Maria's Story - Voice of Baliem Children

“Good evening Wamena, meet with me again Maria in our regular program folk stories” said Maria through a microphone standing in front of her. Maria is an announcer of VBC community radio founded by WV in Wamena. Though she was born in Sorong in 1992, Maria Asso is one of indigenous people of Wamena. Her father Mikakogo Asso is a government officer that sometimes has to move from place to place based on letter of assignment from the government while her mother Yosinia Fatubun is a private worker. She has one sibling which is her brother that still study in Jayapura.

We met with Maria in VBC radio station located in Mandiri Dormitory Wamena. This dormitory own by WV and practically use for many activities such as computer course and community radio. VBC itself was founded in early February 2009 and stands for Voice of Baliem Children. The aim of this community radio station is to improve local youth capacities in disseminating child rights.

“I am very happy to join VBC” Maria said. “It is very interesting to communicate with audiences without facing directly, we have to guess their expression and we only recognized by our voice” she continued. Before joining VBC, Maria is a regular student of one of senior high school in Wamena. She is in third grade now and planned to do something big for her future. After joining serial of training run by WV, Maria became confident and courageous of becoming radio announcer after school time.

“I like to try new thing although for becoming announcer though at first I was nervous” said Maria. “But I’m very happy now that I can see that all announcers are local youth”. Maria is happy to see that all of child announcers are indigenous from Wamena. She said this is a proof that indigenous people also able to be announcer and do a lot more like every child able to do in other part of Indonesia or even the world.

Her favorite program is folk stories. By telling folk or local stories she believed that many children will understand about culture and prevent their culture of being extinct. Most of local stories gathered from mouth to mouth telling and sometime Maria had to rewrite the story as not many local stories are written in a book. During her vacant time Maria also love to sing. As her confident built in VBC, she then joined “radio star” singing competition and win as a third champion. “I was very happy at that time, again it was an evidence that native also able to sing well as I defeated almost 30 other participants” she smiled. “I want that someday more and more local youth involve in cultural activities” she continued.

It was a happy day met with Maria a girl full of spirit and fun. We hope that someday she will able to achieve her idol of doing something big for her future. May God bless you always Maria…

Posted by Willy Sitompul for Eruwok Development

Sipanus' Story - Voice of Baliem Children

“I want to be an announcer someday” said Sipanus when we met him at VBC radio station in Mandiri Dormitory Wamena. “By becoming announcer I will get into people live, knowing their feelings and opinions about some topics” he continued. “It is very interesting when you involved in a conversation especially when talking about hot issues”, he said.

Sipanus Magayang is the first son of Matius Magayang and Ogga Keroman. He has 4 siblings and all of them attending school in Wamena. Sipanus already involved in WV activities since 2 years ago with one of WV HIV and AIDS prevention project. As a third grader of senior high school, already put Sipanus on track of becoming a professional announcer. He plans on attending specific school for journalistic after he graduated from high school. Before got involved in VBC Sipanus never thought he would become an announcer. “In the beginning I was very shy, I got no confidence in sharing opinions or even involved in a debate” he said. “But now I’m very confidence to share my feelings to others, even I’m able to influence someone when I believe I was right about something” he continued. After joined VBC radio station it was undoubted that his name is now very famous among children in Wamena that regularly listen to his program. During afternoon he portrays education info followed by band info. In band info program an interactive dialog with listeners is available using phones that directly connect to a mixer and transmitters.

Voice of Baliem Children (VBC) is a special project funded by WV in building child capacities in expressing child rights through a community radio station. It was built in early February 2009 located in Mandiri Dormitory Wamena. Until August 2009 VBC already has 6 child announcers from high schools students around Wamena. Although it was very difficult to train several children of becoming child announcers finally it comes to a result that someday this radio station will be independent and able to finance itself. Some specific income came from air time like jingle or reading some information for third parties such as stores, institutions, and churches.

