Reverend Arlinda’s Movement for Child Protection in Central Sulawesi
Ensuring the protection of every child and woman is everyone's responsibility. It doesn't matter if you're a member of the community or a stakeholder, a parent or a teacher, working as a farmer or a private sector employee. Everyone must be aware and able to champion the protection of every child and woman. Therefore, anyone must be empowered to be at the forefront of preventing and investigating these cases.
One of Wahana Visi Indonesia's assisted villages in Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi, has begun to become a safer place to live for children and women. This significant change began with a big-hearted and courageous female religious figure. Partnering with the Sikola Mombine Foundation, WVI facilitated the establishment of a community-based integrated child protection group (PATBM), and Reverend Arlinda serves as its secretary.
Before possessing skills and case reporting procedures, Reverend Arlinda was only able to offer advice to her community when cases of violence against children or women occurred. "I often felt limited, but by joining as the secretary of this committee for child protection in my village, I found new strength to act further," she said.
Through her new role, Reverend Arlinda has transformed into a driver of change. With improved capacity, she has become a referral centre, receiving reports of violence cases, and tirelessly fighting for the protection rights of children in her village. She once fought to help a child who did not receive a graduatin certificate due to their parents' administrative issues. With courage and assertiveness, Reverend Arlinda successfully bridged the gap between the school and the parents, allowing the child to continue their education.
Reverend Arlinda also showed deep empathy towards a child with a mental disability who had dropped out of school. She strived to create a solution with the school and family until the child could access education. When facing severe cases such as child marriage, this woman, who is also a mother, also became a patient listener and a liaison with relevant agencies. She ensures that these children receive the support they deserve.
Although many efforts have yielded positive results, Reverend Arlinda often feels lonely due to the lack of support from other group members. One thing that keeps her spirit alive is thinking about how children who experience injustice or violence would continue their lives if no one defended their rights.
For her, this struggle is more than just a social duty; it is a form of devotion to God. What she does makes her life meaningful by bringing change to the younger generation. She believes that every child has the right to grow up in love, safety, and with various opportunities available.
Her village is now more than just an ordinary village. Through the village based child protection committee, socialisation on the issue continues to be promoted, and the community is beginning to realise that protecting children is a shared responsibility. Behind this change, Reverend Arlinda plays a significant role. "Through this programme, I learned that every child is a gift from God that we must protect. Hopefully, this small step will be a blessing to many," she concluded.
Author: Moh. Adli Azri (Community Organiser for Sigi, Palu, Donggala Area Programme)
Editor: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)
