Outreaching Village

Awakening Hope

Where did the young students in Waingapu during their semester break? Usually they spend holidays in their village. They stay in Waingapu and Lewa to continue their study after having graduated from high school because there are several colleges there. Those studying in college certainly have additional knowledge that can be shared to others. Stube-HEMAT Sumba through 'ViMi'-Village & Me program gives students opportunities to do something for their villages spread out across Sumba island during their vacation. They may design useful activities for their village.

In fact, it is not easy for them to return to their villages because of distance, difficulty to reach and sometimes the place is much isolated, up and down hill, crossing rivers, and passing through rocky roads in order to share their knowledge with people in their village. Who are they?

Ekivianus Bulu,

A student at Theology College ‘Terpadu’ (STT), Waingapu from Tanarigu, West Sumba. In this program Ekivianus accompanied children and youth of churches in his village through Sunday school, Bible study and other activities for faith building. This mentoring program was conducted at Christian Church of Sumba and Bethel Church. This gave new enlightenment and understanding for both who have different denomination to engage together.

He revealed that the local church officials were driven to reactivate Sunday school and youth activities because they had been neglected them. The local community also agreed to pay attention more for children and youth and hoped that such positive activities could be continued to improve human resources in this village.

Naomi Mora Kalak, based on her study on Christian Religious Education at Theology College ‘Terpadu’ (STT)Waingapu, Naomi held mentoring and reinforcement to youth in Lairandang, a branch of GKS Kakaha, Ngadu Ngala, south east of East Sumba district.

She was so surprised and amazed by the reception and appreciation of the local people who seemed so enthusiastic and motivated, because rarely students who were on vacation doing various useful activities and involving them, such as teaching Sunday School children, youth church support and home bible study. They hoped that activity duration can be extended so that children and young people in the church can learn many things and this program would be regularly held.

Sepritus Tangaru Mahamu, a young man from Laihobu village, Kananggar, East Sumba who study at PDD Animal Husbandry academy, East Sumba. His village is located in a remote area so he has to pass steep roads to get there. Sep, his familiar name, returned to his hometown to motivate students at Laihobu Elementary School. Although in remote areas, they should not be isolated but try hard to continue their study to Waingapu.

This school has 128 students from grade 1-6, but it has only four teachers so that one teacher teaches two classes at the same time with limited teaching facilities. He brought books and stationery to inspire students to learn. Sep with local people also held local potency mapping of the village and found potential crops such as coffee, betel and betel nut.

Yupiter Tanga Tawul, he is known as a student activist at Wirawacana Christian University of Sumba, coming from Tanarara village, Lewa, East Sumba. Yupiter has skills to make nutrients and vitamins for livestock so Stube-HEMAT Sumba encouraged him to provide training for people in his village to make vitamin supplements for cattle, pigs, buffaloes, goats and chickens. The ingredients of vitamin supplementation are made from banana buds and sugar water.

Even though his training took only in short period, they enthusiastically learned to mix these ingredients into nutrients and vitamins for livestock. Currently they have been able to make their own and even the local village government will hold similar assistance with him.

Onira Tenggu Nalu, a student at Theology college of GKS from Umamanu village, Lewa Tidas, East Sumba became a participant of ViMi program to facilitate children in Sunday school and youth Bible study at Maringu kotak, a branch of GKS Umamanu.

Through mentoring and faith building on Sunday school and church youth, she hoped to be able to motivate them to grow spiritually and actively in church activities. Dealing with book distribution for children, she wanted to foster interest in reading and knowledge among children in her village. The local people enthusiastically supported Onira's activities and gave her opportunity to develop activities according to her creativity and hoped the activities can be sustainable.

Nia Epa Hoy, a student activist at Wirawacana Christian University of Sumba, is eager to join ViMi-Village & Me program. Personally Nia has skills to make organic liquid and solid fertilizers and organic pesticides. Both skills pushed her back to her hometown of Pepuwatu village, Nggaha Ori Angu subdistrict to provide training of making organic fertilizers and pesticides to local people.

The people of Pepuwatu enthusiastically followed each step of making organic fertilizers and pesticides facilitated by her. Now they have additional skills of making organic fertilizers and pesticides. Personally Nia was pleased to be able to share her skills and they responded well.

Blessed is the one who comes with the good news. Every person's knowledge and experience will be valuable when it is shared and able to improve the life of village community. Stube-HEMAT Sumba opens opportunity for students to return to their village through ViMi-Village & Me program. So, start to think from now what will be shared for the people in your village. (TRU).