Group B’s Presentation about Johar Baru Community.
For us, there are no results that betrayed all the efforts, because if the plans are brilliant, automatically will be resulted in more efforts to realize it.
Let’s Change For Good 🙂 !
Author: raditparamasuta
Tales from Johar Baru
Vu Tuan Hai (from Vietnam) – National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan.
DAY 7 Johar Baru
Today we get to Johar Baru, which is known as a slum in Central Jakarta. Before going there, I made many assumptions about this area in terms of problems that the locals are facing. When I reached Johar Baru, I felt that this area resonates with some areas in Kolkata, India that I visited last year. This is to say that there are many common problems in this world, so we should take actions together rather than individually.
After attending the lecture by the professor from Universitas Indonesia, it was interesting to know that violence is difficult to be prosecuted, but gang fightings serve an important social purpose because they provide a sense of family, belonging and cultural identity for those who have not found ways to meet their basic needs. Moreover, the negative stigma and identity of Johar Baru residents make it a burden for them to secure a job. In addition, what I find captivating is that “hang out” habits can help to cultivate talents of children such as music, poetry, drawing, etc. Another problem is related to accommodation. The average area of a house here is approximately 3×3 square metres, which sometimes forces children to sleep outside. This reminds me of the extreme “coffin house” in Hong Kong.
DAY 8
Today our group interviewed the locals to figure out the problems they face in the Johar Baru Community. What I found surprising was that many people are satisfied with their lives here although there remain many issues. I am just wondering whether I take everything I have now for granted, or the people in Johar Baru are so adaptive and afraid of changes in their lives.
We realised that the root causes of the common problems here such as brawl and unemployment are due to the under-qualification, lack of training and too much free time of the youth. We then proposed our solutions such as setting up microloan banks, providing training and creating platforms for the youth to unleash their potential with a view to transforming Johar Baru into a more developed sub-district.
The Hidden Gem of J-Town
Written by Raditya Paramasuta – Universitas Indonesia
These two days, we’ve been working in the Johar Baru district. As a Jakartan since birth, I knew a lot of things about Johar Baru. It’s well-known for brawling activities. This time, we went to Johar Baru, not for BRAWLING, but to help them change its face for good, and to change its people for the better.
We were painting bridges on the first day, and it’s one of our efforts to beautify the village, as we would like to get rid of Johar Baru’s image of dark and gloomy. The smiles of the kids that were helping us symbolize hopes and prayers of the Johar Baru community. Through Johar Baru painting activity, I could learn how I should be grateful of anything given by God throughout almost the 20 years of my life. They were ecstaticly happy to see a camera and to have a chance to take a picture.
The second day, all of us did interviews with the locals. By visiting the local houses, I was able to experienced how to live in 3×3 m2 houses, even though it’s only for a short time. Still, based on the answers of the locals, they would like to develop their own businesses and make their own jobs. By creating jobs, they could turn Johar Baru into a new bustling economic heart of Jakarta. Other groups also talk about installing fences/walls on the riverbanks, so I strongly believe that walls could be used as a media to express creativity through graffiti and paintings. These paintings on the wall could be used as tourist attraction. The tourist attraction will gain investors and capitals to Johar Baru, thus making Johar Baru as one of the main tourist destinations in Jakarta.
Johar Baru is indeed a hidden gem for tourists in Jakarta, and it has all the potentials needed to become a very developed area. With their people having a strong will to open up their businesses, it will be a gigantic business hub in a few years. All we need to do is to support and include them in our society. Without support, they might not be able to change for good, because there’s never too late for change and never too late for learning.
Yuk berubah! Let’s Change and Transform Together For a Better Tomorrow!
VLOG : The Tales of INVENT (Group B)
Here’s a link of the YouTube video of Group B’s Vlog. It will tell you everything about the journey and some exciting stories as well!!
CIREUNDEU, A VILLAGE OF WONDER
By Norhayati Binti Zainorrahim – from Universiti Malaya.
Saturday, 9th July, 2018
At approximately 8 am, we checked out from the Wisma UNPAR and went off to Cimahi. Arriving at lunch time, we were greeted very warmly by the locals with their traditional performance of angklung and a dance. The participants did join them to dance in circle too! Oh and the lunch, what can I say? It was delicious even though the rice is not an actual rice from paddy! Gosh, the feast did fit for a king. We were enjoying every spoonful of cassava rice. We even tried the campoleh, a fruit. After lunch we were taken on a tour at the village compound by the respective liaision officers assigned to each of the four groups. The participants were then taught to play the traditional musical instrument angklung, a musical instrument made of a varying number of bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. During the night, a ceremony was held at the Bale. The male participants which represent the 8 countries were given a headband each, which symbolized the acceptance of the visit from INVENT participants by the locals.
