Sokola Wailago

Sokola Wailago, also known as Sokola Pulau, was located in Wailago Hamlet on Pulau Besar, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Despite the name "Pulau Besar" (Big Island), it is a small island within the administrative area of Koja Doi Village. The residents, mostly dry-land farmers, are considered an ethnic minority compared to the population of Flores Island. Geographically, their settlement is along the coast and at the foot of the hills, making it vulnerable to natural disasters such as tsunamis and landslides, which occurred in 1992 and 2003. When Sokola first arrived, almost all of the working-age residents and school-age children were illiterate due to the absence of a local school. The nearest elementary school was in the neighboring hamlet, which could only be reached by boat or by walking through rocky hills, making it difficult for children. Sokola implemented a literacy program for children and adults, with classes divided based on mutual agreement. The applied literacy program later focused on providing alternative food sources due to the area's food vulnerability, as well as marine conservation efforts. In the final years of the program, Farmer Groups, Fishermen Groups, and Women’s Cooperatives were established to help the residents access government assistance, and an early childhood education center (PAUD) was set up by Sokola-trained local cadres to ensure the continuation of children's education in Wailago.