Save 50 Youth with Regenerative Agriculture

FINALLY! After waiting for almost 1 month for our request to be granted, ALL staff and students aged 18 and above received our first shot of Covid-19 vaccine. In Indonesia, in order to receive Covid-19 vaccine we have to send the request to the local Health Office together with a copy of each individual ID card. The Government of Indonesia provide the vaccine for free in all Health Centre across Indonesia, but it is done on a specific schedule and subject to the availability of vaccine in each District.

So, on a bright sunny day of June 23, it was our turn to receive the first shot and everybody were excited to go to the Health Center in Sukaresmi Village. Together with the fellow villagers we line up properly to take our first shot. After receiving the vaccine, we were asked to wait for 30 minutes for observation before returning to the Farm. The healthcare staff also remind us that for the next three days we are advised not to do strenuous activities because during that time a person's immunity will be weakened and susceptible to any infections.

Before leaving the vaccine premise, we all take turn to pose in front of the banner “Saya sudah di Vaksin – Sehat Indonesiaku” – “I have been vaccinated – for Healthy Indonesia”. We posted the pictures on our social media to encourage people to go and get vaccinated.

We are thankful that no one experience the side effect after the first vaccine, and everyone is back on their daily chores on the third day after taking the vaccine as advice by the health worker. The next vaccine shot is scheduled for July 22, 2021.

Links:

• Visit The Learning Farm website and learn more
• EMPATHY for West Sulawesi Earthquake Victims
• https://www.globalgiving.org/dy/v2/pe/progress-report/edit-progr

On January 15, 2021, West Sulawesi was rocked by an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale. The centre of the earthquake is in land, which is on the south of Majene Region. The worst affected areas were Majene and Mamuju districts. Buildings including houses in residential areas were destroyed. Total number of deaths is 105, with 6.489 people injured and 92.075 people have to be relocated to a nearby shelters in 3 hamlets outside the disaster perimeter. More than 346 families lost their homes.

TLF has a few alumni from West Sulawesi, so together with TLF students at Rumah TLF, took the initiative to raise funds from their own pocket money. They also reached out to some generous TLF friends who wanted to help. Total Funds collected were 8 million rupiah and directly sent to TLF alumni who volunteered at the earthquake site to be distributed in the form of basic necessities.

Although most of the TLF students come from disadvantaged or vulnerable backgrounds, they cannot just stand by witnessing the suffering of their fellow countrymen. This is the true testament of the 6 values that TLF instilled in our students: integrity, caring, team work, initiative, responsibility and discipline.

Currently, for the upcoming new batch starting in the 3rd week of March, TLF has recruited two youth who are the victims of the West Sulawesi earthquake to study organic farming at The Learning Farm. One young man he is from Tappalang village, Mamuju, West Sulawesi. When the earthquake sticked, he and his family were able to escape and he was very grateful, because they could survive the critical period after the earthquake. Another student is a young girl from Polewali district, the neighboring district of Majene that was also affected by the earthquake. She comes from a very poor family yet she volunteered to help the earthquake victim at the shelter. Through this engagement, she was recommended by our alumni to come and study at The Learning Farm.

Links:

• http://www.thelearningfarm.com
• Advances Program Students Research
• TLF Donate Vegetables for Front Liners of COVID-19