On Monday the 27th of November, 2006, The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Bill Farmer, visited Yogyakarta and Central Java to look at projects undertaken by Australia’s Rp 204 billion earthquake rehabilitation program. The program from AusAID is the largest bilateral donor activity set up in response to the earthquake. Australia also made an immediate contribution of Rp 52 billion for emergency relief which brings total Australian funding to areas affected by the earthquake to Rp 256 billion.

“Australian support is now focused on medium-term recovery. Ongoing community engagement is critical to the program. It is important for the community to voice their needs and be part of the recovery process. Between now and mid next year we are focusing on water and sanitation work, restoring livelihoods, and rebuilding 60 health clinics and 30 school buildings,” the Ambassador said.

The first part of the visit took Mr. Farmer to the Bambanglipuro District, Bantul, about 25 km from Yogyakarta. Mr. Farmer was accompanied by Dr H Sudibyo Markus, Chairman of National Executive Board of Muhammadiyah. The first stop was at the PKO (People Kampong Organisation) Muhammadiyah site – Komplex Sekolah Bambu TKABA/SD Muhammadiyah Jogodayah Bambanglipuro. While there, the Ambassador presented books and classroom materials to teachers, enjoyed a student performance and called in on students working in their newly constructed classrooms including young students at Taman Kanak Kanak Aisyiyah Bustanul Athfal.

Next stop was just a few kilometers away at a health clinic – Divisi Kesehatan Bambanglipuro – Balai Pengobatan PKU Muhammadiyah. The clinic was destroyed in the July earthquake and with assistance from Muhammadiyah and AusAID, it is being re-built for the local community. Mr. Farmer officiated at the soft opening at the current clinic’s temporary structure which will soon be replaced by a more permanent building which is almost complete.

According to the Mr. Farmer, there were two very important aspects to the visits to both the school complex and the clinic. Besides the important development assistance provided by AusAID and Muhammadiyah, Mr. Farmer pointed out that the cooperation itself was of great significance. Working together is important especially when confronted by disasters such as earthquakes and tsunami. Activities such as those being carried out in Bambanglipuro District  with Muhammadiyah are funded under AusAID’s humanitarian and emergency aid program. AUD$7.5 million has been allocated for this work.

Just before midday the Ambassador and his party left Bambanglipuro District and headed back into the city of Yogyakarta to the office of the Yogyakarta - Central Java Community Assistance Program (CAP). The Ambassador officially opened the new office, accompanied by Mr Subagiyo Loekito, Adviser to the Governor of Central Java and Dr Bondan Agus Suryanto, Head of Health Agency for Yogyakarta Province. The Program’s Team Leader, Chris Manu, welcomed guests to the new office and led the Ambassador on an office tour before sitting down for lunch.

After lunch, the Ambassador traveled east to the Gantiwarno District in Klaten to visit Desa Kerten village. The Program has recently begun working in this village. At a community meeting held in a newly built school room and attended by Mr Farmer, residents spoke openly about the problems they face. The involvement of the local community, their ideas and needs, is a vital part of the work being done with the CAP – as the name suggests - CommunityAssistance Program. One of the community’s major concerns was the lack of water and they made sure that the Ambassador understood that. In part, the availability of water has been badly affected by the earthquake – damaged wells being one of the major issues to be addressed. By working with local NGOs such as Yayasan Dian Desa (YDD), 635 village wells are being rebuilt and cleaned so that both the quality and quantity of the village’s water supply is significantly improved. To improve sanitation, 150 community latrines are being built. This work, directly benefiting 3,200 families in Desa Kerten should be completed by late January, 2007.

The visiting party spent a half hour wandering around the village looking at village wells and chatting with villagers. The main issue for the community is the lack of water for personal use and also for growing crops.  The community has also expressed concern for a new health center and assistance with agricultural associated industries. It has been a matter of hearing what is needed and what can actually be done.

During the day's various activities, KGRE spoke with Ian Hamilton , the Program Manager of the CAP. Ian told Kang Guru that the Yogyakarta – Central Java Community Assistance Program began in September 2006 in response to the ongoing need for assistance after the July 2006 earthquake. This community based program  from AusAID seeks community views before going ahead with any activities. One way that this is done is to cooperate with existing NGOs who are already doing good work in the area and have established extensive community relations. The Program then works together with these agencies  and enters into discussions with the community about what  can be done jointly to assist with earthquake recovery activities. It is expected that several projects will be identified within each community for possible funding within the program. The aim will be to assist in putting each community back on its feet again through improvements in a range of household, economic and social areas. Many of these will be pilot studies in which the community will be trained in earthquake construction techniques and disaster preparedness through the construction of individual buildings. This knowledge can then be replicated throughout the community with tools and materials packages.

The next day Kevin met with a young KGRE-ite called Tio. Tio helped KGRE with the June 2006 magazine and has been in regular contact with us ever since. Kevin interviewed Tio about his education and his life in Yogyakarta. Education was the main topic and Tio will once again be featured in the KGRE magazine - March 2007. Thanks Tio. Kevin then went on to Jakarta for a series of AusAID meetings plus a reception at the Australian Amnassador's house for AusAID Team Leaders..