On December 21 2023, Pundi Sumatra held a year-end workshop at the Amaris Bungo Hotel with the main aim of reporting program achievements for 2023. As well as collecting input to plan empowerment activities in 2024, especially for the ESTUNGKARA program.
This event was attended by various representatives, including Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD), academics, the private sector, sub-district and village elements, as well as representatives of the Anak Dalam Tribe (SAD) cadres.
This workshop is not only a forum for reporting progress on activities for preparing SAD learning documents for the Trans-Sumatra region, but is also a forum for mapping regional priority issues.
Pundi Sumatra wants to ensure that the SAD empowerment program remains in line with the priority issues set by Bungo Regency, so as to ensure the sustainability of the program and involve various parties in increasing its effectiveness in the coming year.
Assistant I of the Bungo Regional Secretariat, Zulfadli, SE, opened the event and expressed his appreciation for the efforts to empower SAD in Dwi Karya Bakti Village, Pelepat District, Bungo Regency. Even though basic access achievements such as population administration and the SAD economy have improved, Zulfadli highlighted the importance of thinking about the sustainability of this program after the Pundi Sumatra project ends.
Furthermore, Zulfadli expressed his thoughts about the potential of local wisdom and SAD culture which could be developed through a cultural tourism village approach. He expressed his belief that the authenticity of SAD could become a tourist attraction, providing income to the SAD community, villages and Bungo Regency's Regional Original Income (PAD).
Zulfadli also noted that with a tourist village, many visitors can come to study and conduct cultural research at the SAD location.
"Teenagers' mental maturity and psychological assistance are considered important to improve family welfare and prevent conflicts that occur within their scope," said Mela Mayasari as an academic from IAKSS.
Yori Sandi as the ESTUNGKARA project coordinator delivered a report on program achievements. Some of the achievements include basic services, health, and alternative economic development. Over the past year, 39 SAD children received birth certificates and Child Identity Cards (KIA), and 148 people were recorded in the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS). Marriage guidance programs for teenagers and psychological assistance will be the focus in the coming year.
In the discussion session, the idea of developing a cultural tourism village in Dwi Karya Bakti Village was discussed enthusiastically. Dewi Yunita, CEO of Pundi Sumatra, said that potential and concept mapping had been prepared, and its implementation would be carried out seriously from 2024 to the end of 2025. Cultural tourism villages are expected to not only maintain cultural heritage but also improve economic and social inclusion in the SAD community.
This idea received a positive response, especially from the Regional Secretariat I Bungo, who saw it as an important step to maintain the sustainability of cultural heritage and the local economy. In steps to strengthen institutions and infrastructure, 2024 is expected to be an important year in realizing a cultural tourism village in Dwi Karya Bakti Village.
Through this workshop, Pundi Sumatra succeeded in getting input and commitment from various parties, including OPD, universities and local communities, to support the SAD empowerment program in the coming years. Thus, strategic steps can be taken to improve the welfare and sustainability of the SAD community in Bungo Regency.
