Channel of Hope Workshop for Moslem Context – Hajee Abdul Latief Yaleget’s Story

It was rainy that day when Abdul Latief fastens his steps to Pilamo meeting room. He had received a special invitation to be participants of Channel of Hope workshop run by World Vision that day. This workshop will run for three days as participants selected from Moslem leaders of all areas in Wamena city. While Christian is a major religion in Jayawijaya district still several village occupied by Moslems. These Moslem communities in Wamena are very unique as most of them are indigenous. Abdul Latif is one of them. His family name is Yaleget. A common family name found in the village of Walesi. Abdul Latief has 2 wives as in Moslem is not prohibited to have more than one wife. He married with Wiwit Asso and several years later with Yuli Lanny. He has 4 children from both of his wives.

As a hajee (one who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca), Abdul Latief often preach in government religious activities while daily he has to take control on day to day religious activities in Al-Falah Mosque in Walesi village. “I never know about HIV and AIDS before!” said Latief. “This workshop had given me a wider approach on overcoming HIV and AIDS in my village” he continued. Attending Channel of Hope workshop is the first activity on HIV and AIDS he had been involved with. Before, neither specific health socializations nor illuminations he had received. He always thought that HIV and AIDS are far away from his village.

“I’m very glad to be participant in this workshop, World Vision had brought me into new ideas and roles to be taken as I’m a religious leader” said Latief. He also said that no organization involving Moslem leaders before. He said that maybe since Moslem is minority no organization involving them in HIV prevention activities. “Before, I thought HIV will never come to my family or my village. But day by day there was always some one get sick without knowing what the disease is. Now I realized what the disease is and what the cause is. I have to spread this information I’ve receive from World Vision to my people in the village, forming a community that care about prevention of HIV and AIDS” he continued.

The “Channels of Hope” programme aims to mobilize faith communities through process-driven workshops and the commitment and dedication of trained facilitators. It was first developed by CABSA (Christian AIDS Bureau for Southern Africa at the Huguenot College) and in 2004 adopted by World Vision Hope Initiative as a core HIV & AIDS model.

“Pak[1] Latief is very concern about all materials given in this workshop” said Ustad [2]Daden one of the facilitators came from Sukabumi (Java). “He is very active and willing to learn a lot of new things during the workshop. I believe he will be a good speaker promoting HIV and AIDS prevention in his mosque and community” Daden continued.

When we asked about the nearest plan that Pak Latief will take after the workshop, he said “I will spread the information especially for children and teenagers as I’m aware they should know first about this information before they involved in danger situation that could brought them to HIV transmission”. We smiled that day. Though it was raining outside there will always a sun shining after the rain. Good luck Pak Latief!

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[1] Common greetings title to respect older person (male) in Indonesia

[2] Common term of title used in Moslem for male person with broader or special knowledge of Islam.

Workshop Saluran Harapan Konteks Muslim – Cerita Hairudin

Bapak yang bernama Hairudin Wania ini mempunyai 1 istri yang bernama ibu Salwiya Rumaratu yang di karuniai 4 anak yaitu 3 laki – laki yang bernama Abu baker ( SMA ), Sulaiman ( SMP ), dan Alhadi yang masih kecil, sedangkan yang perempuan bernama Ferlian yang masih duduk di bangku SD.

Ibu Salwiya istri bapak Hairudin ini berprofesi sebagai guru yang mengajar di Madrasah Ibtidaiyah kelas 4- 6 SD. Pak Hairudin selain berjemaah di Masjid Al-Aqso Walesi ini ternyata juga merupakan aktifis dari beberapa organisasi lain diantaranya yaitu Ketua Senat Mahasiswa STIA YAPIS, Ketua HMI Jayawijaya, BKPRMI ( Badan Koordinasi Pemuda Remaja Muslim Indonesia ), dan Sekretaris 1 KNPI. “Setiap ada kegiatan tentang HIV & AIDS biasanya menghubungi saya untuk memfasilitasi peserta”, demikian kata pak Hairudin kepada kami.

Dia mengaku pernah mengikuti kegiatan seperti ini 2 kali yang pertama di Aula Infokom dan yang ke dua dan ke tiga di Ruang Pertemuan Hotel Baliem Pilamo ini. “Wah saya senang sekali mengikuti kegiatan ini, karena sangat bermanfaat dan bisa membagikan ilmu ke generasi muda masyarakat dan kalangan umum”, begitu ungkapan perasaan bapak 4 anak ini setelah mengikuti kegiatan ini.

