East Lombok, Indonesia – SEAMEO RECFON, in collaboration with the local government of East Lombok District and Universitas Mataram, organized the Refreshment Training of Trainers (ToT) on the Early Childhood Care, Nutrition, and Education (ECCNE) Program with Disaster-Resilient Village Enrichment on 8–9 July 2026. The hybrid training brought together 25 early childhood educators from 14 ECCNE partner preschools (PAUD) across Sambelia Subdistrict as part of the pilot development of the Disaster-Resilient Village model.
The activity reflects SEAMEO RECFON’s continued commitment to strengthening community preparedness for disasters while safeguarding the health, nutrition, growth, and development of young children. Building upon the ECCNE post-disaster recovery model implemented in East Lombok in 2018, the program expands its focus toward disaster preparedness and resilience through community-based approaches.
Quote from Director of SEAMEO RECFON (or representative giving the opening remarks).
“Building resilient communities begins with investing in children’s health, nutrition, and early learning. By strengthening local capacity before disasters occur, we can better protect every child’s future.”
The initiative is made possible through a strategic partnership between SEAMEO RECFON, the local government of East Lombok District, and Universitas Mataram. During his opening remarks, Dr. W. Sudiarta, Secretary of the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) at Universitas Mataram, highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in strengthening community capacity and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program.
“Meaningful change happens when universities, governments, and communities work together. Through collaboration, we can strengthen local capacity and create a lasting impact for children and families.”
In addition to strengthening the capacity of PAUD educators, the program also engages university students participating in the Community Service Program (KKN), as both facilitators during this Refreshment ToT and as a program collaborator to synergize their thematic KKN projects within ECCNE ecosystem, during the implementation of ECCNE activities in their respective villages until August 2026.
Before attending the face-to-face sessions, participants completed self-paced online learning by studying nine ECCNE modules and completing post-module assessments. The two-day refresher training then provided interactive discussions and practical learning sessions to reinforce participants’ understanding while introducing new materials related to disaster preparedness and family resilience.
Throughout the training, participants explored various topics, including disaster risk awareness, climate change adaptation, child growth and health during emergencies, food and nutrition security, psychosocial resilience, gender equality and social inclusion (GEDSI), and the role of local governments in implementing Disaster-Resilient ECCNE programs. The sessions were delivered by experts from SEAMEO RECFON, partner institutions, and the East Lombok Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).
“Our collaboration with SEAMEO RECFON through this initiative marks a strategic step in strengthening the capacity of educators and communities to foster disaster preparedness from an early age. We hope this effort will help build more resilient communities and better protect children from disaster risks.”
A key outcome of the training was the development of Follow-up Action Plans (Rencana Tindak Lanjut/RTL) by each participating PAUD in Sambelia subdistrict. These action plans will guide schools in implementing ECCNE activities enriched with disaster preparedness components over the coming months. During the implementation phase, Universitas Mataram students participating in the KKN program will provide technical assistance to support schools in carrying out their plans with guidance from SEAMEO RECFON from July to August 2026. Following the KKN program, the Disaster-Resilient ECCNE pilot initiative will continue through ongoing mentoring and monitoring by the ECCNE Master of Trainers (MOT) Team in East Lombok, ensuring the sustainability of the program and supporting participating ECE centres in implementing their action plans over the long term.