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Supporting Government to combat Stunting, TLM Foundation holds Launching and Training for Healthy and Disaster Resilient Village Cadres

By Ona Tasoin,

TLM Foundation held inauguration and training of healthy, prosperous and disaster-resilient village cadres.

The inauguration and training which took place in Benlutu village, Kayu Putih District, Wednesday, May 3rd 2023 was conducted to combat stunting cases which are still a main issue and need serious concern in TTS regency.

The executive Director of TLM Foundation GMIT on this occasion said that the collaboration between TLM Foundation and Benlutu village for the next 3 years will focus on stunting prevention and disaster countermeasure.

“We have been collaborating with Benlutu village government since couple years ago with programs such economy development, pig rising, productive garden and water infrastructure repairmen. However, for the next 3 years we will focus on current issues. In NTT, number of stunting is high and the highest cases happen in TTS. Disaster countermeasure also become our attention,” explained Rozali.

Regarding the stunting prevention, as explained by Rozali, his team will form cadres.

“Later on, we will educate young mother and pregnant mothers and young girls because the first 1.000 days of birth are really important. When the baby is still in the womb, it is necessary to get attention. Every pregnant mother should take vitamin and blood supplement tablets. For that, this socialization is for the mother and young girls. “, he explained.

Not only for pregnant mothers and young girls, Rozali said that TLM also train the elderly.

“We also provide training for elderly group. Next month we will select 5 technical cadres and then train them to add to existing cadres. The more people understand about health, the better,”  he said.

He said that NTT is also a disaster-prone are, so TLM provides training for cadres related to disaster management.

“for the next 3 years, TLM Foundation will work with village government to pay attention to the two main issues,” he said.

Regarding the programs explained by Rozali, some of the fund comes from Mr. Clinton from Amos Aid Australia.

“Hopefully this program is beneficial for all of us. Today is for health and blood check for pregnant women. We also provide aid packet for pregnant women,” he informed.

Meanwhile, transformation division head of TLM Foundation, Ferdy Frans explained that to launch these two strategies, his team has their own strategy.

“Our strategies are to form new cadres to support existing cadres in village. These cadres will work hard for community. For that, TLM Foundation give support like training for them,” explained Ferdy.

“As for stunting, we have several programs. The first is management of family’s healthy kitchen. Regarding this program, each household is expected to manage their land to grow productive plants that can be consumed daily,” Ferdy explained the program.

”then we will train community in each neighborhood association  for Swarga program (Standby Husband) so later the husband know what to do during pregnancy period of their wife, for example; regular health check and other important action,” he added.

Ferdy also said that TLM support village regulation to pay attention to stunting case.

 “We support village regulation to pay attention to stunting prevention. APB Desa should start to consider making program to increase community health.” explained Ferdy. Regarding disaster prevention, Ferdy and his team will do mapping of prone-disaster area.

“For disaster countermeasure, we will do mapping so the village government can mark the prone area. We will train them (the cadres) technically on first aid, disaster signs making, disaster stimulation, reforestation and waste management” said Ferdy.

“Those activities will be conducted for the next 3 years as of this year to 2025. We already signed the MoU with village government.” He added

For the mentioned program implementation, TLM Foundation will assign 3 staff in every village. Ferdy informed that the same activity will be implemented in Oebobo village on Thursday, May 4th 2023.

“In Oebobo, we will focus on disaster prevention. Tomorrow we will hold training for disaster management team, related to first aid. In this case, if someone get hurt, they will know what to do and other related activity. We chose Oebobo as village target because it is a disaster-prone area.” Ferdy explained.

Benlutu village chief, Obet Fallo, S,Sos in his speech expressed his gratitude to TLM Foundation for paying attention to Benlutu, “We want to express our gratitude for CEO of TLM Foundation who has great concern for people of Benlutu,’ he said.

