Our holistic approach to achieving gender justice and social inclusion is also applied in the accelerated stunting reduction program in West Sumbawa Regency, a collaboration between Amman Mineral, the West Sumbawa Regency Government, and YCP. Through the management of nutrition gardens, including in Talonang Baru Village where YCP provided training to women farmer groups in December 2023, we have successfully harvested various vegetables. The harvested produce is then used as ingredients for Provision Additional Nutritious Meals (PMT) menus for children with stunting and expected mothers with chronic energy deficiency.
Cheerful Talita is back! Thanks to the Provision Additional Nutritious Meals
Vivi Iswantari: We always excited to welcome villages cadres and village head every time they come to brought us meals and provided counselling to our family. It always make Talita eats eagerly.
Vivi Iswantari (25) from Dasan Anyar Village, West Sumbawa District, West Nusa Tenggara, couldn’t hide her joy seeing her first child, Talita Zahra, who is now 3 years old, playing happily with her friends in the yard of their modest home. Talita, her only child with her husband, Rony AR (39), was born with a normal weight of 2.5 kg and a length of 47 cm. She received exclusive breastfeeding.
Their happiness was disrupted. 5 day after Talita was born, she fell ill. “My child is suffering from Jaundice, so she needs to be hospitalized,” Vivi recalled the doctor’s words at that time. Vivi’s limited understanding of health prevented her from grasping the doctor’s explanation about her child’s illness. Vivi remembered she could only stand there, stared at her child sleeping pale with an IV drip on the bed.
Vivi recounted that Talita’s weight continued to decrease and she was frequently afflicted by illness, even experiencing shortness of breath at times. “I gave her meals frequently, but sometimes she refused to eat. Especially during the process of introducing solid foods, Talita struggled to eat, making her prone to flu, fever, and diarrhea,” she said. Furthermore, Vivi shared that she always took Talita to the Integrated Health Post (Posyandu) because Talita’s weight and height were not optimal according to her age category. “At the Posyandu, we receive additional food like biscuits, eggs, and green bean porridge, but Talita refuses to eat them. She prefers fruits and snacks,” she explained.
Vivi’s husband works as a freelance construction worker with an unstable income. “We struggle to meet Talita’s nutritional needs due to this limitation, resulting in Talita’s slow growth,” she expressed. Talita’s weighing in August 2022 showed that her height was not normal for her age, indicating stunting. “Her weight is very low, and her height is also short. The records in the Child Health Booklet showed that her weight has been below the Red Line for the past year,” Vivi shared.
Vivi’s spirit was reignited when her child received the Provision Additional Nutritious Meals. The meals was one of the activities in the accelerated stunting reduction program in West Sumbawa District (KSB), a collaboration program between PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara, the KSB Government, and the CARE Peduli Foundation (YCP).
“This meals provision was incredibly beneficial for our family, especially for Talita. My child loves the diverse food options, including different fruits and vegetables every day. So, every day, she eagerly awaits the delivered meals,” Vivi said with enthusiasm. In addition to the meals provided, Vivi continues to fed Talita with various meals to enhance Talita’s appetite. After one month of receiving the Provision Additional Nutritious Meals, Talita’s weight increased by 400 grams.
Seeing the positive progress in Talita, Vivi actively became a Posyandu cadre. Despite having only completed high school, she was able to gain suitable health-related knowledge from numerous counselling sessions and sharing from the village cadres. She expressed her desire to gain more knowledge about child growth, including gender equality, which can contribute to reducing stunting, and to share this knowledge with other families with toddlers in her village.
The Women’s Empowerment and Family Welfare Group (PKK) of Dasan Anyar Village also expressed their appreciation for the Provision Additional Nutritious Meals (PMT) and stunting reduction program in their village. “The PMT has brought changes in the approach to accelerating stunting reduction,” said Ismaningsih (36), the Head of the PKK in Dasan Anyar Village. “We have received training for all cadres on stunting, clean water, and nutrition for toddlers. Therefore, when we are involved in the PMT program, we can easily provide counselling to families with stunting children and expected mothers with chronic energy conditions. The cadres are also taught to involve husbands in monitoring and actively participating in child development through gender equality training,” Ismaningsih concluded.
