EcoNusa held the 6th Social Transformation School (STS) in Mogatemin Village, Kais Darat District, South Sorong Regency, in West Papua Province on Saturday 26 March 2022.
Traveling to Mogatemin Village is not stress-free process. From Sorong City, it took more than 4 hours on a bumpy road before EcoNusa team jointly with South Sorong Regency Secretariate’s Assistant II arrived at Mogatemin. But the tiring trip seemed to be relieving upon seeing the enthusiastic public when they welcome the team at the front door of Mogatemin Village.
Handing over flower garland, cassowary feathered crown, and Timor cloth was accompanied by traditional music and Yembo dance. It signified the locals’ delight and hopes for a transformation in their village.
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“Today the Government of South Sorong Regency appreciates EcoNusa for reaching the remote area far from the local government’s reach through Social Transformation School,” said Samsudin Anggiluli, the Regent of South Sorong, stated by Yohan Hendrik Kokulele, the Regent Assistant for Economic and Development, on the official opening of STS at Mogatemin Village in Kais Darat District.
Yohan expected that with STS the participants could have knowledge and skills to manage the existing village potentials so as to generate income independently. “The local government will make the activity as the important information for the future development plan,” he said.
Yohan gave his word to report to Regent Samsudin to discuss the agenda with the other government apparatus before inviting EcoNusa to talk about the organization’s activities and acceleration provided by the local government.
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“I hope EcoNusa stay together with South Sorong Regency Government to help optimize the use of the former palm oil areas. Secondly, it could generate a new entrepreneur to manage the existing natural resources. I also want to share and discuss with EcoNusa team as a development partner for the future planning,” Yohan said.
Mogatemin Village Head, Eduard Tigori, on his speech reckoned his pride and pleasure as his village could host the implementation of STS. “My people and I are very enthusiastic and for the 7-day activity, we assure that all will goes well including security and meals,” he asserted. Eduard thanked EcoNusa for sharing the knowledge and presented something useful to his village. He hoped that the participants could make something better for the village after accomplishing the activity.
Meanwhile, Head of EcoNusa office for Domberai Region, F.X. Adi Saputra, admitted his gladness for the preparation and positive welcome from Mogatemin and Onimsefa peoples. “The preparation only took less than a week. It is remarkable. I appreciate your hard work in the village. I also thank all participants who come from faraway villages to learn together in the STS,” he said.
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Adi expected that the STS attended by 38 participants from 14 villages in South Sorong could run well for them so that when they went back to their villages, they would have brought knowledge for improvement. His appreciation also went to the enthusiastic resource persons for visiting Mogatemin despite the tough accessibility.
On the STS, learning enhancement was delivered by academicians from Papua University, Herman Tubur, Muhammadiyah University, Muh. Saleh, South Sorong Regency’s Agriculture Office, Udin, South Sorong Forest Management Unit’s Forest Planning and Utilization Head, Yeremias YM Thesia, and business expert, Yohanes Subagyo. “I hope their knowledge could be transferred to the participants of STS,” Adi said.
Mogatemin STS will last for 7 days delivering theories and field practices. In the training, the participants will study general knowledge on the central government policy on Village Fund implementation, local policy on the development of village, forest, and ocean as the source of livelihood, agriculture, village financial institution, cooperative and Village-owned Enterprise (BUMDes), product marketing, and business risks.
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The participants will be divided into groups of interests based on the existing prominent commodity. STS will put them into three areas, namely agriculture, forestry, and fishery.
A group of villages with similar category will be made into one group for a discussion with the relevant facilitator and resource person. Each group will be assisted by facilitator and resource person for strategic discussion for commodity development while developing village work plan. The work plan representing the local program will be carried out and presented by every village.
Editor: Leo Wahyudi
