HIGHLIGHT OBSERVATION STUDY TOUR On Emerging Paradigm for Empowering the Family and Community for Welfare Enhancement at the Grass Roots, Jakarta and Yogyakarta, 28-31 Jan 2008
Laporan: Donni
The DAMANDIRI Foundation, hereon forth referred to as the Foundation, has had the privilege to host the OST (Observation Study Tour) on "Emerging Paradigm for Empowering the Fainily and Community for Welfare enhancement at The Grass Roots". True to its vision of Family Prosperity, and the mission of Empowering the Grass Roots Families and Community for their Welfare Enhancement, the Foundation has endeavored hard to materialize the POSDAYA paradigm in the community. Various location-specific POSDAYA have been in operation since the inception in 2006-2007.
Encouraged by the rapid acceptance and adoption of the POSDAYA's concept and its three main pillars of Cotong Royong, of Self-Reliance (Kemandirian), and Empowerment, the Foundation began to initiate firm steps to share and disseminate this novel paradigrn of social change to the wider national and international circles. One of these is holding the OST's for both national and international participants.
The OST was held at Jakarta and Yogyakarta on January 28-31 , 2008. The following are highlights and major points in the OST.
OBJECTIVES
The overriding objectiveof the OST is toapply the concept of empowering all segmentsof the age spectrum in the farnily and the cornmunity through the community-based POSDAYA model.
The specific objectives are:
* To share the community-based POSDAYA Paradigm to international and national participants;
! To share Indonesia's experience in empowering the community in social development through community-based POSDAYA Model;
To invite participants to adapt the community-based POSDAYA and other models as appropriate to their respective settings;
To share with international and national participants the inception of local community-based and other fore as data base for incumbent social and economic development and future programs.
Participants were Indonesian prograrn policy decision-makers at various levels, both from national-provincial-local levels, both government, non-government agencies, and also from international agencies.
Ms Rachel Chua from ICOMP - Malaysia;
Mr Abdisalan Osman Abdi, Somalian Embassy in Jakarta, Somalia;
Ms Byarlina Gymirti, State Ministry of People's Welfare;
Ms Ratna Juita Razak, National Family Plannning Coordinating Board (BKKBN)
Mr AdrianusTanjung, the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association;
MrYan Efri Bachtiar, Bogor Agricultural Institute;
Ms Noorchayati, State Planning Board of Central Java;
Mr Legiman, State Planning board of Central Java;
Ms Woro Sulistyaningsih, State Planning Board of Yogyakarta Special Province
Ms Mundi Mahaswiati, Kusurna Buana foundation, Indonesia.
THEOPENINGSESSION
In the Opening Session the participants were welcomed by Dr Sudjana Ruhyat, Deputy Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare in Charge of Poverty Alleviation. In his opening address Dr Sudjana presented a paper entitled "Accelerating Poverty Reduction and Jobs Creation Policy to Increase People's Welfare and the National Program on Self-Help Cornmunity Empowerment (PNPM-Mandiri)". The main points of his presentation were the following.
-That the total number of the poor in 2007 stood at 37.17 million or 16.58 percent;
-That unemployment has declined from Febryuary 2006 to February 2007 has declined from 10.5 percent (11.1 rnillion) tp 9.8 percent ( 10.6 million);
-That IMR has declined in 2000 to 2007 from 90 per 1000 to 42, and that MMR has also decreased from 392 per 100,000 live births to 29;
-He also elaborated the mid-term national Development Plan 2004-2009 on Poverty Reduction and Jobs creation;
-One of the more striking point was that in the field of community empowerment (PNPM-Mandiri) his Ministry is coordinating 1 7 progratns throughout Indonesia, carried out by 22 line ministries, targeting 60 million poor. He also eiaborated the philosophy and principles of the PNPM-Mandiri program.
Following Dr Sudjana's Opening Address, the Foundation gave a presentation on the major paradigmatic points of Family and Community Empowerment for improving the Quality of Human Resources at the Grass Roots, prepared by Prof Dr Haryono Suyono. Professor Dr Haryono Suyono's briefing contained the philosophy and underlying thoughts of the POSDAYA paradigm. He also related the vast network of this paradigm which is now in place in more than 100 districts, mainly in Java-Bali and some parts of Sumatra. He also elaborated the challenges and the opportunities for the future. Prof Dr Haryono suyono also elaborated the linkages between POSDAYA activities and the •eight points of MDGs. He noted that POSDAYA is theemerging paradigm for profound and sustainable attitude change and the institutional vehicle for family and community development.
The Opening Session was followed by an Open House session to give an orientation to participants on the daily operations of the DAMANDIRI Foundation. The highlights of this session included a recorded interview of international participants on the D FM Radio, the Foundation's radio station. Participants were also introduced to the Web Management of the Foundation.
