World Vision reaches remote regions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): World Vision International (WVI) was established
\nin 1950 by Dr. Bob Pierce to help children victims of the 1950-53
\nKorean war.<\/p>\n
The Christian-affiliated organization, which has its
\nheadquarters in Washington, started operation in Indonesia in
\n1960 to help the country's orphans and orphanages.<\/p>\n
Working jointly with more than 130 local non-governmental
\norganizations, WVI has implemented about 300 various sponsorship
\nand community development projects involving more than US$7
\nmillion in funds in 22 of the country's 27 provinces.<\/p>\n
WVI's projects include the foster-parents program, education
\nand health sponsorship, community-based health programs,
\ncommunity welfare and development programs.<\/p>\n
WVI also has a project called Women and Their Children's
\nHealth (WATCH) in Wamena, Irian Jaya, which is funded by the
\nAustralian government.<\/p>\n
Widyastuti Wibisana, director of community participation of
\nthe Ministry of Health, said the women in Irian Jaya acted as
\nhousewives and income-earners.<\/p>\n
Since most of the population was illiterate, WATCH's officials
\nprovided the information visually.<\/p>\n
\"Many women cried when they saw a picture of a woman carrying
\na baby on her back along with a pig and vegetables while holding
\nher other two children's hands as her husband walked leisurely in
\nfront of her,\" Wibisana said.<\/p>\n
She said many Irianese men have lost their identity since the
\nauthorities forbad them from inter-tribe fighting.<\/p>\n
To overcome the condition, the WATCH project started to teach
\nthe men how to raise chicken and fish.<\/p>\n
\"They have to take care of their cattle, but the men also have
\nstarted to help their wives with household chores,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Wibisana said each project, either in Sanggau or Wamena, is
\nunique because of geographical as well as cultural differences.<\/p>\n
In Sanggau, the main problem is poor child nutrition, which
\nstems from the fact that most parents are working.<\/p>\n
\"In Wamena, the gender issue is the main problem,\" she added.<\/p>\n
The communities in both areas are improving because the
\nproject emphasizes their involvement and the sustainability of
\nthe project.<\/p>\n
Andrew Newmarch, WVI's project officer for international
\nprograms, said that WVI is going to start a new project at Alor,
\nEast Nusa Tenggara, hopefully next December.<\/p>\n
The community in Alor has to overcome the difficulties in
\ngetting clean water. \"The situation is totally different with
\nSanggau or Wamena,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Moreover, in Alor there are still many malaria cases. The main
\npoint of the new project is to have malaria control in the area.<\/p>\n
\"It's impossible to eradicate the disease,\" he said, \"The more
\nimportant thing is to avoid being bitten by the malaria
\nmosquitoes.\"<\/p>\n
The Alor project will take place in three sub-districts.<\/p>\n
\"We won't start the project in the whole area at the same
\ntime,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The project will be started in five villages and then continue
\nto another five until it covers all the areas in the three sub-
\ndistricts.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that the project will help the Alor villagers to
\ndefeat their health problem. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/world-vision-reaches-remote-regions-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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