Sekar Desa and Village Children’s Participation

Icha (14) is one of the children sponsored by Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia) in Nagekeo. Icha is currently studying junior high school in one of the public junior high schools in Nagekeo. Trusted as the Chairperson of the Village Children Forum (FORADES), Icha is the youngest member of Plan Indonesia’s Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) in the Flores Program Implementation Area (PIA).

As a YAP member, Icha is very active in her village and in other Plan Indonesia assisted villages. Icha is a teenager who is very optimistic about learning and developing her abilities with Plan Indonesia. In addition, Icha is also known for her ability to become a facilitator of children’s forums and activities in these villages.

Some time ago Icha and her friends from FORADES participated in the Village Budget Planning School (Sekar Desa) for Young People. This activity is a collaboration between Plan Indonesia and FITRA Foundation to increase the capacity of children and young people in understanding the village budget and its allocation. Through this activity, participants are taught how to read and analyze in a simple way about development planning and budgeting in the village. Icha and her friends also proposed strategic activities that favor the fulfillment and protection of children’s rights, especially in the village.

Sekar Desa took place over three days and was fully supported by the local village government. Seven days after the activity, the village government immediately involved FORADES children and Sekar Desa alumni in the Village Development Planning Conference (Musrenbangdes) for the preparation of the Village Government Work Plan (RKPDesa) for Fiscal Year 2024. Icha and her friends spoke and delivered the proposed activities that had been prepared in advance and in front of the village head, the Chairman of the Village Consultative Body (BPD), and other village officials.

“This is a step forward for teenagers and children in our village. A few days ago, they participated in Sekar Desa activities, and today we directly involve them in the Musrenbangdes as an effort to fulfill the right of children’s participation in the preparation of village government work plans,” said Servasius (51), the local village head.

Icha as the Chairperson of FORADES appeared as the leader and spokesperson of the Sekar Desa alumni delegation. Icha read out several proposals regarding children’s activities that need to get a special place in the RKPDesa. All of these proposals were outlined in an official letter submitted by the FORADES delegation and SEKAR DESA alumni to the Chairman of the BPD and the local village head.

“We have discussed all these aspirations carefully during the Sekar Desa training some time ago. Today, we are very grateful that the village government gave us the opportunity to convey our aspirations in front of the forum,” said Icha.

According to Icha, this is a very valuable experience. Through this activity, they as young people can understand about the budgeting mechanism in the village, the planning process up to implementation, and how to propose issues of child rights fulfillment in their village.

“Not long after the activity, we were immediately involved in the Musrenbangdes. We are excited because we have the ability to influence and participate in the development planning and budgeting process in our village,” said Icha.

Author: Alfred Ike Wurin | Editor: Agus Haru | Photo: Plan Indonesia/Alfred Ike Wurin