Location:
Sakaqlotoq, East-Kalimantan Indonesia

Total budget:
$ 74,100

Background:
Sakaqlotoq, in the interior of East Kalimantan and mainly inhabited by Dayaks, is situated in a large area where the source of income, the forest, has disappeared.  Reasons: deforestation and fires. Together with the population World Partners has started to create new opportunities and chances. The fishing ponds for the breeding and selling of fish were dug out in the village after the establishment of the cooperation (40 families). The Primary School opened in 2006. The regional government praised the school for its exemplary function of good education.  Since 2006 the government has supported the school with a yearly budget for operational costs.
Additionally, in order to help carry the costs, a pepper plantation was developed with the young people of the village.

But things can still be improved, especially for the younger Dayaks. A unique cooperation with the local secondary school was established in order to create more possibilities in the future and raise the consciousness of the community. As from 2008 a simplified edition of the course Forestry and Agro-Forestry has been taught. The learning material is developed by a team of students of the University of Wageningen. Apart from this the students and their teachers will also plant 2,000 fruit and wood trees and maintain a block of land of 2 ha. behind the school. In a later stage the students' parents will get involved in the education within the framework of the Indonesian ‘Green Schools’ plan.

• Provide a sustainable and economical support for communities in the inlands of Kalimantan, so that they will become independent and less vulnerable.

• Improve education for all ages.

• Raise consciousness for the importance of forest and environment, preservation of existing forest and cultivation of new forest.

• IMPORTANCE

This project has a stimulating effect on the whole population and has the support of the regional and local authorities and the local population. This project can be a pilot project for other Dayak tribes in the future.