Lapa Hihi (45) is one of seasonal farmers in Ngaru Kanoru village, Umalulu sub-district, East Sumba Regency.

In his daily life as a farmer, Lapa cultivates his land to plant corn, tubers, and nuts where the crops is used to fulfill his daily life while raising cows, pigs and buffalos around his house.

In 2014, TLM Foundation through its village facilitator chose Ngaru Kanoru as one of its assisted villaga which later formed productive garden group named “Mondu Lambi”

In the beginning, Lapa Hihi was not a member of TLM Foundation assisted group but after seeing group members’ activity who grew plants according to right Operational Standard Procedure such how to make seedbeds and fertilizer, proper plant treatment to harvest procedure. Then Lapa asked to join the group as member.

“at the first, I did not want to join the group because I think it was a waste of time and there would be no result so it is better for me to grow plants myself, I could produce more” confessed Lapa Hili.

“but when I look at them (group members), they worked on the garden properly and had good crops, I finally asked to join them and work with them”, he continued explaining.

Lapa Hili is also known as a diligent farmer in Ngaru Kanoru but with his limited knowledge on agriculture, he only planted plants he knew like cassava, nuts and corn.

After joining as member of productive garden in Ngaru Kanoru, now he has became so agile in agriculture, planting variety of horticultural plants that are new for him and community assisted by TLM Foundation fasilitator.

“we just knew about cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, California papaya, dragon fruits, beetroot, onion, “tuk tuk “onion and other new plants, I had no idea about the plant before” he said.

Aside from getting more knowledge and experience in agriculture sector, Lapa Hihi is also very active in helping TLM Foundation water project installation in Ngaru Kanoru like building water tanks and now he is the assistance cadre of TLM Foundation in Ngaru Kanoru.

Iapun mengungkapkan rasa syukurnya bisa bergabung dengan kelompok kebun produktif binaan Yayasan TLM yang sangat menolongnya bercocok tani terpadu dan menambah penghasilah keluarga.

“saya ucap terimakasih untuk TLM yang sudah ajar kami tanam-tanam dan bisa tambah-tambah penghasilan karena awalnya kami tidak tau, sekarang sudah bisa sendiri” Tutupnya. (Vembry Lomi)

Sefnat Ora, (45) who works daily as a farmer, cultivates green bean in Nekmese village, Sub-district of South Amarasi, Kupang Regency.

Now he starts learning agriculture cultivation based on Standard Operating Procedure and applies it on the plants he has never planted before such greens, cabbage, chili and bitter melon.

Previously, this man with 4 kids visited Nekmese Productive Garden, TLM Foundation assisted village to buy vegetables.

In the garden, he saw that vegetable beds that were 1 meter width, 10 meter length and 40 cm height with 50 cm drainage were neatly lined up and planted with greens, fruits, tubers and they were grown organically.

Based on his interest in land processing and cultivation technique in Nekmese productive garden, Sefnat then asked TLM Foundation facilitator to assist him to cultivate plants in a 40x80m land that he owns.

“in the past, I didn’t plant green bean in beds, I only grew plants like corn and they usually damaged because I used hose to water, many of them broke.” Said Sefnat

Moreover, the man usually called Om Sef (Uncle Sef) told his experience of farming using chemical fertilize that was quite expensive for his operating cost

“I grew my plants using chemical fertilizer (urea fertilizer) and it made me went through financial difficulty because I had to increase the dose every year otherwise the plants would not grow fertile and my garden would damage (drought land) and to sell my vegetables, I had to go to Oesao Market because most of farmer here grow green bean so mine would likely unsold” explained Sefnat when talking to Umbu Sabarua, agriculture facilitator of TLM Foundation in Nekmese.

That is where Sefnat got motivated to adopt new technique that is different from what he has done before; organic agriculture system.

Seftnat said that his garden now is distinct with what it was before because now he plants on beds, using organic fertilizer (liquid organic fertilizer, Bokasi), applies plant rotation system and more effective and easy marketing technique because costumers tend to prefer organic product.

