Sigi Children Bring Inspiration to Their Community

Started by a child-led initiative, catfish farming has become an inspiration for the community of Sigi. Not only is their knowledge about catfish farming increasing but also their skills in entrepreneurship.

Never underestimate the potential of children.

The children from Al-Manar Child Reading Group had an idea to cultivate catfish. At the beginning, this group was just a place for children to read. But it become a space for children to learn dancing or English, make handicrafts from recycled goods, perform music with instruments created from second-hand items (like cans, bottles, a water jugs and more), and even catfish farming.

There are 40 children involved in this group, with ages ranging from seven to 17.

The idea of catfish farming came purely from the children. At the beginning, they just proposed to grow fish, without an intention to make it for business. This idea came up because they like to play at a river near their houses that is full of fish. Then they had a dream to have a big pond full of fish. With support from their cadre and World Vision staff- they committed to cultivate catfish.

Through this process, children learned and gained experience in entrepreneurship, organization management, saving, togetherness and responsibility.

After careful planning, they gathered the tools, materials and funding to buy catfish. They agreed to collect money, as much as 0.5 US Dollars per child, by the child group treasurer.

World Vision supported them by giving a tarpaulin for the pond base and found a local parter, Idrus, age 50, who was willing to sell them supplies for a low price and educate children in catfish farming.

The children visited Idrus’ pond. They observed several of his ponds, cultivated using different methods.

Then came the time for them to build their pond. Children, cadres, and World Vision staff gathered at Melati’s house, one of cadres. With a strong will, children successfully built the pond just in three meetings.

“We are so happy because we can build our own pond. We built it together,” says Zikir, 12. "We brought all the tools from our homes: hammers, nails, wood, and the tarpaulin from World Vision."

After the pond was complete, it was time to add the fish eggs. And once they hatched, the children  developed the schedule for feeding the catfish and changing the pond water.

The catfish farming inspired the community district head, Arsyid Musaera, who came and inaugurated the project. He admired the children’s work and their initiative.

The children have enjoyed a good harvest, with the funds going into the reading group's treasury and will be used for growing more catfish.

If we empower children, they will be capable to bring a change. These children one day will be successful entrepreneurs and bring change to their family and community.

(Written by Erawinta Aritonang, World Vision staff in Sigi, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia)