Cities of Pontianak, Singkawang and Merauke take action on HIV
Partner: UNFPA Indonesia and the city governments of Pontianak, Singkawang and Merauke
Since September 2007, teams in the cities of Pontianak, Singkawang and Merauke stimulate their communities to respond to HIV, with support of UNFPA. The SALT teams are concrete examples of inclusion as government officials, NGO outreach workers, transgender persons, MSM, young people, members of faith based organizations, members of sex workers associations, people living with HIV and former IDUs work hand in hand.
Pontianak, Singkawang and Merauke district leadership are playing a key role in supporting the approach by word and deed.
In October 2008, Constellation coaches conducted 2 learning events. In Pontianak for instance the teams took the management of the event in their hands. In both learning events, spirits were high!
“Today the Merauke SALT team has more than 20 members from all walks of life and they visit, listen and interact with each other, share their hopes and concerns,” explained Rebeka from UNFPA, Indonesia.
“Take Ibu Henny for instance: she is the secretary of local AIDS commission and a lawyer by profession. When she got introduced to the AIDS Competence Process, She started
holding her community as a mother, as a government employee, as a community leader...she has been there, beside her community in many forms ... not for teaching but listening.”
Indonesian coaches are determined to organize themselves at the national level in the same way as District SALT and facilitation teams do. They will start as an informal group.
With the right accompaniment, the three cities can become the starting point for AIDS Competence throughout West Kalimantan, Papua and beyond. There is a clear window of opportunity for turning this vision into reality. Various partners are committed. Financial resources are available and can be mobilized.
In 2010, UNFPA Indonesia invited on multiple occasions coaches of the Constellation to support their ongoing spread of Community Life Competence in the country. In specific, missions focused on:
1. Adapting the approach and tools to Reproductive Health and Gender
2. Strengthening the capacity of UNFPA partners in implementing the approach
3. Mainstreaming of SALT into strategic documents and 5-year UNFPA Country Programme
4. Strengthen capacity of all UNFPA staff in using SALT in their working environment and programs