“After making the beds, the hose no longer press the plants because there is drainage now. I also using organic fertilizer where the material to make is easy to find because there are so much animal waste around. I just need to mix it with EM4 and leaves. I grow vegetables like water spinach and Chinese mustard green and not only green bean like before”, explained Sefnat excitedly.

To sell his garden product, he consulted with TLM Foundation facilitator so when harvest season comes, his crops not only sold in Oesao and Kupang but also sold to his neighbor and community around Nekmese because many people look for organic vegetable./p>

Sefnat Ora who is now being assisted by TLM Foundation outside Assisted productive garden group expressed his gratitude to God because through TLM Foundation he is introduced to integrated horticultural technique with organic system which is more productive and the products are easy to sell.

“So personally my family and I are thankful for getting assistance and I hope this will continue because I still need so much to learn.” Said Sefnat. (Umbu Sabarua)

There are 30 members of Modopedak group who live in Kolobolon Village, Lobalain Sub-district, Rote Ndao District, assisted by TLM Foundation, got lesson on how to raise broiler properly and correctly in the beginning of February to the end of March 2019.

The activity began with theory training provided from TLM Facilitator on developing cages and handling DOC (Day Old Chick) until the chicken are ready to be sold at age 3 – 4 weeks. In the training, the members also taught on the preparation of cage facility before the chick came such as equipment for baby chick feeder and drinker, electrical installations to warm the chicks.

In the training the group members actively asked the question to the facilitator. In addition, the group members also learn on the marketing strategy and how to calculate and analyze the profits during running the broiler business.

After doing theory training, the facilitator and the members made discussion to ensure how far the group members understand the training material given.

The group members were very enthusiastic in joining the training as during the time all the members did not have experience in raising broiler.

As implementation of the theory training, 30 members then divided into 7 small groups where every day each group was assisted by the facilitator to feed and give water to the chick in the morning and evening. In addition, the groups also learn about how to inject vaccine, expanding the cage, adding more rice husk and other tasks related to raising the broiler

By the third week, all group members became more aware of how to take care of chickens so they could handle it themselves without the supervision of the facilitator. In the fourth week the broiler is ready to be marketed with an average weight of 1 kilo gram and it was sold amounting to 50,000 / head.

The facilitator and group members promoted the broiler businesses in food stalls and chicken vendors around Ba’a. This method was quite effective because broilers can be sold quickly. Now they get enough orders.

Hanna Mbuik, one of group member was grateful for the knowledge both the theory and practice training. She has planned to initiate own business if the group have high demand.

“I am happy for learning and have knew on how to raise broiler, I will make this as own business” said Hana after 1 month following 1 period of raising broiler in March 2019.

Different from Hanna, Silva (26) said she does not expect profits from this first period, the important thing for her was experience that will never run out all her life. (Defrid Banu)

Infirmus Abi is a resident of Benlutu village, Batu Putih Sub-district, South Middle Timor District.

In addition to being a farmer he is a government offial as well which is sub-village Head in Benlutu village.

The man was born in Benlutu 31 December 1974 has a hobby and unique skill that is not owned by other people in the village, which is assembling peanut peeler machine.

Infirmus is so care to the environment, he was taught by his father to always preserve the nature around the village where he lives. As told by Infirmus when he shared his experiences with the TLM Foundation village facilitator.

In 1982, the location around this spring was quite arid and barren so it was used by Infirmus’ family to farm as the location was quite close to spring.

After 3 years farming Infirmus made decision not to farm anymore in the location near to spring so it was moved to another location.

Reforestation is done in the old garden by planting lots of trees to protect water sources that have existed since their ancestors.

Now the communities are forbidden to cut down trees or take firewood in the reforestation area. In order to maintain the sustainability and condition of springs, there is a tradition that has been done for generations; they make a ritual by slaughtering a goat every year as a form of gratitude to nature which has provided an abundant source of spring water.