Program workshop Saluran Harapan pertama kali dibangun oleh CABSA (Lembaga Nirlaba di Afrika Selatan) yang kemudian diadaptasi oleh World Vision dan dijadikan model program inti HIV & AIDS World Vision di seluruh dunia.

Pak Hairudin juga mengatakan bahwa “Istri saya yang selalu mengingatkan jika ada kegiatan yang cukup tinggi dan sampai menginap kesana kemari, yang penting bisa jaga diri “. Bapak ini juga menyarankan anak-anak untuk berhati-hati jika bergaul apalagi sekarang sudah ada narkoba dan seks bebas. Hal ini dikatakannya mengingat anaknya sudah ada yang berumur pemuda dan remaja.

Dituliskan oleh Willy Nugroho untuk Eruwok Development

Posted by Willy Sitompul

Musrenbangda Lanny Jaya - March 14, 2011

Sebagai salah satu upaya pemerintah kabupaten Lanny Jaya untuk membuat perencanaan dari bawah maka diadakanlah Musyawarah Perencanaan Pembangunan Daerah (Musrenbangda) Kabupaten Lanny Jaya pada tanggal 14 Maret 2011 yang lalu. Musrenbangda ini diikuti oleh berbagai SKPD di level pemerintahan dan dilaksanakan oleh Bappeda kabupaten Lanny Jaya di Tiom ibukota Kabupaten Lanny Jaya.

Musrenbangda ini dibuka oleh pelaksana tugas Bupati Lanny Jaya Bpk. John Way setelah terlebih dahulu ketua Bappeda selaku panitia menyampaikan laporannya sehubungan dengan Musrenbangda yang akan diadakan tersebut. Musrenbangda kali ini juga menampilkan beberapa presentasi dari berbagai kedinasan yang dirasa mempunyai dampak banyak di masyarakat diantaranya Dinas Pekerjaan Umum, Dinas Kesehatan dan Sosial, serta Dinas Pendidikan Pemuda dan Olahraga Kabupaten Lanny Jaya.

Acara kemudian dilanjutkan dengan membagi ke dalam beberapa kelompok seperti kelompok Pembangunan Fisik, kelompok Ekonomi, Kelompok Hukum dan tata pemerintahan, serta kelompok Sosial Budaya. Sebagai satu-satunya lembaga sosial non pemerintah yang diundang dan hadir pada saat itu Wahana Visi Indonesia - ADP Eruwok diminta bergabung ke kelompok Sosial Budaya.


Dalam dinamika kelompok Wahana Visi Indonesia memberikan kontribusi sangat banyak terkait berbagai usulan aktifitas yang ditawarkan oleh kedinasan seperti Dinas Kesehatan dan Sosial serta Dinas Pendidikan. Berbagai tawaran kerjasama muncul dan ditawarkan oleh berbagai kedinasan. Salah satu hal yang paling menarik adalah ucapan terimakasih yang dilontarkan oleh Dinas Kependudukan, Catatan Sipil, Transmigrasi dan Tenaga Kerja (panjang ya nama dinasnya...) oleh karena partisipasi Wahana Visi Indonesia - ADP Eruwok yang telah membantu dengan cara "jemput bola" dalam rangka mewujudkan Akta Lahir gratis bagi anak-anak di bawah usia 18 tahun di seluruh wilayah kabupaten Lanny Jaya.



Dalam dinamika kelompok juga dirasakan peran WVI yang sangat besar di bidang pendidikan. Salah satu pengakuan datang dari kepala dinas pendidikan yang berkata:" WVI ini..dong hebat..bisa bikin kegiatan dengan budget kecil..." begitu ucap Bpk. Agus Howay kepala dinas Pendidikan kabupaten Lanny Jaya saat diskusi kelompok di sektor pendidikan.

Ke depannya peran WVI yang sudah sangat dianggap oleh pemerintah daerah harus semakin digalakkan dan jangan sampai menurun. Berbagai aktifitas dan janji yang ditawarkan pemerintah daerah harus di follow up dan dilaksanakan dengan baik sehingga kepercayaan Pemda kepada Wahana Visi Indonesia tetap terjaga dengan baik.

Posted by Willy Sitompul for Eruwok Development

Community-Lead Total Sanitation (CLTS) in Dukom Village

High incidences of diarrhea cases in Dukom Village (Tiom sub district) raise awareness in the community. They curious and wonder what is the caused of this situation. WV then facilitated the community using method of Community-Lead Total Sanitation (CLTS). In this method, WV did not directly point to solutions but building community curiosity and knowledge as they will find their own solutions.

At first, village mapping was made.

