaced People) Camps in the middle of the jungle. It is planned that they will rebuild new villages at these new inland locations. CFK have been working alongside the tsunami survivors teaching them how to grow their own vegetables using environmentally sustainable organic methods. CFK initially sent a group of local Mentawai facilitators to Java Island to be trained as trainers in organic vegetable growing. In this way these Mentawai facilitators have been able to provide trainings to the tsunami survivors in the local Mentawai language, which is quite different to the national Indonesian language. CFKs local Mentawai facilitators have since established a small organic vegetable demonstration plot near our office where they first try out the new techniques before taking them into the villages. They have also successfully mentored the tsunami survivors to establish their own organic vegetable demonstration plots at 2 of the IDP Camps. Now men, women and even the children are enjoying growing their own vegetables. CFK plan to start to introduce chicken and fish farming trainings at the demonstration plots. Also as the tsunami survivors start to build and move into their new permanent home sites, CFK plans to help them to further establish vegetable farming and animal husbandry to supplement their household incomes.

The boys from CFKs Organic Agriculture Team are pictured with some of the women from the IDP Camp at Km 8, who have been learning to establish organic FAITH (Food Always In The House) Gardens. Binsar (back row, second from left) is one of CFKs local Mentawai language facilitators, he says Im so blessed to be able to work with CFK, because at CFK I can keep growing and learning. I feel like Ive gone back to school - but at the same time Im working so I can provide for my family. One of the best things is that I am now able to help other Mentawai people because I can teach them everything Im learning about organic agriculture. Before I started working with CFK I couldnt see any opportunities for me or my family here on the Mentawai Islands, but now every where I look I see there are opportunities, God has done his part and provided everything we need, so if we want to prosper its now up to us to do our part. My dream is to establish an organic agriculture training center right here on the Mentawai Islands.
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Quarterly Report & Newsletter April - June 2012

Mentawai Islands - Tsunami Recovery Initiative

Participatory Village Plaining In Disaster Recovery

One of the most benecial post disaster initiatives that CFK has implemented is to help the effected communities bring order out of the chaos and destruction. Most disaster survivors are so over whelmed by their personal losses that they have difficulty in think about the mountain of rehabilitation issues that need to be consider so that they can start getting their lives back into order. They have lost their family members, their homes, their livelihoods and often dont have the will to try to start all over again. In the Mentawai Islands where prior to a disaster the people were already living in chronic poverty recovering from the disaster has been very challenging. The people usually live from season to season, only focusing on trying to meet their own personal and family needs, they do not have much experience in coordinating, planning and working together for the good of the whole community. If disaster response and rehabilitation initiatives are not handled correctly, initiatives that are intended to have a positive impact can create negative situations such as aid dependency and feuds amongst the disaster survivors. On the Mentawai Islands, CFK have been working alongside the disaster survivors facilitating participatory village planning workshops and coordination meetings. In this way all of the disaster survivors have the opportunity to voice their opinions, identify their resources and prioritize their needs. They are empowered to be active participants in finding solutions to their rehabilitation problems.

Neldi and Gonggom (pictured right) are two of CFKs local language facilitators, together they have been working in the Village Planning Sector. Neldi (far right) says Village Planning is crucial in developing the local communities and CFKs Training of Trainers method has been very effective as all of the programs are delivered in the local Mentawai language, now instead of just a few people making all the decisions, the whole village can participate in the village planning process - they really appreciate that CFK have made it possible for their voices to be heard when important village decisions are being made. On a personal level, Neldi says I have really changed since I started working with CFK, I have learned so much about being responsible, team work, about facilitating community development and breaking poverty cycles. I am amazed that our village elders now come to me for guidance and I can contribute positive advice to them. I am so grateful to God and CFK for the opportunity to help bring about a positive transformation in the lives of my people here in the Mentawai Islands.
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Quarterly Report & Newsletter April - June 2012