BLOOM Project Launching in Nagekeo, Sikka, and Lembata
BLOOM Project Launching in Targetted Three Districts
Marking the beginning
of BLOOM Project in the district, Launching events are conducted in the three
targetted districts in Flores and Lembata islands of East Nusa Tenggara
Province of Indonesia. The project takes place in three districts which are
part of Plan Program Areas. Therefore, Plan International Indonesia Country
Office (represented by BLOOM Project Manager), Plan Program Area Managers in
Flores and Lembata, and LSM Anugerah as implementing partner of BLOOM Project
work in collaboration to ensure support for effective project implementation.
As the project effectively started on May 1st, 2017, Anugerah as implementing
partner quickly made some preparations with meeting the District Heads, local
government institutions and Plan Program Area Manager and/or Deputy, ECCD and
YEE Project Officers to prepare for the launching and coordination meetings at
three districts: Nagekeo, Sikka and Lembata through the Acting Project
Coordinator and District Coordinators (Flores and Lembata).
Each meetingaims at
getting support from the higest authority figures in the district and about 60
people were invited from relevant institutions: District Planning, Research,
and Development Department, Health Department, Population Control and Family
Planning Department, Village Governance and Development Department, Women
Empowerment and Child Protection Department, Forestry Department, Agricultural
Department, Social Department, Transmigration Department, Industrial and Trade
Department, Small and Medium Enterpreneurs Department, Community Health Centres,
Plan Youth Advisory Board, representatives from targetted Subdistrict and
village government, schools, youth and women groups as well as local NGOs and
media.
Media attention plays
significant role in putting BLOOM Project to public notice as Plan’s program focusing
on 30 villages in three districts in Flores and Lembata, and aiming on
improving sexual reproductive health and life skills for adolescent group aged
13–19. Still in line with the objectives of the event, the launching also aim
at synergising BLOOM Project with the adolescent program conducted by local
government. Hence, the District Planning, Research and Development Department,
Health Department, and Population Control and Family Planning were invited to
present their relevant programs at the launching. Through the launching, the
local authorities and figures are invited to participate in the implementation,
monitoring, evaluation and strategizing for the BLOOM Project sustainability.
The followings are
description about the project launching in three districts:
A.1 BLOOM Project Launching in Nagekeo District
The Nagekeo District BLOOM
Project Launcing. From left to right: Marzalena Zaini (BLOOM Project Manager),
Marselinus Adjo Bupu (Head of Nagakeo Legislative Parliament), Mr. Elias Djo
(Head of Nagekeo District), Marina Meydiyanti (Deputy Manager of Plan Flores
Program Area), Maria Maghi (Director of LSM Anugerah, BLOOM Project
Implementing Partner).
The BLOOM Project was
launched in Nagekeo District on May 8, 2017 by the District Head (Bupati), Drs. Elias Djo following an
opening speech by the Head of Legislative Parliament, Mr. Marselinus Adjo Bupu
and Marina Meydiyanti, Deputy Manager of Plan Flores Program Area. The
enthusiastic response by local government on BLOOM project shows that issues
which form the basis for the project is relevant to the local context and the
goal and objectives of BLOOM Project are expected to meet the needs in the
district for interventions related to issues faced by adolescent groups and
dropout children.[1]
The launching was
attended by 44 people (24 men and 20 women, 2 of them are people with
dissabilities). Youth Advisory Board is represented by two female members as
well as a representative from Adolescent Information and Counceling Centre,
representatives from relevant government institutions, targetted subdistricts
and villages, subdictrict level health centres, principal and teacher from
relevant high schools, as well as women and youth groups.
After the launching,
Marzalena Zaini presented BLOOM project to the audience, and introduced Maria
Maghi from LSM Anugerah as the Implementing Partner for BLOOM Project. The
presentation was followed by othe presentation by the Head of Population
Control and Family Planning Department of Nagekeo District, Mr. Syukur A. Mane,
who presented about the context of problems faced by youth at national,
provincial and district level and the efforts done by the local government in
trying to tackle issues face by young people in the district.