In the late afternoon the participants began their journey to Yogyakarta where field observation took place.
FIELD VISIT AT PUNDUNG HAMLET, IMOGIRI
SUB-DISTRICT IN BANTUL DISTRICT - YOGYAKARTA
It is important to note that Yogyakarta is a special province by virtue of its historical status as a sultanate, where the elected governor is the sovereign of Yogyakarta, Sultan Hamangku Buwono X. The province comprises of 5 districts, and one of those is Bantul, where the OST was hosted at one of its villages and hamlets.
Participants were welcomed by the Camat (sub-district head) and the local community, with their special activities, including a display of sports for the elderly. One of volunteer cadre, Ibu Ari Murti Rahayu elaborated details of the Posdaya activities.
It is highlighted thatthe POSDAYAactually providesthe "umbrella" and the institutional framework for the community to embark of their various family and comrnunity activities. It is a virtual organization, upon which all their concrete endeavors are based upon. It is a base for resolute consensus and commitment.
Site observation and dialogue included BKB (Family Development for Under-fives), activities of the elderly, local handicrafts industry At those locations the OST was welcomed with warm hospitality and given real-life demonstration of their activities. Some of the more striking were the Early Child Development using the Kantong Wasiat.
At the conclusion of this visit impression and recommendations were presented by participants. Noteworthy is the offer and pledge given by DR Yanefri Bachtiar of IPB (Bogor Agricultural Institute) to assist Pundung hamlet with implement/equipment to construct Biopori to enhance soil quality.
At Dukuh Pundung, the OST was shown the full spectrum of activities of a comprehensive POSDAYA, which included Health, Education and Economic activities of the community and families.
THE RDS (REFLECTION-DISCUSSION-SYNTHESIS) SESSION
FoMowing the field observation and dialogue, the RDS session was held at the provincial office of BKKBN and hosted by the Chairperson, Drs Ms Ambar Rahayu.
The objective of this session were (1) to add specific clarifications;
(2) to give emphasis to certain incumbent issues; and (3) to
share comments and sentiments.
The session began with a brief presentation by the Chair of Provincial BKKBN on the implementation of the Yogyakarta Province's family planning and reproductive health program.
That presentation concluded the field observation of the OST, whereupon participants discussed their reflection and synthesis of the the OST.
Mr Abdisalan Osman Abdi of Somalia, expressed his appreciation for having been given the opportunity to observe the POSDAYA and all the activities demonstrated on that day. He also expressed his observation on the links between the macronational policies of poverty eradication, of family welfare enhancements, and the reality at the village POSDAYA level. He intends to convey what he has observed to his Government and to link with tha various NGOs operating in Somalia. He also expressed his respect the Foundation for the smooth conduct of the OST
Ms Rachel Chua of ICOMP/Malaysia also expressed her appreciation for the substantive part of the OST and will convey this to hertasks and contacts in her function as Programme Officer in ICOMP. She noted that the POSDAYA as a conceptual approach, and as a new paradigm, needs certain adjustments before adaptation to local situations in other settings, yet the principal tenets actually should be made universal. Ms Byarlina Gymirti of the Ministry for People's Welfare, is convinced that the POSDAYA should be the way forward, although local adjustments will still need to be applied. She noted that the most prevalent problem is how to "land" and implement conceptual ideas at the field level, and POSDAYA as demonstrated at Pundung Sub-Village does prove that it is not impossible. She also applauded the Foundation for the conduct oftheOST.
Ms Noorchayati and Mr Legiman, both of the Central Java Province Development Planning Board (BAPPEPROP) expressed similar views, and added on the importance of having the appropriate data to ensure the effectiveness of the program. Mr Legiman also iterated that many of those who are concerned in this field are unaware of the fact that there are more than sufficient funds available. The problem is how to access these funds.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Ms Woro Sulistyaningsih of the Yogyakarta Province Development Board, and Ms Ratna Juita of Central BKKBN. They stressed the need for holding similar OSTs for all development sectors. She also expressed the need for coordination and integration in all of POSDAYA's activities.
At the conclusion of the RDS session Ms Ambar Rahayu, Chairperson of Yogyakarta Provinve BKKBNI, emphasized the irnportance to maintain the spirit of voluntarism in poverty alleviation and in POSDAYA.
The DAMANDIRI Foundation, hereon forth referred to as the Foundation, has had the privilege to host the OST (Observation Study Tour) on "Emerging Paradigm for Empowering the Fainily and Community for Welfare enhancement at The Grass Roots". True to its vision of Family Prosperity, and the mission of Empowering the Grass Roots Families and Community for their Welfare Enhancement, the Foundation has endeavored hard to materialize the POSDAYA paradigm in the community. Various location-specific POSDAYA have been in operation since the inception in 2006-2007.