Writers: Muhammad Ikraman, Meiry Nasution
Editor: Swiny Adestika
Accelerating Stunting Reduction: 132 Youth in West Sumbawa Learn the Importance of Reproductive Health to Prevent Child Marriage
Local Youth Engagement and Learning through Youth Classes
The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) page showed studies indicate that women’s health during pregnancy and childbirth are important to monitor in order to prevent stunting. Teenage pregnancy can further increase vulnerability, especially when there is a lack of physical and psychological preparedness for parenthood. Educating youth groups is crucial, employing a peer-to-peer approach to create a platform where teenagers and youth can openly discuss various topics in safe spaces, particularly to prevent child marriage. Hasto Wardoyo, Chairman of BKKBN, emphasized the importance of involving youth in efforts to address stunting, as they are innovators and agents of change in Indonesia. This is exemplified in West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.
“Acceleration of stunting reduction, particularly in high-risk areas like West Nusa Tenggara, should adopt a holistic approach that focuses not only handling but also including prevention. One important aspect is preventing child marriages among adolescents, especially those aged 12 to 18,” stated Muhammad Ikraman, Project Manager of Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP), during the Youth Class in Maluk District, West Sumbawa Regency (1-3/2). This educational initiative for junior and senior high school students is part of the Stunting Reduction Acceleration Program for a Healthy, Smart, and Resilient Generation, a collaborative effort involving PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMMAN), the Government of West Sumbawa Regency (KSB), and YCP.
132 teenagers from SMP Negeri 1 Maluk, SMP, and SMA IT Binaul Ummah Maluk actively engaged in educational sessions, particularly focusing on reproductive health. The sessions covered various topics, including understanding their bodies, gender relationships, gender concepts, power dynamics, gender-based violence, an introduction to contraceptives, and individual rights. Furthermore, discussions on the impacts of risky sexual behaviours, such as unprotected sex and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV and AIDS, as well as issues like bullying, sexual harassment, and violence in relationships, were conducted interactively. These discussions garnered a positive response from the participants.
“We can openly share our stories, so I feel more comfortable expressing my opinion and providing input on the topics discussed,” said Mulyana, an 8th-grade student at SMP Negeri 1 Maluk. Mulyana added that she gained better understanding on the impact of child marriage from various perspectives, including social and economic, after participating in the activity.
For reference, Indonesia is ranked fourth globally in terms of child marriage, with the number of cases reaching 25.53 million in 2023, as reported by UNICEF. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2022, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has the highest percentage of child marriage cases, with 16.23 percent of women marrying before the age of 18. Law Number 16 of 2019, which amends Marriage Law Number 1 of 1974, emphasizes that child marriage violates human rights and children’s rights, and has serious impacts on children’s health and development, including the risk of stunting.
“This activity is very helpful in preventing child marriage among our students. Many of them were previously involved in marriages when they were still junior high school students, due to a lack of understanding about the risks associated with child marriage. In addition, we were also enlightened on strategies to address bullying cases and prevent violence against children in the school environment,” said Jamhuri, a counselling and guidance teacher at SMP Negeri 1 Maluk.
According to Awalia Murtiana, YCP Program Manager, the interactive delivery of material at Youth Class successfully increased the active participation of teenage participants. “The teenage participants not only gained a deeper understanding but also felt more motivated and excited to be active in sessions discussing topics related to their lives as teenagers. The hope is that from this class, local youth in KSB can better understand the importance of maintaining their sexual and reproductive health, understand gender equality, and respect their rights as individuals. The main goal is to make teenage friends agents of change who are gender-responsive and involved in meaningful participation in preventing child marriage, contributing to reducing stunting rates in Indonesia,” said Awalia.
Stunting reduction is one of commitment from government, schools, and communities in West Sumbawa District. The passing of the Village Regulations (Perdes) on the Protection and Prevention of Child Marriage in August and September 2023 in Maluk Village and Pasir Putih Village which facilitated and accompanied by YCP, have emphasizes the commitment to protect children, youth and prevent child marriage, which is one of the risk factors for stunting. “We strongly support the formation of the Village Children’s Forum and the issuance of these Child Protection Regulations so that youth are protected and they have an active role as pioneers and reporters. We will also disseminate and replicate this regulations in other villages so that it can become an example and a learning experience for other villages,” said Kalsum, Head of the KSB Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Office, to the YCP team.
Writer: Nurainy Darono, Editor: Swiny Adestika
Youth Education to Prevent Stunting in West Sumbawa District
The acceleration of the stunting reduction is carried out through the Youth Circle classes in the Stunting Reduction Program for a Healthy, Smart, and Resilient Generation, which is a collaborative program between PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMMAN), the Government of West Sumbawa Regency (KSB), and Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP). A total of 132 junior and senior high school students in Maluk Village and Pasir Putih Village participated in educational activities on 1-3 February 2024, regarding reproductive health, understanding their bodies, gender relations, contraceptive use, and rights that must be respected as individuals, as well as understanding the impacts of free sex, sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, issues of sexual harassment, and domestic violence. Participants enthusiastically engaged in the activities and expressed a better understanding of the economic impacts and other health risks of child marriage.
