Founded in 1980, Yakkersum had grown rapidly in just a few years thanks to large amounts of international financing.

At its largest, the organisation had over 24 staff members implementing a huge range of water projects throughout Eastern Indonesia. However, as this international support fell away, Yakkersum sought to return to the more local and community-based development work it was originally founded on. Today, they retain 4 staff members all of whom are from the communities that YRM serve. 

Staff and board members from Amos Australia have been working with Yakkersum in an unofficial capacity since 2008, after being introduced through church affiliations to their work in East Sumba. At the time, Yakkersum were coordinating a mosquito net project which distributed nets and malaria prevention educational materials to villages in East Sumba. They remain one of Amos Australia’s smallest, yet closest partners, and are able to deliver highly consultative and participatory proposals which truly reflect the needs of the local communities.