He explained that the collaboration between TLM Foundation and Benlutu had been established for a long time

“This collaboration of TLM Foundation and Benlutu is not a recent thing; TLM has been assisting Benlutu since 2018. In 2018 TLM were already collaborated with Batu Putih sub-district and with us Benlutu. Benlutu has seen that TLM has helped us in so many aspects including community economy development, BUMDES (village-owned enterprise) and now they help us again for community health,” he explained.

“We also want to thank TLM for the pregnant woman health check today. We are thankful for the intervention in combatting stunting,” he said.

“In 2020, number of stunting in our village is the highest in Batu Putih sub-district. From total 47 stunted children, it had decreased to 18. With the help of TLM and also the village fund intervention, we hope that Benlutu can get out of this stunting problem. That is why we all have to work together,” he said.

“We are greatly helped by the help of TLM. We got milk, eggs and also medicine for pregnant mother. For us, this is a very positive activity. I also had my blood pressure and height checked,” explained Alfrida who is 7 months pregnant.

“The advice from the medical team is that I, as a pregnant mother continue getting myself checked regularly. This is to prevent children from stunting,” she said. “Thank you TLM and Regional Government. This type of activity is so beneficial for us the pregnant mother and the elderly,” said Alfrida.

From this “Cactus” I Send My Children to University

By Ona Tasoin,

Ephania Mbuik (54) a housewife Married to Absalom Mennoh and blessed with four children. Three boys and one girl.

With her family, Ephania lives in Kolobolon Village, Rote Ndao district, East Nusa Tenggara. Prior joined in TLM Foundation Productive Garden Program, Ephania helped her husband to manage their paddy field and from the annual crops, they sold rice to fulfill their daily needs.

But beside the harvest was only once a year, sometimes their paddy fields had crop failure. Ephania then decided to join TLM productive garden program. Ephania is grateful that since more eight years she attended TLM Foundation productive garden program, with other gardening group members, she got a lot of lessons through training and assistance how to grow various kinds of vegetables, beans, onions, cucumber and specially dragon fruits.

From gardening, Ephania is now able to generate income more than IDR.20.000.000,- from selling dragon fruits in one harvest season (December to May). Ephania could help her husband, Absalom to fulfil their daily needs, expand their kiosk business and moreover they can manage to send their three boys to the best universities in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province.

In addition, since Ephania grew vegetables by herself, she could save money because she doesn’t need to buy vegetable like she used to do. Ephania also does not need to go labor in paddy other paddy fields for additional money because she already has a permanent income source in the village.

She is thanking TLM Foundation for providing this opportunity for people like her to live independently in the village.

“I really thank TLM Foundation for introducing this “Cactus Plant” (Dragon fruit) to us. In the first and second year we planted 65 dragon fruits in the garden and in the forth year we expanded to 2 thousand dragon fruits and now in a season, each of us (28 members) we can generate income for more than IDR. 10.000.000,- I myself can get more than twenty million rupias. Praise the Lord, from this “cactus” I can send my children to higher level education with expensive tuition fees, more than five million rupias per semester. My husband and I, we had never imagined that we could give good education to our children. God is good.” Said Ephania.

Participated in the Celebration of the Nineth Anniversary of Village Law No. 6 of 2014 in Rote Ndao, TLM Foundation Showcased the Products of Its Village Assistance Program

By Ona Tasoin,

In order to commemorate the 9th anniversary of Village Law No. 6 of 2014, the Ministry of Village Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (KEMENDES PDTT) chose Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province as a celebration location, as well as a speech by the Minister Dr (H.C), Drs. Haji Abdul Halim Iskandar, M.Pd.

The event, which was held for a day at the Ba’a City lighthouse field on Saturday (14/1/2023), began with a working visit from the Ministry of Rural Affairs Gus Halim team to the southeast village of Indonesia, namely Dodaek village, South Rote Subdistrict, leaving footprints as inscriptions at Zero point of the Republic of Indonesia.

In his speech, Gus the Minister stated his reason for choosing Rote Ndao district for the commemoration at the border as a form of gratitude that the village law has facilitated the revival of villages in the periphery of Indonesia.