Kanny: Knowledge on Gender Equality needs to be disseminated massively and consistently
Gender Equality Education for Female Tea Plantation Workers
FAO data in 2022 indicated that Indonesia is the 7th largest tea producer in the world. The largest tea plantation area is located in West Java, accounting for 88 percent, as reported by the Central Statistics Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik) in 2020. The majority of tea plantation workers are women, particularly as tea pickers. Women’s representation in management within tea plantations is still limited, and there is identified discrimination in workers’ earnings, where male workers receive higher wages for the same job. This highlights the existing gender inequality, as reported in the THIRST Journal in 2020.
“Management has provided opportunities for female workers to hold positions as supervisors and managers. However, female workers still feel less confident about competing with their male counterparts. We hope through this Women’s Empowerment Program in the Tea Community, in collaboration with Yayasan CARE Peduli, will instil confidence and enhance the capacities of female workers, enabling them to compete more effectively,” Heru Supriadi, Manager of the Malabar Plantation Unit PTTPN 1 Region 2 stated during his opening remarks at the Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence Workshop on January 23rd at the Pasirmalang Plantation in Margaluyu Village, Pangalengan District, West Java.
The training conducted in two villages, namely Margaluyu Village and Banjarsari Village, focuses on introducing the concepts of gender and gender-based violence. According to kekerasan.kemenppa.go.id, there have been 1,124 reported cases of violence in Indonesia since January 1, 2024. West Java is among the provinces with the highest recorded cases, with total of 106 cases. Women and children are victims of the recorded acts of violence in West Java.
Kanny Destana, the wife of the Banjarsari Village Head, who attended the training on behalf of the Village apparatus, conveyed that both women and men have equal vulnerability to becoming victims of violence, including gender-based violence. “Knowledge about violence, its impacts, and efforts for prevention and handling should be widely and consistently disseminated to create violence-free environment. Banjarsari Village, which already has an Indonesian Women’s Commission (Komisi Perempuan Indonesia or KPI) unit, can serve as a platform for preventing and addressing acts of violence, especially gender-based violence,” said Kanny, who also serves as a teacher at the local vocational school.
More than 44 participants from Margaluyu Village and Banjarsari Village were enthusiast in participating in the training. The attendees included not only female tea pickers but also male workers, women’s plantation organizations, and representatives from plantation workers’ unions who joined the training sessions. Acep, the Chairman of the Plantation Workers’ Union at Pasirmalang, appreciated the training’s inclusivity of male participants and emphasized the importance of men’s roles in achieving gender equality and justice. According to Acep, the training provided him with new insights, highlighting the significance of preventing gender-based violence, including efforts to prevent child marriages. “If men have a good understanding and actively support, gender equality can be implemented anywhere,” he said.
The empowerment for female tea pickers in West Java are undertaken by Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP), including gender training as part of the Tea Community Women’s Empowerment Program. Agus Tri Wahyuono, YCP Program Manager, explains that the program’s implementation focuses not only on strengthening gender equality in the workplace and communities but also on enhancing leadership skills, particularly for female workers. He further explained that the program aims to strengthen the local economy and community readiness around tea plantations regarding access to health, nutrition fulfilment, and clean water. “This activity marks the initial step in a three-year program across three villages. The hope is that if this program series can enhance the empowerment of female workers in tea plantations in West Java, it can be replicated in other industries in different locations in the future,” Agus concluded.
Penulis: Swiny Adestika
Embarking on an Exciting Journey: Welcoming Our Visionary CEO
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Abdul Wahib Situmorang as our Chief Executive Officer.
With a proven track record of leadership and a commitment to our organization’s mission, he brings a wealth of experience that will undoubtedly drive us to new levels of excellence.
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Dr. Abdul Wahib Situmorang.
Empowering Equity: Gender Training Initiative in the Tea Plantation Community
As part of Community Development Forum program, YCP initiated gender equality and gender-based violence trainings for female and male workers as well as communities in tea plantation area in Bandung District, West Java (23-24/1). For around 40 participants from Margaluyu Village and Banjarsari Village, the importance of equal roles for men and women in family, society, and the workplace, reproductive health for women and girls, as well as the importance to prevent gender-based violence and child marriage are new knowledge they can implement in their villages.