Infirmus also told that now they have additional income from planting betel in that location and have harvested. Even they have planned to flow water to other sub-village that lack of water where this sub-village is going to be one of Foundation assisted village.

Due to hard work and concern in preserving the environment, in 2018 InInfirmus won 1st place at TTS Regency KALPATARU from the TTS Regency Forestry Environment Service. (Kalpataru is one of the awards given to individuals or groups for their services in preserving the environment in Indonesia).

This year Infirmus has got recommendation from TTS Regency Forestry Environment Service to take part in the competition at the NTT Province level and if he is successful it will continue to the national level. (Adiyanto Baitanu)

Dozens of blind people have been provided with massege technique and Shi-Atsu in Massage Training Program of TLM GMIT Foundation “Rumah Sehat/House of Health) since 2-8 May 2019 in TLMF Hall, Kupang. This training was conducted based on collaboration of TLM GMIT Foundation and NTT Province Social Department

There are four instructors from NTT Province Social Department who will train the blind people, in this case, UPT Kesejahteraan Sosial Tuna Netra dan Karya Wanita (literally translated as Social Task Implementation Unit of Blinds’ and Women’s creation)

CEO of TLMF, Rozali Hussein said that TLM has been consistent for the past 4 years in helping people with disability (PWD).

“House of Health” Program is one of the ways to help the blinds who work as masseurs. According to him, blind people in Kupang tend to be discriminated among community and they do not have decent income from their profession. That is why, Rozali continued; TLM GMIT Foundation wants to increase their skill and income by providing a place or centre for PWD.

The House of Health was built in the area of TLM GMIT Foundation Kupang

“We call it TLM House of Health where the blind can practice professional massage, reflexology and shiatsu using watch system, uniform, and good quality massage oil so the low stigma about PWD will change their income can increase . Rozali also explained that the place is equipped with AC, message bed et cetera to make costumers become comfortable in receiving service.

We also provide training to improve their skill because message is now a life-style. In the past, people need message when they have sprain but now it is a life style to experience reflexology and so on. “

Aside from that, The House of Health will also be a place to promote and sell product made by the blinds. Previously, TLMF have trained them so now their skills are renewing to be more professional.

“We are planning to open the House of health after this training, third week of this May, it will be ready, whether facilities and infrastructures.” He hopes that with this program, The PWD can improve their income and have their own business brand in this service sector business.

“blind people can do professional massage so maybe in the future they can open the their own massage parlors.” Said Rozali

Rozali explained that TLMF often provide other assistances for other PWD like beauty salon training, sewing training and so on.

“We provide them free training every year without any charge. He hopes that Mayor Government of Kupang can help in promoting; for example there are more than 100 staff who work everyday and there are also many offices around TLM Group office area which we hope can become very effective as seen from term of market,” explained Rozali.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare Tuna Netra (Blind People) Hit Bia Head Section of NTT Province, Aspenas Tomasui gave his appreciation for TLM GMIT Foundation . According to him, in accordance with mandate of Regulation Number 8 2016 on Disability, to provide opportunity for every element whether government, private, and community to create and facilitate PWD.

“we see that TLMF has a good care providing facility and infrastructures for our children (PWD) to be trained to improve their internal capacity so they are ready to join society” he said.

Aspenas explained that Social Welfare Department welcome this well-established cooperation. “ we think that this collaboration is a good thing. We realize that all this action should be well-prepared so that public will not see PWD as marginalized and discriminated group and also they could be accepted as normal group,” explained Aspenas.

Aspenas also instructed the blind to be serious in the training so they will be able to give their best service and bring satisfaction for costumers.

“do not let people only come for once. The knowledge you have received should be well-applied,” he said.

He also said that this “House of Health” could be a type of cooperation to establish a more prosperous society.

(Source: Pos Kupang. 3 May 2019, pg 12)