A. Objective

To be  part of joint action to prevent and address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic with the following outputs:

• There is a prevention action of transmission of COVID-19 through the production and distribution of masks, hand sanitizers and natural disinfectants.
• Improved incomes of local taylors by producing masks.
• The availability of nutrition and support for family food security through the cultivation of horticulture and food crops.

B. Background

1. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on all aspects of human life, especially social and economic life.
2. In particular, there have been 103 people in East Nusa Tenggara who were exposed to COVID-19 and one person died (Kompas.com). For the island of Sumba, eight people have tested positive for COVID-19, three of whom have recovered, 34 people without symptoms (OTG) and six people under surveillance (ODP) from East Sumba (data compilation of the COVID-19 Task Force, Southwest Sumba).
3. The social and economic impacts that are mostly about the existence of mass unemployment, the paralysis of economic activity and the increase in social anxiety and depression.
4. Facing this situation, it is impossible for the government to implement the stay at home and work from home policies in the long run. Thus, increasing adaptability and implementing new habits becomes a more realistic and sustainable solution
5. Many community organizations, volunteers and the business world have contributed in various ways. However, the efforts made are mostly voluntary, reactive and pragmatic with limited supporting resources. For the most part, the pattern of intervention is still in the form of material assistance and has not sought empowerment and sustainability.
6. Along with the increasing emergency status of the pandemic situation, the actions fo empowerment and sustainability need to be integrated into interventions in order to increase the community’s ability to adapt to any conditions more independently

C. Description

To follow up on this emergency situation, the intervention focuses on four main activities, including:

• Mask production and distribution – carried out by Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) women, women from religious groups and local tailors. The target recipients of masks are students, elderly people, people with disabilities and indigenous communities.
• Production and distribution of hand sanitizers and disinfectants – produced and distributed by schools, village PKK, community groups, indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. Prior to the production process, beneficiaries are trained on how to produce. Making simple video tutorials using materials available around the household is also being produced as learning material for the wider community so that they can also produce independently.
• Procurement and distribution of vegetable seeds – developing local food security through horticultural cultivation in 12 villages that have water and land potential. As a supporter of horticulture businesses, the community is trained in making organic fertilizers, natural medicines and marketing community produce. Another activity is making demonstration plots in one location to support the availability and preservation of local fragrant upland rice, corn and beans seeds.