Community map several places where they used to defecate or location where they used to find feces. They then connect those places with some incidence of diarrhea that happened and then they found correlation between it. Although some houses already equipped with private sanitation facilities, still the habit of open defecation happened among community. Their work that consume most of their time in the field has forced them to still practice open defecation habit.

Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) focuses on igniting a change in sanitation behavior rather than constructing toilets. It does this through a process of social awakening that is stimulated by facilitators from within or outside the community. It concentrates on the whole community rather than on individual behaviors. Collective benefit from stopping open defecation (OD) can encourage a more cooperative approach. People decide together how they will create a clean and hygienic environment that benefits everyone.

It is fundamental that CLTS involves no individual household hardware subsidy and does not prescribe latrine models. Social solidarity, help and cooperation among the households in the community are a common and vital element in CLTS. Other important characteristics are the spontaneous emergence of Natural Leaders (NLs) as a community proceeds towards ODF (Open Defecation Free) status; local innovations of low cost toilet models using locally available materials, and community-innovated systems of reward, penalty, spread and scaling-up. CLTS encourages the community to take responsibility and to take its own action.

In its fullest sense, total sanitation includes a range of behaviors such as: stopping all open defecation; ensuring that everyone uses a hygienic toilet; washing hands with soap before preparing food and eating, after using the toilet, and after contact with babies’ feces, or birds and animals; handling food and water in a hygienic manner; and safe disposal of animal and domestic waste to create a clean and safe environment. CLTS concentrates on ending open defecation (OD) as a first significant step and entry point to changing behavior. It starts by enabling people to do their own sanitation profile through appraisal, observation and analysis of their practices of OD and the effects these have. This kindles feelings of shame and disgust, and often a desire to stop OD and clean up their neighborhood.

After learn knowledge and doing village mapping, community of Dukom village then made a deal in form of agreement between village inhabitant and village leaders not to do open defecation anymore. They also agreed to build latrines in places where OD often occurs. “We really hope by practicing this new habit will lower the number of diarrhea cases in our village” said Yemiles Weya one of the participants.

Written by Willy Sitompul for Eruwok Development

“I want to be a teacher” – Epris’ story

“Hurray! New books!” that was the expression of Epris Wenda on of registered children of Eruwok ADP while receiving new text books from WV. Born in October 23, 1999 Epris now in third grade of elementary school of Indawa Elementary Public School. He is the son of Wetius Wenda and mother Dopi Wanimbo. “Our school is very far from the city” explained Epris. “We always left behind compare to other school as we don’t have proper text books to be studied” said Epris.

The Elementary Public School of Indawa received aid in form of text books from WV through Eruwok Distribution and Supply Project. This project provided help for schools in form of text books, soccer balls, and volley ball nets. It also helps community health centers and integrated health post (Posyandu) with several kinds of antibiotics.

“With these updated text books we can struggle to achieve same position with other advanced schools” said Paskalis one of the teachers of Indawa Elementary Public School. “We hope in the future more help will come not only from WV but also from local government” Paskalis continued.

As we look back to Epris, he acted like a teacher teaching of his friends as students. “I want to be a teacher someday” said Epris. “I’d love to teach science as it reveals a lot of things unknown before” he continued and smile. When we saw his smile, we pray in our heart that someday Epris will found a path that would bring him to be a teacher. A good teacher!

Goal! – Mendianus’ story

A rotten ball surrounded by tiny feet around it passed form one side to another that day. “Goal…” said those kids. They look so happy playing that ball as it rotten condition did not matter to them. They share happiness together while playing ball with certain dreams that someday they will be real football players.

That scene is what we saw that noon. Children were playing in front of their school building while waiting their teachers to come. Mendianus, one of those kids quickly run to us when seeing a new ball and net we bought. “Hurray! Hurray! New ball! New ball!” yelled Mendianus and his friends. A cheerful expression shown on those plain faces. When we asked Mendianus why he is so happy, he said that they had dreamt for long to having a real ball to be played. They use to play with a rotten ball in their school and sometimes when no ball to be played they just made ball of citrus fruit peels.

Mendianus is a son of Mesak Kogoya and mother Mina Wenda. He is at fifth grade of elementary school of Tobanapme. He loved to play football and likes mathematics very much.

“With this new ball, we don’t have to play using ball of citrus peel anymore” said Mendianus. “We are more enthusiastic to play football now” he continued. World Vision through Eruwok Distribution and Supply Project provided aid to schools in form of soccer ball and volley ball net in this FY 10 fiscal year. About 35 school received help in form of soccer balls, volley ball net, and text books. Eruwok Distribution and Supply Project also distribute antibiotics to community health centers and integrated health post (Posyandu).

