PU Lembata


Lembata District


Area: 1.266 sq. km
Population: 110.966 (2007)
Administration:  9 sub districts, 133 villages
Sponsored children:  7500

Lembata is located in the north of the island of Flores. Although most of the people live in coastal areas, they mainly live from farming. Annual income was around US$270 per capita in 2008.

Plan Indonesia started to work here in October 2005 in two sub districts, and now works in 5 out of 9 sub districts in Lembata.


Program Highlights

Child and Maternal Health

Plan is strengthening village health posts, as these are the health service facilities closest to the community, especially to mothers and under-fives. 210 volunteers have been trained to provide basic services; the posts have been supported with adequate facilities and the villagers are encouraged to support the posts’ activities.

Habitat

Plan collaborates with sub district health centers to promote total sanitation initiatives. Assisted villagers are changing their sanitary customs, and five villages have declared themselves to be free from open sewage. More villages will follow.

Early Childhood and Care Development

This activity is organized together with the village health post program. Volunteers are trained to monitor children’s development and to deal with common problems.


Child-Friendly Schools

Plan works in partnership with the district education office to develop awareness in elementary school committees, including principals, teachers and parents. 15 schools in Lembata are now using child-friendly learning methods.


Integrated Food and Nutrition Security

Plan works together with the district health office, sub district health centers and the district food security agency to improve public understanding of nutrition. This initiative is also improving production of local food materials, and Plan is developing village nutrition posts which help villagers improve their health status, and reduce malnutrition cases among children under five.

Promotion of Children’s Rights

Plan is promoting children’s rights in association with local NGOs. In the promotion, Plan has helped build the partners’ capacities, formed the Lembata Children’s Forum, strengthened sub district child groups and supported village child clubs. Additionally, Plan has lobbied the local government and local legislators for pro-child policies.