Unfortunately, due to
the late start of the event and the clashing schedule, other presentations
which were supposed to be presented by The District Planning, Research and
Development Department (Bapelitbangda)
and the Health Department can not be delivered at the event. However, the
agenda will be prepared for upcoming events in BLOOM Project activities.
Although the Head of Bapelitbangda
could not attend the launching, he was very supportive about the project as the
BLOOM Project Teammet him at his office. Bapelitbangda
plays significant role for advocacy and coordination with relevant government
institutions at district level. The Department will determine whether or not
the BLOOM Project will be accomodated in the district planning and budgetting.
Hence, it is strategic to integrate the BLOOM Project into the Bapelitbangda agenda. Securing their
support is important for ongoing program implementation and to ensure that the
sense of ownership of the project and the sustainability strategy are raised
from the early stage of the project.
Group picture of the Nagekeo Launching with District Head and Head of Parliament Council of Nagekeo District. Also present
in this picture, Head of Population Control and Family Planning department,
representatives from relevant instances, targetted subdistricts and villages,
and other relevant stakeholders.
A.2 BLOOM Project Launching in Sikka District
Left to right: Eka Hadiyanto (Plan Program Area Flores Manager),
Marzalena (BLOOM Project PM), dr. Valens Sili Tupen (District Secretary, Irma
Tibuludji (Chairperson of Family Welfare Program), Maria (LSM Anugerah)
The BLOOM project is launched
in Sikka District on May 10, 2017 by the District Secretary: Dr. Valentinus
Sili Tupen. The Launching was also attended by Eka Hadiyanto (Plan Program Area Manager of Flores),
Marzalena Zaini (BLOOM Project Manager), Maria D.M. Maghi (LSM AnugerahDirector)
and also Irma Tibuludji, Head of Family Welfare Program (also wife of the
District Head). The event was attended by 47 participants (24 men, 21 women, 2
children (1 female and 1 male, representing the child forum and Youth Advisory
Panel). The Launching was followed by the signing of Supporting Placards for
BLOOM Project, and presentations by the Bapelitbangda, Health Department and
Population Control, Family Planning, Women Empowerment and Child protection (PP2KBPPPA) on the context of relevant
issues and programs in Sikka District.[2]
In the presentation by Tsu
Babys, Community Development Program Head at Bapelitbangda mentioned that the
BLOOM project is relevant with the Vision of Sikka District, which is to create
economic independence and welfare of the community through: Improving the
quality of human resources; Improving the management and use of local economic
potentials; Improving the condition of local community in equal, conducive and
discipline ways; and Realising good and clean birocracy. Strong support of the
goverment for the BLOOM Project implementation can be seen through the suggestion
by Mr. Babys that BLOOM Project involvement in the district planning,
implementation and evaluation as the project can be accomodated in the district
budget planning which will be started in June 2017 for the 2018 implementation.
Dr. Maria B.S. Nenu,
Head of Health Department Sikka District mentioned that the policy on sexual
reproductive health has been regulated in SDGs, ICPD, Indonesian Basic Law (UUD
1945), Law No.36/2009on Health and Government Regulation No.61/2014 on
reproductive health. The main concerns in health sector include: nuritional
consumptions, national health system, access to reproductive health and
contraceptives, sanitation and clean water. Gender equality in health related
activities gains limited attention as more women and fewer men attended health
posts for health screening, consultation and medication. In reproductive health
issues, division of roles between men and women should be balanced in
supporting children and adolescent growths.
The Health Department is currently implementing Community Action for Healthy Living (GERMAS) in order to, inter alia, reducing the number of mother and child mortality rate. In the meantime, the numbers of under 20 years old women who are pregnant are increasing. In 2015, there were 310 cases, increased to 558 cases in 2016.The higher number of under 20 pregnancy also contributes to the high rate of maternal and child mortality. The cases of HIV/AIDS in Sikka have also increased year by year, and women are affected in the majority of the reportedcases. The above mentioned issues show that the BLOOM Project is relevant to Sikka District and therefore should be supported.