“Children here are lack of games or entertaining activity” said Herman, one of the school teachers of Tobanapme Elementary School. “We are very happy that WV could equip our school with this facility (balls and net).

“I want to be a real football player someday” said Mendianus. We saw his smile and when seeing him playing that soccer ball, we believed someday his idol will be fulfilled.

27th AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2010 “Many lights for Human Rights”

Perayaan AIDS Candlelight Memorial untuk tahun 2010 ini dilakukan di beberapa gereja di seputaran Wamena. Antara lain, gereja GBI Siloam di Jalan Thamrin Wamena, Gereja Baptis Maranatha di Jalan Sudirman Wamena, dan GKII Efata di Jalan SD Percobaan Wamena.
Berikut ini masing-masing catatan untuk kegiatan di beberapa gereja tersebut:

Perayaan AIDS Candlelight Memorial di Gereja GBI Siloam berlangsung hari Sabtu tanggal 22 Mei 2010. Sekitar 40an pemuda gereja dan anak-anak muda seputaran Wamena mengambil bagian dalam acara ini. Acara dimulai dengan penjelaskan mengenai apa itu AIDS Candlelight Memorial, bahwa even ini yang sering di Indonesiakan dengan nama ”Malam Renungan” merupakan even tertua yang sudah berlangsung sejak tahun 1982. Setelah menerima penjelasan dari fasilitator yang berasal dari Wahana Visi Indonesia, acara dilanjutkan dengan menonton film berjudul ”Ketulusan Cinta”. Film ini berkisah tentang kehidupan muda-mudi remaja di kota Merauke dimana sang pemuda akibat kelakuannya yang tidak baik (melakukan seks bebas) terkena infeksi HIV. Namun sang pemudi tetap mendampinginya sampai si pemuda kembali ke jalan yang benar. Acara kemudian dilanjutkan dengan renungan dan penyalaan lilin. Penyalaan lilin dilakukan oleh pemuda-pemudi gereja sambil masing-masing mendoakan orang-orang yang mereka ketahui meninggal akibat AIDS. Para pemuda dan pemudi juga menyalakan lilin berbentuk pita HIV yang ada di depan mimbar sebagai bentuk kepedulian dan kesiapan mereka sebagai cahaya yang akan menerangi situasi HIV dan AIDS di Wamena. Dalam renungan singkat disampaikan juga jumlah kasus terakhir per April 2010 yaitu sebanyak 698 kasus (KPAD Jayawijaya).

Perayaan AIDS Candlelight Memorial di gereja Baptis Maranatha berlangsung hari Minggu sore tanggal 23 Mei 2010. Acara berupa ibadah bersama pemuda-pemudi gereja Baptis di seputaran Wamena kota karena acara ini juga mengundang seluruh pemuda-pemudi gereja Baptis di Wamena kota antara lain Gereja Baptis Sion, Gereja Baptis Ninabua, dan gereja Baptis lainnya. Acara kemudian dilanjutkan dengan penyalaan lilin sambil mendoakan orang-orang yang telah menjadi korban HIV dan AIDS. Sekitar 40an pemuda-pemudi terlibat dalam acara di gereja Baptis Maranatha ini. Fasilitator pembawa renungan berasal dari Wahana Visi Indonesia.

Perayaan AIDS Candlelight Memorial di gereja GKII Efata didukung sepenuhnya oleh KPAD Jayawijaya dan berbagai NGO dan LSM lokal seperti: Wahana Visi Indonesia, Yayasan Tangan Peduli, Yukemdi, dan LSM lokal lainnya. Acara ini termasuk yang paling dipadati pengunjung karena lokasinya yang terbuka dengan panggung yang menampilkan lagu-lagu dan band bertemakan pencegahan HIV dan AIDS. Sekitar 500an anak muda di seputaran Wamena kota berpartisipasi dalam acara ini. Acara diawali dengan sambutan-sambutan dari berbagai pihak dan kemudian dilanjutkan dengan renungan yang dibawakan seorang pendeta. Penyalaan lilin dipandu oleh Pdt. John Naap dari GKII Efata Wamena. Acara ini sepenuhnya difasilitasi oleh Wamena Youth Forum dengan dukungan dana dari KPAD Jayawijaya serta bantuan teknis dari Wahana Visi Indonesia Wamena.

Ke depannya kemandirian gereja dalam melakukan program ini sangatlah diharapkan. Gereja-gereja diharap tidak bergantung kepada lembaga yang akan membiayai kegiatan ini namun bersikap independen dalam dana dan daya sehingga kepedulian gereja terhadap situasi HIV dan AIDS di Jayawijaya ini akan lebih baik dan lebih baik lagi.