My name is Joot Red and I am 68 years old. I am part of the Community Leaders Base (CLB) in the Life with Value program. I started participating in this program in 2016. I love being involved in this group because this program supports my community. It is helping my community improve in the health sector.
While in this program, I received great, valuable lessons. I was trained in the practice of “starting a fire,” where we as a community learn to initiate practical activities to support the community. We received information regarding matters of migration, women and children’s trafficking, drug and substance abuse, domestic violence, dengue fever, and measures of protection for COVID-19 and dengue fever. Through this vital information, I began to pay more attention to the needs of my family and community.
During the pandemic, I have worked hard to protect my community alongside FOH by sharing information and safety measures. As a vice-village chief, I am worried and tried all that I could to support my community so that we can learn how to fight against this new disease. I am grateful for the work and the cooperation from FOH. I am happy that the villagers heed the information and try to protect themselves as well.
I am grateful and feel proud to have programs from FOH. I see that it is very beneficial to my community. It has given me great aspirations I had not thought of before. I began to understand and reflect more about the problems at hand in my community. I am glad too that my community is healthier and learning new things through this program.
I ask that this program will continue to support us so that we can learn new things. The local authority alone is inadequate to support the community. FOH gives a better voice and support for the needs within this community.
Finally, I hope that FOH’s program will continue to run in this village and continue to support us here. And, as a request, I hope that in the future when we do a campaign like for dengue fever, there will be other practical materials to support the communities as well. Thank you.