Konstansia, Acting Head of Population Control, Family
Planning, Women Empowerment and Child Protection Department (DP2KBP3A) in her
presentation mentioned the fact that children aged 14, whether boys or girls,
have started to have risky sexual relations. Hence, DP2KBP3A is actively
promoting sexual reproductive health awareness through Genre Program[3]for
adolescent groups at schools and villages.
Based on the data of Magepanda Subdistrict (BLOOM Project target
area), of the total 1624 number of households, about 1044 are in productive
ages, and 21,44 percent of
them are children. The number of girls aged 15–19 who give birth has increased
by 2,9
percent in 2016, from the previous
year. In 2016 there were 108 cases of violence reported, and 24 of them happen
to children. This means that there are actually many cases of violence with
children as victims since most of the cases would not be reported. BLOOM
Project is relevant to the issues as it targets on supporting girls to be
empowered and develop string agency in the community. Through the project it is
expected that issues related to violence against children and girls, early pregnancy
and other reproductive health issues can be tackled.
The presence of Bapelitbangda
(Tsu Babys), Health Department Head (dr. Maria) and DPPKBPPPA (Konsta) as resourcepersons at the launching shows that
the Sikka District government considers BLOOM Project as relevant to the issues
faced in Sikka and there are expectations that the project will support the
government’s programs to reduce the number of early pregnancy, early marriage,
lack of job opportunities and adolescent and youth empowerment in general.
Therefore, it is expected that BLOOM project can be syncronized with relevant
government programs.
BLOOM Project Launching in Sikka group photo. Also
present in this picture, Head of Health Department, Head of Population Control,
Family Planning, Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Magepanda District
Head, District Planning, Research and Development Department representatives,
Sikka Child Forum, and other related stakeholders.
A.3 BLOOM Project Launching in Lembata District
Opening Speech at BLOOM
Project Launching by Ferninandus Koda, Head of Legislative Parliament in Lembata
In
Lembata District, the BLOOM Project was launched on May 15, 2017 by Yuliana
Laser, the District Assistant III, representing the District Head, following
the opening speech by Erlina Dangu, Deputy Manager of Plan Lembata Program Area
and the Mr. Ferdinandus Koda, Head of Legislative Parliament of Lembata
District. The
launching was attended by 50 people (35 men, 14 women and one boy from Lembata
Child Forum). The launching was continued by the signing of government support on
a placard which then followed by all participants of the launching event.[4]
In the presentation
by Berkmans Wutun, the Chief of Social and Cultural Section at Bapelitbangda,
it was said that the local government welcome the BLOOM Project as it is the
government’s responsibility to support all development intervention aiming at
improving the social and economic conditions of local community. Berkmans in
his presetation also mentioned that Bapelitbangda will support the integration
of BLOOM Project into the district planning and budgetting processes. In the
meantime, Mr. Ambrosius, the Head of BP2KBP3Apresented on the relevance of
BLOOM project with the government’s initiative to reduce the number of child
marriage, and other issues related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health
in the district. Ambrosius was enthusiatic that the project will support their
work and they are willing to share resources to ensure effective results in the
community.
Group Picture from BLOOM Project Launching in Lembata
District
[1]The news on the launching
is published in a local newspaper, Flores Post, 9 May 2017
[2]News regarding BLOOM
Project Launching in Sikka can be found through online media Warta NTT (NTT
News): http://www.wartantt.com/2017/05/peduli-remaja-putus-sekolah-di-sikka.html
[3]Genre Program is initiated
by the National Family Planning Board to reach youth and adolescent groups in
promoting sexual and reproductive health through schools and colleges using learning
modules and peer education.
[4]The Launching in Lembata
is also covered in local newspaper, Flores Pos, 16 May, 2017
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