phoenix partnership:

may indonesia assessment trip

Food for the Hungry and City Officials were in Indonesia from May 12 – 21, 2005 to assess relief and development programs they implemented in January through a unique partnership called "Rising to Help."  This partnership was formed just days after the December tsunami, and is helping restoring livelihoods in the municipality of Meulaboh through a variety of programs.
The programs listed below are currently being implemented to meet vital needs:

• Cash for work:
  In order to infuse cash into a community that has lost all its cash assets, we are hiring local people whose livelihoods have been destroyed to clean and rebuild their destroyed community. Most of the workers are living in IDP (internally displace persons) camps outside of their community which was 80% damaged.
  
  
• Livelihoods:
  FH is providing cash and tool grants to help small business owners re-open their businesses destroyed by the tsunami. FH is working very closely with the Camat (Mayor), conducting assessments with focus groups of small business owners that include men and women in livelihoods such as: rickshaw drivers, carpenters, bakers, cement workers, etc. FH also working with each small business group to ensure that there is investment from recipients into their futures.
  
  
• Agriculture:
  FH is using its experience and expertise in agriculture to help west coast communities of Aceh Province to rebuild their agricultural livelihoods, helping farmers rebuild, strengthen and diversify their farming communities. FH is coordinating with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and will work with and through community-based farmers associations to reestablish agricultural production in the affected areas through CFW programs, tool and seed distributions and livestock restocking.
  
  
• Education:
  FH has been asked by provincial and local leaders to join them to help improve education in the community with a special emphasis on educating women and children through developing English programs with other NGO’s and the local education authorities; and also through encouraging educational and cultural exchange between North American schools and schools in Meulaboh.
  
  
• Working with Women:
  FH is working with the PKK (a local government sanctioned womens organization) whose purpose is to help train and educate women in creating and contributing to a healthy home environment. We are doing this by providing psycho-Social trauma care as the tsunami has left many families paralyzed by fear, small business investment and training on savings principles, as well as English training.