“The Nine-year-old Village Law has proven to be able to make achievements, fulfill promises, and contribute to the motherland. This is Nawa Warsa (Nine Years in Javanesse_red), the Nine Years of Village Law. Building Indonesia from the border,” said the Minister, who is familiarly called Gus Halim.

Meanwhile, the committee along with the local government, village heads and the community have crowded the location of the celebration which was also enlivened by National singer which is originally from NTT named Marion Jola, and several local artists.   The committee also provides tents for MSME actors both from districts and Indonesian SOEs, Village SOEs, cooperatives, NGOs and private companies to exhibit and sell their products both goods and   services.

Not to forget, TLM Foundation, which has been programmatic in Rote Ndao district, also enlivened the people’s party by exhibiting its empowerment programs in NTT, especially in the district chosen by Gus    the Minister to visit.

On this occasion, the Expert Staff of the Ministry of Rural Affairs for Partnership, Samsul Widodo with several colleagues when visiting the TLM Foundation booth conveyed his impressions when explained about empowerment programs   community run by TLM Foundation in Rote Ndao District.

“Wow , this is very interesting, I took your contact  number,  I will  contact you  later in case there  are things  we need to do together” Samsul said  to the YTLM  Staff after hearing  the explanation.

Rano Adu, one of TLM Foundation staff When visited by the guests explained the Foundation’s work programs that there are approximately 10 community empowerment programs run by TLM, but which are implemented   in Rote Ndao County is just a few of them.

“Our work programs in Rote Ndao such as Productive Gardens in Kolobolon, Lidamanu, Maubesi and Modosinal Villages. There are  Pig  farms in Lidamanu and Maubesi Villages,  Broiler  chicken farms in  Kolobolon,  Lidamanu and  Maubesi villages,  Home Industry training program  for processing organic ginger powder, banana chips,  onion beans, there is sewing training,  barbershop, joint BUMDESA assistance  in  Lobalain district,  Village  Law training and assistance  for 12 villages in  Rote Ndao District also has clean water programs  in several partner villages such as Oebole  Village,  Tolama Village, Oematamboli, Suelain, Lidamanu, Maubesi and Kolobolon.”     Rano explained.

  In addition to the description of the program posted on the banner, the products home industry such as Organic Ginger Powder from  Kolobolon village and  Maubesi village,  balado banana chips from Lidamanu   village, also dragon fruit was displayed and sold at TLM Foundation exhibition booth as a result of the TLM Foundation’s assistance. 

One of the  beneficiaries of the  program  from  Kolobolon village, Loisa Zakaria-Ndun,  whose photo of herself was made into a  background at the  TLM Foundation exhibition booth, said she was happy and grateful that there was assistance from  TLM Foundation.

“I am personally very grateful that since there has been assistance, especially the productive garden of Dragon Fruit in Kolobolon, we know that there must be income every harvest season.  In addition to being accompanied for planting and caring for plants during this time, we are also accompanied for sales, so we really feel the benefits of TLM assistance.”  Loisa said. She is also expressed her gratitude for the TLM Foundation’s attention to their garden group, especially for her family, which is now improving economically.

GERSON A PWD: “TLM CREATES JOB FOR US”

By Ona Tasoin,

Gerson Natbais, 40 years old (PWD), married and has two children, an eleven-year-old daughter, in the grade third of elementary school and a 4-year-old son.

Gerson is a multi-talented person who never takes his blindness as a barrier to work everyday in order to fulfill his family needs.

Prior joined as TLMF client Gerson used to work at MISI Susteran – Kupang for 8 years as therapist, he then decided to resign from MISI Susteran and tried to work independently by providing massage service door to door as his main job. The skill allowed him to earn income of IDR 200,000 to 300,000 every time he plays.

Gerson also has another skill playing keyboard that he learns self-taught, with this skill he is sometimes demanded to play and sing at wedding party or family party. Before the covid-19 pandemic, the income he could earn from playing keyboard is amounting to IDR 150,000 to IDR 300,000.

