There must be activities for mothers and children to doCianjur, West Java (ANTARA) - The Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry established a SAPA (Friends of Women and Children) post in Sukamulya Village, Cugenang Sub-district, Cianjur District, West Java, to hone the talents of mother and child victims of the disaster.
"Earlier, it was said that this was our first SAPA post. Hopefully, later on, this place would not just remain idle but will provide many benefits in the future," Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga stated in Cianjur, West Java, on Thursday.
The minister remarked that this place reflected the government's presence through the ministry to offer greater comfort to women and child victims, and it could also be used to improve collective productivity.
Currently, the place's function in the future was still being discussed by the women and the regional government, because in preparing long-term plans, the government needed to conduct an assessment first, so it can figure out the types of activities that the victims would prefer to do.
Puspayoga opined that the place could be used to train and hone the skills of women, such as to learn cake baking or sewing. If it is intended for children, then it can be used as a more comfortable place to learn while playing.
The minister also paid heed to some women, who were enthusiastic on learning how to process trash into works with added value. This learning was expected to reduce the amount of trash and lower the likelihood of children contracting diseases during the rainy season.
"I expect that after conducting an assessment of the ladies in the refugee post, this place can be put to good use. Later, it will be seen from the assessment of what training you want to carry out in this post, and of course, us, at the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, cannot do it alone," Puspayoga emphasized.
As a follow up to that assessment, the ministry will later coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies, so that the preferred activities could be conducted without further ado. The minister also instructed her administration that was on site to immediately conduct the assessment for follow up.
"This place should not remain idle. There must be activities for mothers and children to do," she affirmed.
Puspayoga emphasized that although several women and children fell victims, everyone should be able to make the best use of their time to stay productive and rise from the downfall caused by the earthquake.
Puspayoga also noted that communication and coordination among all stakeholders, from central to the village scope, would be maintained consistently, so as to provide comfort and a sense of security as well as ease the trauma of victims, especially that of children.
"Because of the mentoring that will be carried out by the supervisors here, I hope that the ladies will speak up on what training they want to be given and what abilities should be developed. Even though we are in an evacuation center, we really ask for making very good use of their time," Puspayoga stressed.
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Translator: Hreeloita D S, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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