How does one celebrate the end of a rich five-year-partnership? Upon completion of a joint tsunami relief and recovery project in Aceh, the Japanese National Council of Social Welfare (JNCSW) chose one YUM representative to sponsor for an extended period of training in Japan. The chosen person was none other than YUM's Sponsorship Coordinator Eneng Ernawati. While certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the trip is no vacation.
For the past 8 months, YUM has been collaborating with the Jakarta International School, doing activities ranging from a school trip to the YUM organic farm, to participating in the annual EARCOS GIN Conference.
Binus International University is one of the most well known universities in Indonesia, with a special grounding in technology studies. As of this year, Ibu Lianti Rahardjo and Ms. Karen Imam of Binus decided to incorporate service into the curriculum, and therefore created the "Business Plan Competition”, focusing on YUM Cipanas Projects’, which involves the sophomore students studying at the faculty of International Business.
Fiona Wyburn, as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (otherwise known as AYAD) volunteer, has begun her one-year commitment to YUM as an Organic Farm Officer in YUM's projects in Cipanas. Fiona, along with the respected staff at YUM's Cipanas Organic Farm, over this one year, will work to modify and revolutionize YUM's Organic Farm and bring the farm to its maximum capacity. YUM's Organic Farm has progressed a long way, and is now transforming to also include a site for demonstrations, as well as an "Organic Farm Training Centre" which will be used to educate students, and the local community of Jakarta.
Kimika Oddie, another AYAD, or Australian Youth Ambassador for Development volunteer, has begun her one-year job as the Community Development Officer for the YUM-created village in Cipanas. Kimika, along with Ardi Yanto, the Library Manager of YUM, are currently collaborating on YUM's newest endeavor, the idea of building and establishing YUM's Community Information Centre or CIC. Additionally, Kimika is also working to further progress YUM's Community Library, and she is also helping to organize an array of projects and programs at the Cipanas YUM Village through the establishment of the CIC.
Last December 2010, YUM welcomed a new Executive Director: Ibu Noryana Prabawati. Having previously worked at Save The Children, Ibu Nori, as she is most commonly known, is a welcome addition to YUM's day-to-day operations.
Did you know that this year alone, YUM’s projects have almost completely eradicated the incidence of malaria in the Kalimantan community, or that it has established its first Open-Defecation Free Community in an area once devoid of sanitation facilities?
Did you also know that this year, YUM completed its projects in Aceh and fully converted its Cipanas Children’s Village into a Community Development Center?
