AusAID Projects
The last timeKGRE visited AusAID's
BEJIS (BAPEDAL East Java Institutional Strengthening) project in
Surabaya was in October
2003. KGRE visited two of the project activities that BEJIS
was working on with local NGOs (non government organisations). These were
waste disposal and compost-making projects in Keputih and Karah.
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from right to left: Arif Santoso
-Training Advisor, Toeti Herisasi - Environmental Control Advisor,
Ross Fletcher - Land Management and Conservation (LMC) Advisor,
Rusmini Taralamsyah, Office Manager, Ida Presty - Training Advisor,
Satrijo Wiweko - Outreach and Awareness Advisor.
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In June 2005, KGRE went back to visit
BEJIS again to find out how their work has been progressing because
the project is closing in August 2005. BEJIS staff members,Ross
from New Zealand together with Arief and Koko told Rachel all about
how these composting projects have grown and grown. In fact the Karah
project is very big now and has many new participants. These include
public participation, especially from local women's groups, and government
department participation. In fact, some of the women have made their
own environmental group called the Women's Group for Environmental Care.
This waste management and compost-making project has been copied in
many other districts too. |
| BEJIS also runs many environmental Action
Learning (AL) Programs. These AL programs are where people in communities,
schools and government agencies learn about taking care of the
environment and conservation. During the past few years BEJIS has
done 80 AL activities. These activities have taken place all over
East Java. Many of the participants of these Action Learning activities
have now formed their own groups to take care of the environment.
BEJIS also has worked with many Kabupaten governments in East Java.
Now there is an environmental management 'taskforce' in Malang which
has the support of the Bupati and local government agencies to help
decide on important environmental issues and how to resolve them. |
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After the flooding and landslides in
Mojokerto in February 2004,
BEJIS started conducting Action Learning programs with 20 schools
in Mojokerto. This activity has been very successful. So far students
have planted 10,000 trees in the area. Two of the schools involved
have won environmental awards. And finally, Pak Koko was given an
award by Radar Mojokerto in April 2005. Now AusAID's BEJIS project
is at the end of its five-year schedule. All the staff are confident
that the groups they have worked with will continue taking care of
the environment. |
| Arif Santoso graduated
from Gadjah Mada University as a geologist. In 1993 he became
interested in NGOs and their work. He was most interested in
local government and public participation in the process of
government. While he was working as a geologist he became involved
in various community groups where he learned many skills. He
started to specialise in communication between groups of people with
different backgrounds. In 2000 he started working for BEJIS as Training
Advisor. His job includes the planning, teaching and coordinating
of Action Learning programs. He specialises in AL programs
for management of natural resources and conservation. Throughout
his time with BEJIS, Pak Arif has continued to study and develop
his skills. He has taken many courses including studying basic
education. Now that BEJIS is finishing, Arif will be working in
education development. He believes this is the most important area
for Indonesian's development. Arif says English is absolutely essential
for his work and for Indonesian young people today. Most of
the research about environmental issues and teaching methodshe has
done has been through reading English material. Arif's number one
piece of advice for English students is "Believe
you can do it, because you can."
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KGRE reports about AusAID In Indonesia.
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