Mataram, July 22–23, 2026 — Yayasan Gemilang Sehat Indonesia (YGSI), supported by The Asia Foundation through Let’s Read, officially launched the initial phase of the “Let’s Read: Future Ready Families” program. This inception phase was marked by a two-day Kick-Off Meeting and Posyandu Mapping Workshop held at the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Health Office.
Supporting Posyandu as an Interactive Learning Hub for Families
The “Let’s Read: Future Ready Families” program is designed to strengthen the role of Posyandu (Integrated Health Posts) as accessible, community-based spaces for children, parents, and caregivers. It opens up opportunities for family learning that can be adaptively integrated into ongoing routine activities. This approach aligns with the broader transformation of Posyandu, expanding its role as a platform for community participation to support the delivery of six Minimum Service Standards (Standar Pelayanan Minimal or SPM), including education and health.
Within this framework, the program identifies a key opportunity to bridge early childhood literacy, positive parenting, and family well-being through Posyandu. Leveraging storybooks from the Let’s Read digital platform, the initiative introduces read-aloud practices between caregivers and children. In addition to fostering early literacy, activities will incorporate practical insights on self-care and basic financial literacy for parents and caregivers to support overall family well-being.
Aligning Regional Priorities and Mapping 20 Potential Posyandu Sites
The first day’s Kick-Off session focused on introducing the program concept while capturing local needs and priorities. Attended by representatives from the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), Health Office (Dinas Kesehatan), Puskesmas, and related agencies across NTB Province, Mataram City, and West Lombok Regency, the forum served to align technical support plans with local development priorities.
The discussion yielded several strategic inputs. Bappeda NTB suggested aligning target locations with NTB’s flagship program, Desa Berdaya (Empowered Villages). Meanwhile, the Department of Community and Village Empowerment (DPMD) and the Provincial Family Welfare Movement (TP-PKK) highlighted the need for program flexibility, given the heavy workload of cadres and the physical limitations of some Posyandu facilities. In response, YGSI committed to an adaptive approach, such as providing portable reading kits or bags for Posyandu that lack permanent structures.
On the second day, a technical workshop was held with the Family Health and Health Promotion Divisions of the Health Office, as well as representatives from the Meninting (West Lombok), Cakranegara, and Karang Pule (Mataram City) Puskesmas. Utilizing a participatory, evidence-based approach, participants verified and assessed the readiness of potential target Posyandu sites in Mataram City and West Lombok Regency.
This process successfully mapped 20 potential Posyandu sites based on key criteria, including service activity levels, cadre readiness, facility availability, and support from village governments. Furthermore, the mapping underscored the strategic institutional role of Posyandu and potential synergies with local early childhood education centers (PAUD). Moving forward, cross-sectoral collaboration involving Posyandu Development Teams, village/sub-district governments, Puskesmas, the education sector, and the broader community will be critical to the program’s long-term sustainability.
The Way Forward
Following up on the Kick-Off and mapping results, YGSI will conduct a baseline study to better understand the needs of parents and cadres regarding shared reading, self-care, financial literacy, and Posyandu operations. Learning worksheets and readability testing processes will then be developed to ensure educational materials are ready for effective field implementation.
The findings from these phases will form the basis for designing capacity-building training for local cadres and facilitators. Training will be tailored to specific roles and local contexts, enabling cadres and local actors to support read-aloud activities and family learning in a practical, collaborative manner that seamlessly integrates with existing Posyandu operations.
