First Women’s Permaculture Training (VDC 7)
A major milestone was reached in this month with the successful completion of the first women-only two-week Permaculture training course. Designed as a pilot, the course content was designed to be flexible and tailor-made specifically for women. Through discussions with the participants, the trainers learnt more about their personal lives, backgrounds and what they wanted to gain from the course, and tailored the content accordingly. Discussions about gender also highlighted the generally accepted and valued traditional role of women as home makers. Many of the women expressed interest in designing a kitchen garden, learning about composting, gaining further cooking skills, learning about medicinal plants and how to set up a small business. They showed great interest in making Gurih Gurih Gizi nutrition formula and jam, bread and fudge, made from locally sourced organic ingredients also proved great favorites! Other skills covered included water supply and waste management, natural pest control, plant propagation and seed saving. The course also provided an important opportunity for the new women training assistants to gain experience teaching in front of a group. Many valuable lessons were learnt from this pilot course and the 18 graduates enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and supportive environment. The course was deemed to be a great success and it is planned to develop and run further such courses in the near future.

Help for tsunami-devastated communities
A large international NGO has enlisted the specialist knowledge of GFS to help some of the Acehenese communities most severely hit by the tsunami to get back on its feet. In Jantho, the inland capital of Aceh Besar, Swiss-based International Organization of Migration (IOM) has built permanent housing for many homeless and displaced people originally from the devastated Banda Aceh and Pulau Aceh areas, and now wants longer-term help to make these communities sustainable. Staff from GFS were asked to provide custom-made training for some 200 people in the Jantho community, covering the topics of composting, home gardening, organic farming, grey water use and waste management. Training participants were the heads of 19 different families who previously earnt their living by fishing. The goal of this livelihoods program was for people to be able to find another source of regular income and learn new skills. GFS supported the trainings by providing seeds and seedlings to give to trainees such as eggplant, peanut, chili and lettuce. Conditions in the area are not easy with dry, hard soil, and not a lot of water or vegetation. But GFS staff said they were pleased with the initial results of the trainings and are dedicated to continue working in the area and giving future support.

GFS takes clean water to local communities
GFS’ know-how and networking has been in demand to help improve the water supply of Acehnese communities. The people of the Lhoong and Pulau Aceh areas have still been struggling with a poor supply of clean water. Environmental organization Leuser International is working through GFS, using its local contacts, to distribute a number of water filters and train people in their use. The first has already been installed in Birek, a village where GFS is already active. At the time of installation a demonstration is given to a small group of people in the village, and then one community member is put in charge of the filtering system. GFS will monitor this pilot project and if proves to be successful, there are plans to distribute six more filters in the Lhoong area, including one on site at GFS. It may also be possible to distribute up to 17 units on Pulau Aceh.
GFS staff say they are impressed with the filters which come in two different sizes - one can filter 350 liters the other 500 liters per hour. Furthermore, they are manual pump filters, which don’t need electricity and should therefore be easy to maintain as they do not require regular cleaning.

GFS opens new Banda Aceh Office.
GFS is pleased to announce the setting up of its new office in Banda Aceh. Due to the influx of a large number of international NGOs in the region, rents in Banda Aceh had been forced up to a disproportionate and unmanageable level. Until now, it had meant that finding suitable office premises for small organizations like GFS, was almost impossible. However, via its local contacts, GFS has now secured the use of a three-storey building in the center of town. The move is important as it gives IDEP a presence in the provincial capital, which will ensure better communications, and ease everyday matters such as recruiting staff and banking. It will also enable GFS to be more independent and less reliant on the Bali office and therefore saving on costs. It is planned to set up a shop on the ground floor, selling products produced at the school, which will help with project sustainability. The office is equipped with a computer, fax, scanner, printer and internet access. The top floor is earmarked as a living area for staff to stay when they are unable to return to drive 2 hrs to the site or have to catch early flights or attend meetings in town.