“Now I’m able to operate some radio equipments” said Sipanus. “With the experience I received here I believe that someday I will be a professional announcer or journalist”.
Sipanus then back to his seat in front of microphone grab the headphone and open conversation with his audience. “Good afternoon, to whom am I speaking?” ask Sipanus to his audience. We were smile watched at his action. “Hmm... so professional...” we mumbled. Deeply in our heart we believed that someday Sipanus will be a professional announcer.

Willy Sitompul for Eruwok Development

Tarinus' Story - Birth Certificate

That day seems different with Tarinus. He looks so happy receiving visit from our office staff. “Hey sister, how are you?” said Tarinus to us when we get closer to his house in Nambume village. Though a little bit exhausted after 20 minutes climb through steep road, we smile at him and took the nearest spot to sit. Then after few minutes we explain our purpose to visit him. A month ago our field staff visited Tarinus during quarterly monitoring process and one of the need came from Tarinus family was the need for birth certificate. This need came up after routine socialization towards sponsorship socializations runs in every village in Eruwok ministry area.
“Hi Tarinus...” said one of our office staff, “We bring your birth certificate and going to give it to you” Tarinus was very happy to hear the news, and eagerly wait for us to open the envelope contain his birth certificate. He smiled when reading his name stated in birth certificate.
“For long time we don’t know the importance of birth certificate, but now we knew...” said his mother Taiba. Tarinus is the second child of Manongga Wenda’s family. His older sister already has her own family, while his youngest brother still study as third grader in elementary school.

The socialization about the importance of birth certificate was already done since the past fiscal year. This fiscal year the activity followed by proclamation of ownership of birth certificate by head of Jayawijaya region. The proclamation then followed by ease of birth certificate developing process and improvement in region demography office. The proclamation itself was run in July 2009. Wempie Wetipo, head of Jayawijaya region announced that in 2011 all children in Jayawijaya should have birth certificate. Since Jayawijaya is the main region, the policy of birth certificate then followed by expanded region including Lanny Jaya region.

Taiba Wanimbo, Tarinus’ mother had a unique way in socializing birth certificate to other mothers. She often talks about birth certificate during washing clothes and sweet potatoes in the river with other mothers. She was happy that Eruwok ADP facilitated the process of birth certificate for her second child. She promised to do the process by herself for her third child. “I knew now that the process is easy...” said Taiba. “At first, we though the process will be complicated and the cost was expensive, but now after seeing by myself this birth certificate I will try to do it by myself.”
Both Taiba and her husband Manongga work as a farmer. They promised to allocate some money for the next birth certificate for Tarian, their youngest children.
After some time, we then say good bye to the family and back to our field office. We were very happy met with Tarinus and his family.

Willy Sitompul for Eruwok Development

Making AOP of FY 2010

Pics were taken in Nambume, May 2009

In May 2009, all of Eruwok ADP staff were involved in making Annual Operating Plan for fiscal year of 2010. The discussions with community were taking places in 4 areas which are: Nambume, Yalipok, Niknek, and Milinggame.

During the discussions some activities were created based on problem trees that already developed before, again, with the same community member. The identification of problems already carried out in April to May 2009. About six major issues identified to be problems that should be addressed by ADP working together with community. Those problem trees were Education and Child Rights, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Nutrition, HIV and AIDS, and Economic. In order to addressed those problem trees, community try to change what were stated as problem into community expectation regarding those issues. Thus, after the expectations made, they will create activities to manage their expectations working together with Eruwok ADP.

Those activities then recapitulated into worksheet that became document of AOP of FY 2010. Not all expectations will be answered in AOP but community had to learn to solve the problems not only with ADP but also together with other stakeholders such as local government or other NGOs.

Posted by Wills for Eruwok Development

Apia's Story

“I want to be a nurse” said Apia when WV staff asked her about her ideal. “Someday I will be a good nurse, I want to take care my family when they get sick” Apia smile. From her face that day we can see that she has hope for the future. Apia is one of WV registered children living in Tiom. She studied in Guwopaka Elementary School and now in 5th grade. She is one of WV sponsored children involved in ALM program run by World Vision in her school. ALM means Active Learning Method is a method introduced by World Vision to be used in teaching and learning progress. WV cooperated with Surya Institute – a well known organization involved in education and preparation of children to participate in International Education Olympic such as Mathematics Olympic and Physics Olympic – to use this method in teaching Mathematics in a fun way. The method in Bahasa is Gasing means easy, fun, and enjoyable.

It has been a long time that Mathematics becomes a spooky subject, most of all students not interested in learning Math. By using the method, we able to see some changes especially in school were we placed assisting teacher from Surya Institute. Some students eagerly attending every session from their new teacher, Apia is one of them. Though Apia had to walk 25 minutes from her home, it’s nothing compare to every fun she has in class. A daughter of Mr. Yupiter and mother Artnis, Apia is the fourth daughter in her family. Her father works as a farmer and member of SHG founded by World Vision.

“I’m very happy to learn with my new teacher, I never though that I will like Math as it is my favorite subject” said Apia. “The method is fun that I can understand to calculate numbers even a big one” she smile again.

“Though Apia is a little bit slow in catching every lesson, she has a full interest in every session and diligent also. If she carries on learning, I believe she can manage and reach her ideal” said Maya Tamba, an assisting teacher from Surya Institute that placed in Guwopaka Elementary School.

“We hope World Vision still continue this program” said Mr. Dorkas one of the teacher in Apia’s school. “No students like Math before, but now we can see some progress. Student like Apia still need support, and so is other student especially in Tiom because Tiom is a remote area” he continued.

Posted by Willy Sitompul for Eruwok Development

Samince's Story

”Come on Samince, let’s try again” said Herlina, an assisting teacher from Surya Institute to Samince, her fourth grade student. Surya Institute is a well known organization in Indonesia. They work in education field to prepare Indonesian students to participate in International Science Olympic. Herlina is one of the teachers placed in Tiom in cooperation with World Vision to assist local teacher how to teach Mathematics in an easy, fun, and enjoyable method. Samince herself is one of World Vision registered children in Tiom. Samince is a first daughter of Darmus and Lerite. Darmus works as a part time worker in Tiom Health Center.

World Vision already implemented cooperation program with Surya Institute from January 2009. It is expected that the program will benefited for 50 teachers in 4 districts around Wamena of Papua Province. This cooperation intended to equip teachers with Gasing method in teaching Mathematics and Physics. Gasing means Gampang, Asyik, dan Menyenangkan in Bahasa or Easy, Fun, and Enjoyable. Though teachers are the main target of the program, assisting teachers from Surya Institute often involved in teaching classes as they were given trust to handle classes by the headmasters.

Samince think a while, looking at numbers written in the blackboard then step by step fill in the blanks according to teacher’s instruction. After about 2 minutes all task already done by her. “Great job!” said Herlina inspiring Samince.

“I’m happy to learn Mathematics in this way. I like it very much. I never expected that I will love Mathematics” said Samince when WV staff asked her about her feeling during the program. “I want to be a doctor someday” Samince continued when WV staff asked about her ideal. Everybody was smiling at her showing agreement that someday she might able to achieve her ideal.

“Samince is very diligent, she never quits. She always attends classes although as a first daughter she also has to take care one of her baby sister” said Matias one of teachers in Tiom Public Elementary School where Samince is registered.

“Though Samince can not catch all subjects easily, she is very diligent and keep trying and trying. That made me sure that someday she will be good at Mathematics” Herlina – SI teacher – continued.

“During the past, almost all students don’t like Mathematics. It seems difficult, even only to hear Mathematics already frightened for them” said Matias. “We often work together with World Vision and this program is very good. We hope the program will continue as it already shown progress among students in Tiom especially Tiom Public Elementary School” he continued.

Posted by Willy Sitompul for Eruwok Development