Sunday, 8th July, 2018
**SPOILER ALERT!** Today is the most exciting day in Cireundeu!
My day began by performing Subuh prayers at the local mosque with the local muslims. The early bird catches the worm they say, but in our case, it catches the sunrise! Some of the students gathered at the Bale Kampung Adat Cimahi first before we went to watch the sunrise. Led by Kang Dicky and Mbak Fiona, we walked a bit to a bamboo hut which is a sort of an observatory, minus the fancy telescopes. But then, here’s the twist. Four of us were given the opportunity to go up a hill by this one mountain motorcycle to have a clearer view of the sunrise. I’ve never rode one before – talk about thrilling! Even though our intention to watch the sunrise was not fulfilled as we could only see some part of the sunrise because it was covered by the trees branches, we have witnessed the most mezmerising overall view of the Cireundeu and it was totally overwhelming!
After taking our breakfast which was fried rice (also made of singkong) at the Bale, the locals did a ritual praying according to their beliefs and we were set to the mountain bare feet as to be united with the mother nature, the earth. Each of the representatives of the four groups planted a tree. What’s interesting was that the person is needed to say out loud his intention of planting the tree. Some wishes that the tree will grow and produces sweet fruits for the villagers in the future. We then moved on to harvest the cassavas which also involved some kind of ritual and the processing procedures that had to be done for the scrumptious cassavas to be transformed into several kinds of products such as the eggrolls, macaroni and even bakmi. The locals also give us the chance to bake our own eggrolls from cassavas from scratch! It tasted yummy!
In the evening, we did our discussion regarding our topic and came to the conclusion for the presentation that will be held on the next day at Cimahi Municipality Local Government Office. The cultural night that was taking place after that was one that won’t ever to be forgotten by us.
Do You Want to Join Us?
Relyzia Kurniawati – a student from Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya, Indonesia.
Today (6 July 2018), we get more introduction and information about social entrepreneurship and Cireundeu village by Ms. Fiona and Mr. Elivas. From that, I can summarize what needs to be done. As an observant, I have to understand what I need to do in the village later. First, I need to find the problems and analyze the causes. Explanation from Mr. Elivas about residents in Cireundeu village who don’t have ID cards simply because they don’t want to write religion on the information. This makes me very sad, because ID cards are widely used for life. Sign up for school, buy transportation tickets, buy a house, and others that really affect the survival. Because they maintain their trust, they must be willing not to have such access. Gaps and discrimination are felt for me only by hearing this story.
The fact that they have to live so far makes me wonder where the tolerance is? The tolerance that we Indonesians glorify and be proud of in front of the world, where does that value go? Is it in the context of religion and belief that tolerance is only done between six recognized religions? If so, is not that just the same as not being intolerant against each other as a human.
I do not think it’s very difficult for the government to give a policy of allowing the use of a dash (-) on religion on their identity cards. Isn’t this fair and giving a solution? Rather than having identity cards and difficulties in accessing activities outside of Cireundeu village. And of course this is not experienced by other citizens who have a recognized religious orientation in Indonesia. Now the question is, who can convey this aspiration to them? INVENT (International Volunteering for Better Inclusivity) 2018 may be an example one of the group that wants to advocate for them. Now, are you also one of us?
Cireundeu village is located in Bandung. In contrast to the city of Surabaya where I came from, this village is cool, windy, and also very comfortable. Our arrival was warmly welcomed with music and dance by the residents of Cireundeu. This makes me very touched, in addition to the circumstances of those who are in fact discriminated and eliminated that they can still be happy. Giving and sharing happiness while still having many needs is very good to imitate. Compared to us, we should be grateful and do something with everything else that we have and not complain to anyone. The social values they cultivate are excellent for our young generation to implicate in our life. It’s not easy for them to keep fighting for purpose in their life to the reality they must face instead give up and drown in despair. Despite being squeezed and in an uncomfortable state, they remain enthusiastic. The spirit they have is grateful, we need to continue on to the next generations. Although for three days and two nights here I spent most of my rest with the fever I was experiencing, it does not become a hardship to feel how warm and open the people in this village are with us. Although different in terms of race and belief, we are united in one nationality as Indonesian people. I hope in future, tolerance will apply especially in Cimahi among the Sunda Wiwitan residents of Cireundeu.
And this is my poem which was inspired by my experiences with the Sunda Wiwitan people.
Wish to be a part
And not excluded
Wish to accept
And not to be discriminated
Wish to have friends
And not just acquaintances
Wish to feel needed
And not be just a human with needs to fulfill
Wish to feel considered
And not just be a listener
Wish to have rights
And not just do obligations
Wish to have opportunities
And not just a dream
Finally, be real ‘inclusive’
Cireundeu – A Village Full of Rustic Charm.
