Child Journalist Training Becomes a Way to Voice the Polluted Condition of the Melawi River

Sepauk District has a large area and population, out of a total of 14 sub-districts in the Sintang district. Sepauk District with a population of approximately 54,000 people spread over 40 villages, ranks second with the largest total population.

Of the total number of villages in Sepauk District, Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), through the Finwash4UC project funded by World Vision United States, assisted seven villages as program intervention areas. Together with the district and sub-district governments, WVI formed the District Child's Forum as one of the forums used by sub-district children to exchange ideas, brainstorm, and voice any problems in their area.

One day WVI conducted a Citizen Journalist Training for Forum children in the assisted areas, and Valen (17) was one of the child participants who attended. This activity is carried out to increase children's understanding of how to write, and take photos and videos, opinion news, and features (light news) by journalism rules. In addition, this training aims to increase the courage of children to be able to write news about the reality of deviations from government policies and programs, with the theme of the issues raised being related to water and sanitation.

In this activity, Valen said she was happy because she could learn many things related to the world of journalism and learn to conduct interviews. Valen can also explore issues related to clean water sanitation, which is a major problem in the area where she lives.

Of the forty villages, not half have declared themselves as open defecation-free villages. According to Valen, there are still many people defecating in the Melawi River, while the river water is their daily need for clean water.

“The Melawi River has been damaged. Not only natural damage but also pollution from human feces and waste as well as gold mining workers who pollute the water," said Valen.

Through the training he received, Valen hopes to continue to voice water and sanitation problems in his area so that they can be published in the mass media.

"Because we are aware that the task and function of the children's forum itself are the Pioneer and the Reporter, to voice every problem that is around, for that our generation must be saved if we want Indonesia to progress," concluded Valen.

Written by: Midun, Finwash4UC Sintang Project Coordinator Wahana Visi Indonesia