Location:
Kalimantan Indonesië

Budget:

Total: $33,750

$1,250 per fish pond (3 more needed)

Background:
The call for sustainable forestry is also a call for alternative sources of income. The small communities in the inlands of Kalimantan are often exploited by large corporations that are logging the cheap, durable hardwood of Kalimantan.

To identify alternative sources of income for locals, Dutch students investigated the possibilities suggested by the villagers themselves. The village of Sakaqlotoq submitted several projects through its 40-member cooperative. The fish pond project is the first initiative. Rubber tree farms are the second initiative.

• Business: Providing a sustainable and economical support for communities in the inlands of Kalimantan, so that villages in this area will become financially independent from the forestry industry and the forests will be less vulnerable to exploitation.

• Social: Protection of the forests, kindergarten for the village, improving the nutrition possibilities for families

• Ministry: Kindergarten; develop relationships within the village

The cooperative selected 10 of its 40 members to start working with the first fish ponds in the fall of 2005. Technical support is provided by local specialists and the available knowledge of some of the members. Three fish ponds started in 2005 with good success.

The cooperative is responsible for sales and payment to the 10 families. Once the first ponds are implemented successfully, other projects are development for the other families. The effect of the fish ponds is already noticeable in the village and upon the actual start, people gained trust that this is a viable solution and not simply empty words. The involved local pastor shared that its implementation reflects a tremendous testimony for the people and that the new developments are really important to the village.

As a spin-off of this project and as a way to further integrate the community, a kindergarten will be established to begin educating the youngest school children. The building is being prepared and staff is being hired. The target opening date is September 2006.

• PROFIT EXPECTATION

During the first two years, an average yearly profit is expected of over $750 per fish pond. This is an important contribution to the incomes of these families, which usually consists of natural products.

After two years, it is expected that the rubber tree farms will be profitable.