Project SaCH (Sanitation Campaign and Social Research) was executed last 23 Jul to 2 Aug 2009 in Meulaboh, Aceh. 20 people from various backgrounds signed up – 12 Indonesians, 6 Singaporeans, 2 Malaysians, 2 Filipinos. There was also a good mix of undergraduates from various universities, postgraduates and working professionals. This setting allowed us to exchange a lot of insights and know more about each other’s culture.

Project SaCH

A brief summary of what we did there:

1. We went to Sekolah Keub to teach the upper primary school students of approximately 50 students proper hygiene practices over a 5 days hygiene camp. They were given Unicef personal hygiene kits and bags from MICA (Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts). We also distributed various hygiene-related educational materials from HPB (Health Promotion Board) to them.
2. Over 100 households in Desa Suak Pandan were interviewed on their sanitation habits to realize many interesting insights like how the villagers were not using the water pump even though it was already built for them by an NGO. 180 Unicef family hygiene kits (includes pails, soap, towels, toothbrush, toothpaste etc) were distributed to these households. A research paper on this will be completed in 2010.
3. Mother’s workshop to educate them about basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle was also conducted. To put what they’ve learnt into practice, we organized cooking competition within the village of Suak Pandan, where we judge them based on food hygiene, taste and presentation.

Project SaCH was a success to all of its participants. This trip has been very insightful and a great learning experience for all of us. We learnt a lot about Indonesian culture and forge really close friendship there. In addition, we also had chance to work with external parties such as WTO, Spanish Red Cross, and Aceh Solidarity for Humanity. Other organizations such as Lee Foundation, Pertamina, HPB, MICA, and Unicef helped us in sponsorship and donations.

If you would like to find out more, do visit our facebook fanpage at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Singapore-Singapore/Nusantara-Development-...

Project SaCH Photo Exhibition (Proceeds from sales of photo will go to Java Quake Victims)

We will also be launching photo exhibition for Project SaCH at various tertiary institutions. Professor Antony Reid, who was the founding director of NUS Asia Research Institute, has written a beautiful introduction to our photo exhibition. There will be many visually captivating photos taken by our very own photographer – Fauzan Zidni. Do come down! The Schedule is as follows:

• 7 – 16 Sep: Photo Exhibition @ SMU along SOB/SOE concourse
• 23 Sep – 7 Oct: Photo Exhibition @ NUS outside library
• 26 – 31 Oct: Photo Exhibition @ SIM Atrium

NDI Ideas Committee Recruitment

As Project SaCH has ended, we are going to recruit 5 people to be part of NDI Ideas Committee for the coming project to Indonesia (estimated to be executed in mid 2010).

These 5 people will conceptualise and set the direction for the next project, before ‘mass recruitment’ for participants who wants to go for the trip. For example, before we recruited for Project Sach, we decided on a Water and Sanitation theme after considerable research and thinking by what was then called the Research Team. Selection will be through interview by a panel and NDI advisors (made up of post graduates and working professionals).

The recruitment period is already closed and the interview will be starting soon.