Writenn by Vu Tuan Hai, from Vietnam, a student at National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan.
Today is the first day at the Cireundeu Village where I stay with a local family. The locals performed their traditional musical instruments to welcome us. This shows that their preservation of tradition is very impressive. The village is very rustic, but it is less primitive than I thought. The notable feature is that cassava is the staple food.
I got the chance to eat rice made from cassava for the first time and I was so keen on it that I took it twice. In the afternoon, I roamed around the village under the guidance of a local boy and interpretation from a local university student. I furthered my understanding of how the locals process their poisonous cassava into products. I am not unfamiliar with cassava because my family planted it before, but I was wondering why it is called poisonous cassava although it is except when it is eaten raw. The word poisonous made it sound scary.
After the tour, I volunteered to perform the musical instrument called ANGKLUNG. This was the most memorable moment today because I am not musical. At first, I did it quite well until different groups performed together when I got lost in the beat. Helped by Mbak Ratih, I got the hang of it and started doing well. This proves that a can-do attitude can afford me to accomplish whatever I wish for. In the evening, I was given a symbol from the village as the only person from Vietnam and National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, which is an honour. I feel so blessed to have gotten selected for this programme although I am currently not an enrolled undergraduate student yet (just about to start college in the next semester). After this, our group discussed and sketched out the storyline for the video and what we are going to do tomorrow namely finishing design thinking and business model canvas.
DAY 5
Another day full of activities has started. In the morning, we went barefoot to the mountain area to plant trees. I tried my best to dig a hole that is wide and deep enough to fit the tree, and I did. I hoped the tree can grow well so that it can produce fruits for the villagers. After that, I realized that I had a blister in my palm due to using the hoe to dig the hole. It has been a long time since I last did something like that, so it is understandable. After that, we headed to the cassava and peanut plantation where I learnt about the harvesting time for these two types of tree. It takes around 3 months before peanut can be harvested whereas the duration for cassava is around 8-10 months, so these two produces complement each other throughout the year. Then I learnt how to plant cassava tree from a branch. I tried to chop it three times to make one end sharp so that it can be easily put into the soil and do the same for the other end to make it approximately 20 centimetres long. After that, we proceeded to harvesting the cassava.
What impressed me was that the locals did some rituals before plucking the cassava, which shows that they live so harmoniously with the environment and consider it as a part of their lives. Then, I had an opportunity to observe the process of removing skin and grating cassava into small pieces, which then be crushed into powder in a mortar.
In the afternoon, we observed the process of producing rice from cassava powder and tried producing eggrolls by ourselves. The cassava powder is mixed with water before being steamed for 30 minutes. Then it is cut into small pieces before being shaped, be it macaroni, noodle or rice. In the evening, I performed a musical instrument for the first time in my time. I got exposure to different cultures namely Indian, Malaysian and Sundanese cultures. I believe exposure to different cultures can eventually serve to deter cultural and religious prejudice. This is especially crucial when it comes to intercultural communication, which is a key skill in this increasingly globalised world.
Next, our group managed to finish the design thinking and business model canvas which will be presented at the local authority office in the next day. Our group focuses on the cassava business cluster development. We wish to boost the yield of cassava, which can help to increase the productivity of cassava products. Usually, when the land becomes infertile, it is left unused for 4 years so that it can recover. In order to for it to be used immediately, human waste should be added into the current natural fertilisers used in the village. We finished our group work around 10:30 p.m and are ready to present our ideas tomorrow.
DAY 6
Departing the village at 9 a.m, we headed for the local authority to present our ideas to solve any problems at Kampung Cireundeu that we figured out. I am impressed by the idea of making jam out of campoleh and the reundeu tea that were made by a group, which is brilliant. Then we took the bus to Jakarta.
Cireundeu Experience by Tasyar (Group B #3)
Muhammad Tasyar Hadian, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan :
On the first day at Cireundeu, we arrived around 11 a.m. from UNPAR, which took us one hour to get there. Right after we arrived, we were welcomed by the traditional welcoming dance. It was really great how unique the Sundanese culture is. Sundanese people actually are famous by their kindness and also politeness, and that is what we found here. They treat us very well, served us with dinner and lunch and also had a lot of talk with them. The way they treat people actually is common and usual for me. Sundanese are such good people. They are very polite, friendly, and really funny. All those things are what we felt during that day.
