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'Serving the unreachable and reaching the underserved' is the motto of Dominikus Tae Seran, the Village Head who was born in Wesukabi on December 14, 1984. He aspires to develop his home village with the potential of the community.
"I ran for Village Head not to become a famous or respected village official. But because there are many village funds available for development—both in physical development and for human development through training programs," said the Village Head of Weulun.
Driven by his desire to develop his village, Dominikus Tae Seran ran as a candidate for Village Head. On December 9, 2022, during the Village Head election, he was elected as the Head of Weulun Village. This had been his long-held dream, which he finally achieved.
On February 14, 2023, Dominikus Tae Seran was inaugurated as the Head of Weulun Village. He has many dreams he hopes to realize for the community in Weulun. One of his dreams is to help the people of Weulun Village become healthy, educated, and disciplined. Among the seven hamlets in Weulun Village, there is one very remote hamlet. This hamlet has long been untouched by any development
“I am deeply interested in its natural potential and the friendliness of its people. Thus, in April 2023, Weulun Village received 70 sanitary toilets, and Wetalas Hamlet received 17. Additionally, Posyandu and PAUD facilities were constructed using Village Funds in 2023, and road repairs were funded by District Funds, APBD, as well as electricity access through East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Funds. Therefore, all health-related infrastructure was directed toward the hamlet," he explained.
Mr. Dominikus Tae Seran, Head Village of Weulun
The 2023 Village Fund allocated for health, toddler PMT, toilet training, healthy toilets continues the program pioneered by the old officials. However, in 2024, the Village Fund Budget Plan for health will be budgeted for stunting reduction such as, procurement of PMT for toddlers and pregnant women with SEZ, local food and herbal training, increasing the number of healthy toilets and healthy homes. In addition, there are also additional nutritionists for Poskesdes, construction of Posyandu houses for Wesukabi Hamlet, additional medical equipment, equipment in Poskesdes and he believes that everything planned can be achieved as long as with prayer and hard work.
In early March 2023, met with the village facilitator of CD Bethesda YAKKUM Malaka area. They told him about the programs, and he is very interested in the empowerment program that CD Bethesda YAKKUM has been doing in his village, “I am very happy with the empowerment program, because the vision and mission of CD Bethesda YAKKUM are the same as my vision and mission,”
There have been several trainings conducted by UPKM / CD Bethesda YAKKUM in Weulun Village. The Head of Weulun Village is very grateful for the training, especially about herbal training, local food and training cadres for Posyandu and Posbindu services, “UPKM / CD Bethesda YAKKUM is the best partner, a friend to confide in, share stories about development. The thing that the Village Government has not thought about is that UPKM / CD Bethesda YAKKUM with its empowerment program can remind us to keep thinking about the welfare of the village community,”
Weulun Village Head has only been the Village Head for 5 months, but there have been many changes that he has felt while working with CD Bethesda YAKKUM. One of his pride is that previously there was no budget for the procurement of medical devices, but now CD Bethesda YAKKUM has helped provide medical devices. Moreover, herbal cadres have become good at concocting medicine from plants with medicinal properties and making fresh drinks. Cadres also became able to process local food into biscuits and buras. Another change is to direct cadres to plant herbs in their yards, with the aim that when they are sick, they can use the herbs as first aid medicine in the family. The Village Head plans to open an herbal garden in Wetalas Hamlet by the end of 2023.
"I hope that the trainings from CD Bethesda YAKKUM for the Weulun community will continue to have lasting impact. Even if CD Bethesda YAKKUM no longer assists us, the skills gained should still be developed by cadres and the wider community. In 2024, I plan to use Village Funds to reactivate BUMDES to market all herbal, food, and sanitation products,” said the Head of Weulun Village, speaking with firm enthusiasm. "Finally, I thank CD Bethesda YAKKUM, an empowerment organization I deeply admire. Our village must become healthy and prosperous.”
(Dina Klau)
