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.

Text Box: “Time has changed and the world presents us with lots of challenges. Young people only need a place where we can develop our learning and creativity to be productive youth. That is all that we ask. Without a place like that we would be wandering around and not knowing what to do and how to prepare for our future.” 
 

Rivan, 17, Sikka Child Forum

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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