Cargill’s Sanitation and Hygiene Program for Children Extended to Additional Schools in Indonesia

(SERANG, INDONESIA), February 26, 2019 – Cargill and CARE International have successfully completed a two-year project in Indonesia to support primary school children’s health through clean water, sanitation and hygiene improvement in Serang (Banten) and Makassar (South Sulawesi). The project is part of the “Promoting a Sustainable and Food Secure World” (PROSPER) program, a global collaboration between Cargill and CARE International.

Over the past two years, the PROSPER project has reached more than 40,000 Indonesians (8,000 direct and 32,000 indirect) through the construction of sanitation and clean water facilities. The program has also contributed to capacity building in the practice of personal hygiene and nutrition. In these areas, more than 400 school children in 20 selected schools completed the “little doctor” training. Training on nutrition for more healthy and nutritious food choices was also carried out for 770 students, parents, teachers, and the schools’ food service providers.

The PROSPER project, which was started in 2016 to reduce diseases triggered by poor sanitation facilities and contaminated water, also acts to support government intervention to prevent stunting. The program’s success has been used as an example by the government as one of the ways to accelerate the improvement of public health situation in the country. Following the completion of the two-year PROSPER project in August 2018, the local government in Serang has expanded the scope of the project to include an additional 29 schools in the regency, with plans to extend the project to a further 29 additional schools in 2019.   

Arief Susanto, Corporate Affairs Director for Cargill Indonesia, stated, "We are pleased that our partnership with CARE has given benefits to students, teachers and parents, and more importantly, it opens the door for more opportunities to replicate this program to reach more communities.  By working closely with the local government, parents, teachers and communities we hope this program will continue to bring benefits to all for years to come. Cargill is committed to helping the communities where we work as it also allows us to deliver on our purpose of nourishing the world."

Helen Vanwel, Country Director of CARE International Indonesia, stated, "The CARE-Cargill Promoting a Sustainable and Food Secure World (PROSPER) program aims to increase food and nutrition security and resilience to climate change. The Indonesian program contributed to the international PROSPER program goal by reducing diarrhea and infectious diseases among elementary school students, teachers, parents and communities. Building upon CARE’s extensive experience in Indonesia, PROSPER targeted schools and vulnerable communities in Serang in Banten province and Makassar in South Sulawesi province, the project focused on the construction and rehabilitation of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities to improve hygiene and promote healthy eating habits.