{"id":1001,"date":"2014-12-22T11:58:42","date_gmt":"2014-12-22T11:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/?p=1001"},"modified":"2018-03-13T08:22:03","modified_gmt":"2018-03-13T08:22:03","slug":"suku-mentawai-preparations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/2014\/12\/suku-mentawai-preparations\/","title":{"rendered":"Suku Mentawai Program, preparations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Early November I met with <a title=\"Suku Staff\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/suku\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Esmat<\/a> in Padang (West Sumatra) to finalize registration of the Indonesian Foundation setup to operate the <a title=\"CEEP\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/ceep-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suku Mentawai<\/a> program. Namely, the \u2018Yayasan Pendidikan Global Pribumi Indonesia\u2019. This is now complete. Big thanks to Yeni and Lizzie for their help and guidance here.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Yayasan_Spanduk_web.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<p>We then travelled to Mentawai to meet with various groups, community officials, local government, partners, and to find and contract a suitable office space. We spoke with an awful lot of people. All very inspiring. Mostly so, the positive response for the program we received throughout the islands.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Desa_Purou1.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<p>Another great highlight was Esmat. The passion, drive and intellect shown as he\u2019d explain his intentions to community members of all ages, at every opportunity \u2013 slowly opening their thoughts to the consequences of their current reality and the possibilities of an alternative for a better way forward &#8211; it was a real pleasure to listen to. I couldn\u2019t be more confident for the success of this program with Esmat at the helm.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Esmat_Siguru.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<p>Up until this point I\u2019d always imagined we\u2019d be initiating the program in the southern regions of Siberut Island, as this is where the bulk of our community <a title=\"Mentawai Community Research Report\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iefprograms.org\/images\/PDFs\/SukuMentawai_CRR.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">research<\/a> has been conducted. However, noticed during early conversations with Esmat, I got the feeling he might instead prefer to kick things off closer to his own village &#8211; Saibi Samukop, which is located in the central regions. Fine, I thought. We\u2019ll visit both and see what unfolds.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Esmat_Saibi.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<p>Whilst our research in these central parts is far less advanced than in the south, it quickly became evident that the current situation and views of those here are indeed the same. I\u2019ve uploaded a short video with one example representing the response of many discussions we had with the Mentawai youth in Saibi Samukop:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/115155966?title=0&amp;portrait=0\" width=\"540\" height=\"304\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Returning back to Muara Siberut, in the south, Esmat told me he\u2019d like to focus the program on a community in these regions first, with Saibi Samukop district to follow. In the short time we spent in Saibi though he did obtain support for the program from the official village heads, and commitment from a more than appropriate elder there for the role of educator.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Aman_Kobou.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<p>Having now decided upon a location to commence the program (within a small settlement community in the south) and with approval and support granted, we then secured a practical space for the office.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Kantor_Kamar.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Kantor_Spanduk1.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Kantor_Spanduk.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<p>Plenty of room both upstairs and downstairs (storage) and situated alongside the main river with easy access to both the Port and the program\u2019s communities\u2026 we were in luck. They drew up a yearly contract (commencing March) and we were all rather happy.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Kantor_Purou.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<p>We then travelled to Tuapejat, the capital village in Mentawai, where we reunited with our program manager <a title=\"Suku Staff\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/suku\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">August<\/a>. Having already taken care of a series of tasks for us there, we were able to meet directly with the heads of Mentawai Government, District, and Education.<\/p>\n<p>The response was really positive. They\u2019ve given us their support and, with education being an immediate focus here, have said they\u2019d like to work together with us to help increase attendance, expansion and sustainability throughout the islands. We are now in the process of refining a collaborative system.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Esmat_August.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<p>I\u2019ve now returned to Australia to continue work on raising awareness and <a title=\"IEF Programs\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iefprograms.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">support<\/a> for the program, including the completion and release of the <a title=\"Documentary Film\" href=\"http:\/\/www.asworldsdivide.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">As Worlds Divide<\/a> film. August has returned to Tuapejat where he\u2019s managing general administrative requirements, and Esmat to Jakarta where he has a few months remaining on his thesis. All going well we\u2019ll be switching the new office lights on (or at least kerosene lamps) in March.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Alutet_Toga.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<p>Prior to departing we also travelled out to see the <a title=\"Pitstop Hill Mentawai\" href=\"http:\/\/www.pitstophill.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pitstop Hill Mentawai<\/a> family to personally thank them for their generous support for the <a title=\"IEF Programs\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iefprograms.org\/programs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suku Mentawai<\/a> program and community\u2019s long-term welfare. For the local people here, drawing steady income through their most prominent resources \u2013 waves being one \u2013 is key to ensuring self-empowering initiatives such as this can be sustained and advanced by the community well into the future. We look forward to growing this relationship.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feature_image_wide\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/wp-content\/themes\/synch\/skins\/sukumentawai\/images\/Pitstop_Surak.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<p>Thanks again to all those that bought <a title=\"IEF news\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iefprograms.org\/news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">raffle tickets<\/a>, <a title=\"Buy t-shirts\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iefprograms.org\/gear\/category\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">t-shirts<\/a> and\/or gave their <a title=\"Donate to Suku Mentawai\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iefprograms.org\/donate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">support<\/a> to helping make this first stage possible. It\u2019s a very exciting project to be a part of. Further updates to come. Best regards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Early November I met with Esmat in Padang (West Sumatra) to finalize registration of the Indonesian Foundation setup to operate the Suku Mentawai program. Namely, the \u2018Yayasan Pendidikan Global Pribumi Indonesia\u2019. This is now complete. Big thanks to Yeni and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,7],"tags":[107,99,47,101,102,104,23,59,100,105,103,73,31,106,12,79],"class_list":["post-1001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-program","category-mentawai","tag-community","tag-cultural","tag-education","tag-government","tag-iefprograms","tag-implement","tag-indigenous","tag-indonesia","tag-learning","tag-preventative","tag-process","tag-program","tag-siberut","tag-solution","tag-suku-mentawai","tag-support"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1001"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1690,"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001\/revisions\/1690"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}