PU Sikka


Sikka District

Area: 7,400 sq. km
Population: 295,134 (2008)
Administration:  21 sub districts, 147 villages
Sponsored children:  7.500 (2009)

Sikka is on the island of Flores, in Indonesia’s eastern island group. It has hills and mountains, and is bordered by the Flores Sea in the north and the Indian Ocean to the south. The population is concentrated in Maumere sub district. In December 1992 Sikka was rocked by an earthquake, which caused a tsunami that claimed 2,000 lives. Estimated annual income in Sikka is
Rp 3.6 million per person ($380)

Plan started working in Sikka in 1999, and is now active in 8 subdistricts and 39 villages

Program Highlights

Health
Plan’s major objective in Sikka is to reduce the percentage of malnourished children under five years of age. In collaboration with the district agricultural office, Plan has organized training in diversified farming techniques and the skills of household financial management. Plan is also working with the district health office to promote breastfeeding, child health monitoring, early childhood education and local nutritious food processing. Plan has reconstructed a village childbirth center, and 2 village health posts. At present Plan is still supporting the community-led total sanitation and potable water supply projects, as well as environmental health projects.

Education
Plan’s education program targets the reduction of the elementary school dropout rate in Sikka. Plan is campaigning for the establishment of child-friendly schools, and has disseminated the concepts of children’s rights to teachers and the people of the district. 63 teachers have been trained in positive discipline (29 pre-school teachers and 34 primary teachers) and in “joyful learning”, and children under five in 30 villages have also been prepared for formal education.

Child-Friendly Environment
Plan is committed to reducing the child abuse rate in Sikka, in partnership with the local government.
Plan is seeking to persuade the local stakeholders to develop child-friendly policies. 39 children’s groups have been formed, and trained to take part in children’s rights assessment.
One way to fulfill children’s rights is to ensure they possess birth certificates, and can access birth certificate services. Plan is campaigning for this in Sikka.