“Mooooo…” , teased the villagers whenever Mr. Sukirin passes by their houses and Sukirin-a humorist person- always laugh at it.

Mr. Sukirin is a trained CAHVI (Community Animal Health Volunteer in Indonesia) from Kota Pari, District of Pantai Cermin, Deli Serdang - North Sumatera.

Before, he used to be an electrician in Batam, a small island in Riau, Sumatra. Someday he decided to be a farmer. His plan was to go back to his village to be with his family. It was a difficult decision, knowing that he and his family did not have much to start beside their health and hope.

To start the hope he begin with livestock and join a community-based organizations called by the acronym, PANSU. PANSU itself is a project partner to Heifer Indonesia. In September 2004 Sukirin was chosen to be one of participant for CAHVI’s training facilitated by Heifer Indonesia.

After the training he was able to motivate all villagers to cultivate grasses in the unutilized land throughout the village of Kota Pari, District of Pantai Cermin. He also able to motivate the other volunteers actively providing basic animal health services in their villages. These activities had increased livestock productivity in Kota Pari that resulted from adequate forage and feeding. This just a result of the CAHVI trainings that he has been passed on to the farmers in that village.

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“I proud of him because he is smart and brave enough to try new knowledge he got from the trainings to his own livestock.” convinced Joko Daryono, a veterinarian and Heifer Indonesia Program Officer.

On September 2006, Sukirin already trusted by the local officials as artificial inseminators. Although he still worked as honorary employee, he feels so proud. “Now I could help more livestock and shared my ability to more farmers.” said Sukirin. 

But he did not leave Harapan Jaya, his CBO (community based organization), empty handed. All this time, every material that he had from the training always passed on to his wife. So, even though Harapan Jaya no longer served by Sukirin as CAHVI, but they are now had Sukirin’s wife as CAHVI for their livestock. “I also teach my wife what I learn from the trainings. It is not because of money, so that I could work in Livestock Services and she could replace my position in the CBO. But its more because I need someone to discuss with about this work.”, explain Sukirin modestly, without knowing that he already practicing gender and family focus in his family.

Now, Sukirin also mentored few of artificial inseminators from another sub district. But he always taking no credits about it, “I could have that knowledge because of trainings, and asking questions to veterinarian in our sub districts, so I am not that expert.”. (norma) 

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