The second day was kind of observing the community, how they plant some various trees and cassava as well. The trees and cassava planting was conducted by doing a traditional ritual. The Sunda Wiwitan tribe basically do the ritual by praising their god and also the nature. They also begin any kind of planting with some rituals that have a lot of meaning behind them. After done with the planting, we rested for a bit and and then had lunch and it was literally a good dish. We observed the community for 2 days and then we found the problem for their undeveloped food production, which are the limited of resources, lack of time of the people to work, and lack of permission for the product. On the last day in Cimahi, we presented our observation to the local government. What we presented was some ideas that we gave to the government and the Cireundeu community itself in order to develop their village.
Cireundeu Village Reflection by Didier (Group B #2)
July 10th, 2018
Invent 2018
Cireundau village’s reflection.
Nsabimana Didier, Universitas Indonesia :
Cireundau village is a village which is located in Cimahi District, West Java, Indonesia. I spent 3 days and 2 nights in this village being hosted by one of the local residents. The people in this village are very kind and welcoming unlike anywhere else. Cireundau community is the community which has kept most of its traditional culture and beliefs despite that most of the Indonesians have assimilated to other beliefs (modern beliefs). For example, the people of Cireundau village still practice their traditional belief called Sunda Wiwitan despite that most Indonesians have already assimilated to other religions.
Usually in the normal (other) communities, it was nearly impossible for the people to refuse to assimilate to the other religions (Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc…) because these religions would either use manipulations, force or others tactics to try to convert people into their religions and it worked mostly everywhere in world. But impressively, these people refused to assimilate despite being isolated by other communities and even by the government because currently in Indonesia you can’t get an I.D if you don’t belong to one of the six religions recognized by the government. So i believe these people refuse to assimilate because:
This community is very organized you can see how they are organized by how all of them were willing to host all of us into their homes throughout our visit, how they could come together and cook for us, breakfast, lunch and dinner, how clean their village was, how all of them cultivated the same crops.
This kind of organization was very impressive unlike i have ever seen before. In this village they have a house called Bale house, which they use for their cultural performance, hosting visitors and more importantly discussing and resolving the challenges they face everyday.
The other impressive thing I saw in this village is their food. Most Indonesians eat rice in nearly every meal they take, but these people don’t eat rice as we know it. Instead they have found a way to produce rice-like food from cassava. So most food they eat are made from cassava. They produce rice, noodle, macaroni, and crispy snack from cassava. They also make egg roll from cassava and jerky cassava from the outer part (skin) of cassava. Their dishes are very delicious and all ingredients which make up their dish are produced in that village.
During my visit in this village I was impressed on how these people love and respect the environment by regularly cultivating trees and refusing to use chemical (industrial) fertilizer which they believe can poison their land, the way they don’t like plastics and other industrial products . So I believe that most of us can learn a lot from this community, i. e., culture conservation and environmental protection.
Cireundeu: A Place to Understand Diversity, Simplicity, Love, and Inclusivity (Group B #1)
By Raditya Paramasuta, Chinese Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia.
Cireundeu, it may seems as a very remote, isolated place that you’ll never heard, but once you know and understand about Cireundeu, you’ll see the beauty of the cultural values that they always believe and insisted in.
Cireundeu is located near Bandung, West Java, exactly in the municipality of Cimahi. It consists of Sundawiwitan believers, in which Sundawiwitan is the traditional religion of Sundanese tribe. In which 45000 families are already become Muslims.
The first day in Cireundeu, I am really amazed by the welcoming ceremony, in which they festively welcomed us with their dances and music. They really welcomed us well, and then, I decided to hang out with the akangs (male youngsters) to learn on how to play Karinding and Suling, even though I can’t play both, but at least I know how beautiful it sounds. We also met the elders, in which I found myself learning Sundanese with Deny, one of the LOs. My host was Kang Entri, in which he taught me on how to play Kacapi, and I ended up didn’t play.
The last day, I spent by planting trees on the hill, and helping them to harvest cassavas. It really inspires me to always be respectful to the nature in any kind of situation, because nature gave us everything, and we should at least give back. Through the Sundanese Arts Night, I always believe that Arts and Crafts are the most important factors of a community’s development, because if we preserve the culture, we would also be successful by showing to the world our culture and could develop more improvements to the culture by some modern touch.
Cireundeu taught me lot of things, first to accept everything in any kind of situation, so if you got something, you should be grateful, instead of sad. I also got a lesson to become more appreciative towards food, because food is our daily medicine, and struggles behind the making of the foods is based on bloods and tears.
In the end, I’ll be glad if I’m able to come back to Cireundeu. Cireundeu gave me an essence of life, in which about how we should treat and understand the nature and how should we appreciate the nature as nature gave us everything to ensure our lives. Also, by embracing and accepting differences, I’m able to always include the marginalised communities into helping our country for the better with all skills and all views that they have.
INVENT INDONESIA 2018 