How we GROW when we work together

These ladies are members of the Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) or Women Farmers Group in Onowaembo village in Nias, Indonesia.

They’re smiling because they’re happy to see the progress of their farm after they received training on effective agricultural practices from Lutheran ALWS partners in Indonesia, CDRM&CDS. Training included Integrated Organic Farming.

“Before, we could only get vegetables from the weekly market outside the village. Now we can provide for ourselves,” explained 40 year old Nuroman Lase, head of the group.  Most of us are farmers, but we were inefficient and unorganized. We are still poor, but with the groups and commission, we can work together and support each other.”

The Women Farmers Group has several farms, each planted with different types of vegetables such as chilli, spinach, water spinach, peanuts, corn and tomatoes. In the last harvest they made a profit of 500,000 Rupiah – more than $55!

While 86% of Indonesians are Muslim, there are still 5 million Lutherans here, mostly poor farmers. The Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) works closely with Lutheran churches in Indonesia through ALWS, Board for Mission, Lutheran Education Australia, supported by the LLL. It’s humbling to see what God can grow when we work together!

The CDRM Team is working in 23 communities across North Sumatra. Over the past 18 months they have worked with 2,884 families (nearly 8,500 people) to implement 290 different activities aimed at improving lives and livelihoods. 

Action Idea: Choose a Fish Pond so a mum can set up a chain of fish ponds to raise fish for market – fresh or dried. Just $215.  

Country: Indonesia

Where: Selected areas in North Sumatra, Nias Island & Mentawai Islands

What: Building disaster preparedness and response capacity; Helping communities manage their own development; Assisting churches and local organisations support community-based development

Who: Local communities, Lutheran Churches, community-based organisations

Our Contribution: $225,000

Through ALWS, you are helping to establish a Centre of Learning that can build the capacity of churches, community groups, local organisations, & local governments to deliver effective community based programs. Their programs will be based on an integrated approach to development work. After the devastation of the Tsunami in 2004, a major focus of the Centre in its integrated approach will be on disaster risk reduction. This is to help communities be better prepared to respond to a disaster, and for the churches, working with government and other agencies, to help meet the needs of people such as Sujatmi when an emergency strikes.

Competion Report Mentawai Tsunami Emergency Response Project 2010-2011

Annual Report CDRM&CDS 2010