The Collective Commitment Towards A Child-Friendly Village

In August 2023, the entire community, parents, children, and the local government of a village supported by Wahana Visi Indonesia in West Manggarai Regency prioritised a programme to become a Child-Friendly Village. This decision was a follow-up step after all parties had mapped out the issues affecting children in the village. "We are committed to declaring this village on its way to becoming child-friendly because it stems from our concerns about several children's issues, such as undernutrition, sanitation and drinking water problems affecting children's health, violence against children, children left behind by their parents who migrate, and various other issues," said Sius, the village head. 

Together with WVI and other strategic partners in the village, the village government developed several priority programmes related to establishing a Child-Friendly Village. These priority programmes include: 

• Formation and mentoring of the Village Children's Forum 

• Formation of a Community-Based Integrated Child Protection Team (PATBM) and development of child violence reporting procedures 

• Building of healthy latrines 

• Expansion of drinking water networks 

• Capacity building for Posyandu cadres 

• Supplementary Feeding Programme (PMT) using local food, integrated with the Nutrition Post as a form of rapid rehabilitation for undernourished children 

• Vegetable gardens for family nutritional fulfilment. 

"In the 2024 budget year, all these activities ran according to plan. We do not deny that all activities proceeded thanks to the support of all parties, both from NGOs like WVI and from government agencies, including the Community Health Centre, Health Office, Village Community Empowerment Office, Public Works Office, and other agencies. Support from parents and the children themselves was also no less important," explained Sius. 

According to Sius, many activities have been undertaken to realise their village as a Child-Friendly Village. "Currently, we have issued Official Decrees (SK) for the Village Children's Forum and the PATBM management. We have also developed reporting procedures for cases of violence against children," he revealed. Sius stated that health issues remain a priority, so in collaboration with WVI and relevant partners, in the 2025 budget year, the village has also carried out cadre capacity building activities, stunting prevention and management through the construction of drinking water networks, latrines, complimentary feeding, and vegetable gardens for parents of toddlers. 

"I realise that transforming this village into a Child-Friendly Village is not an easy task. It requires commitment from all of us. Nevertheless, this village has taken good steps so that all children can grow and develop optimally in the future. What we still need to do going forward is routine evaluation of all these activities, and the child profiles must continue to be updated so that we can all monitor the extent to which these Child-Friendly Village activities are impacting our children," concluded Sius. 

Author: Kristian Y. Sahputra (Programme Coordinator in West Manggarai Area Programme) 

Editor: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)