Nevertheless, Gerson felt that he needed to have a steady income that could support the needs of his family.

This is why he decided to join TLM Foundation Disability programs. He was interested to involve in the PWD small meeting held by TLM Foundation. The TLM Foundation also provided the FGD meeting that discussed about sustainability, entrepreneurship, confidence, how to deal with competition in business and making duster. In addition to Gerson along with other PWD attended a training to improve their massage skill held by HITBIA. The massage training aims to prepare them for Rumah Sehat (Health Centre).

After joining those FGD programs, Gerson applied in the PWD loan program that provided him capital to star his own business. Currently he is in the 3rd loan cycle with a loan of IDR 3,000,000. This loan was spent on material of duster and stocks for kiosk business such as coffee, sugar, instant noodles, snacks, rice, etc. this business is very helpful for Gerson’s family in meeting their daily needs and education needs. This business can earn income of IDR 50,000 to IDR. 100,000 per day.

Besides having a new kiosk business that his wife take care of, Gerson and his other 19 PWDs friends also work as therapists in TLM Foundation’s Rumah Sehat (Healthy Home). He is grateful for the presence of Health Centre; he has destination where he has to work. He works at Health Centre every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“We are very happy and grateful that TLM creates job and provides workplace for PWD like us, where would anyone want to employ blind people like us?” Said Gerson.

Because Gerson and his family are staying in a rent house for more than 10 years, he is now utilizing his incomes to build his family house. The house is now on building progress. He is hoping so much that this pandemic will be gone soon so that he can work again normally to earn money to finish his family home.

Gabriel Mone, A Carpenter who is an agriculture enthusiast

By jerrybrand,

Gabriel Mone (45), a male carpenter who is diligent and painstaking transforming wood into household furniture that are useful according to costumers’ request or to fulfill his household’s need.

Aside from being a carpenter, in certain time, husband of Ayurin Mone Muloko with his family work in their paddy field to later be harvested as their whole year food supply.

But the paddy field only can be processed once in a year in traditional way using rain water and in his spare time during dry season he works in small furniture shop in the corner of his house located in Hoiledo, Maubesi Village, Middle Rote sub-district, Rote-Ndao Regency, NTT.

According to this father of five children, the work that he has been doing for 10 years has became his daily routine until the beginning of 2019, TLM Foundation through its village facilitator in Maubesi village started to spot unproductive land and water source in Hoiledo to be transformed into productive garden.

“Actually, I am a carpenter. I do farming just to spend my leisure in harvest season, I did not really know about growing vegetables. I became interested since TLM Foundation socialization about garden then I joined the group”, said Gabriel.

Together with TLM Foundation garden facilitator, Gabriel and other 11 households agreed to open productive garden in Hoiledo Vilalge and named it Enge Dale which means Dalam Satu Ikatan (literally translated as “In one Union) in Rote Language. This group consists of 12 members of 1 male and 11 females.

Eventhough Gabriel Mone who familiarly called Bapa Gab is the only male member among 11 females, he is very enthusiastic and so passionate involving in each activity of productive garden assisted by TLM GMIT Foundation.

Gabriel is really active and ardent from group forming, land processing, hydram pump and pipeline installation, plants planting, treatment to selling.

His enthusiasm is big, he is the “driver” of Hoiledo Productive Garden so other members depend on him for some heavy works they cannot do.

He had full role in installation of hydram and pipeline, fiber tank, fish pond, fiber tank to water the plants, garden house, as a conceiver of planting and keeper of garden’s cleanness.

“I am so happy because in the past, people in Maubesi did not know about hydram pump, but after TLM Foundation decided to help us, now I can install it myself, when it broke, I also can fix it, I have more experience”, explained Gabriel. Although it is already planting season, Gabriel still has time everyday to go to the garden and take care of his horticultural plants.

“I represent all the members want to thank TLM Foundation for assisting us learning new things, such organic vegetables, new technology like hydram, how to raise fish and other useful knowledge,” he expressed (Engky Thine)

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