Kebumen District
Area: 1.300 sq. kmPopulation: 1.231.872 (2007)
Administration: 26 sub-districts, 449 villages
Sponsored children: 3.751 (2009)
Kebumen district in west Java has coastal and mountainous areas, and a number of beautiful beaches.
Around 30% of the district is used for farming; the other 70% is arid. Most of the people work as farmers; some produce roof tiles. Around 30,000 people leave the district for work every year. Estimated annual income in Kebumen is Rp 2.090.169. ($222) per person.
Public Health
Plan promotes health improvement initiatives, including community health, reproductive health for young people, and school health. Plan has been involved in clean water supply through well digging and piping in 13 villages. and has helped community-led total sanitation programs in 7 villages.
Early Childhood Care and Development
To improve early child development, Plan has revitalized an integrated community-based health service. Plan also supported the establishment of a number of preschools and playgrounds. Plan has trained 600 village health workers in child psychology, child health and healthy food preparation.
Quality Basic Education
Plan is working with the district authorities to develop child-friendly schools. The activities of the program include the setting up of inclusive schools, school-based management training, and training on children’s rights for teachers.
Sustainable Livelihoods
Plan is working to improve the people’s income through the development of animal husbandry, cassava processing by small business, bamboo and Pandanus products, as well as saving-lending unions.
Child protection
Plan is campaigning to raise awareness of the problem of child abuse, with emphasis on the UN convention on the rights of children, as well as Indonesian child protection law. Plan has helped facilitate the formation of 5 child protection forums at the village level.
Universal Birth Registration
Following several years of campaigning by Plan, Kebumen now has a free birth certificate system. Schools will help student applicants who do not have birth certificates to get them. Additionally, there is a birth certificate mobile service, which is very helpful for isolated communities.
Child Participation
Plan is working with village and district authorities to engage children in village-planning forums. Children’s clubs have been strengthened through children’s events, media development and competitions. At the village level there are 41 children’s groups, with coordination at the district level.
