GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

“Continue What We Have Started”: Meet the Papuan Youth Group Reviving their Heritage

admin_samdhana — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 02:39:09 +0000

“Continue What We Have Started”: Meet the Papuan Youth Group Reviving their Heritage admin_samdhana Wed, 10/12/2022 - 09:39

Sanggar Seni Budaya Alam Semesta Selemkai (SALSES – Selemkai Arts and Culture Centre), is a community consisting of young people who are active in preserving arts and culture, while also managing eco tourism in Kampung Klabili (Klabili village). Also known as Kalabili (from the language of the Moi Kelim sub-tribe), the village can be found in the Selemkai district of Tambrau regency in West Papua.

From 17–21 February 2022, SALSES held an event entitled ‘Temu Miye Libih Suku Moi dalam Memperingati Hari Bahasa Ibu Internasional’ (the meeting of young people from the Moi tribe to commemorate International Mother Language Day). The purpose of the event was to encourage young people of the Moi tribe to preserve the Moi language and help save it from extinction

The meeting was attended by a Moi Tribe council and members of the House of Representatives of Tambrau, along with several Selemkai village heads, Moi leaders, people from Klabili village and various young people from the sub-tribes of Moi Kelim and Moi Salkhma. These groups learned how to say the names of local plants in sub-tribal dialects, while also rediscovering the myriad ways in which their ancestors used these flora, as herbal remedies, accessories and food.

The event also featured a forum that explored current issues, hopes, aspirations and future plans. This group discussion was led by Torianus Kalami, an activitist from Gerakan Muda Suku Moi (the Moi Tribal Youth Movement). Participants then enjoyed a wide range of music performances, dances, poetry readings and sharing of folklore. These performances involved young people, senior citizens, children and women.

During the meeting, the Head of the Moi Council, Dance Ulimpa, conveyed a number of reasons why preserving the Moi language is important; not least because of its centrality to the identity of the Moi people.

“What we have done as parents is not perfect, and it still has shortcomings,” said Dance in his speech. “You, as (the) young generation, should continue what we have started – now we need to focus on our native language; that’s our future target.”

“Don’t make separation. I have emphasised this everywhere. Our big house is Moi. We have to improve ourselves. Our young people need to work. Our language is a local wisdom, just like Abun Jii, Abun Taat, Moi Kelim, Moi Salkma, Moi Klabra, Moi Sigin [other local sub-tribal dialects],” he continued. Dance sees the Temu Miye Libih event as a potential catalyst for the betterment of the Moi tribe in various fields. As he explained, “we have to build this country; from a cultural perspective, this is Moi's land.”

Another impactful speaker at the event was Chairperson of the Local House of Representatives of Tambrauw, Yeri Sidik, who encouraged the SALSES community to expand their impact by collaborating more closely with local government officials when implementing their activities.

“This event should have been attended by executives, (then) SALSES could have had a chance to present the mission of Tambrau Regency,” said Yeri. “This is a form of conservation of arts, culture and language; don’t hesitate to send proposals to local government,” he continued.

“We appreciate this event. We do have other activities to be done later in the future, but those activitites need to be socialised to people. What you did is important,” added Yeri, before going on to close his speech by expressing hopes that Selemkai will become a hub for livelihoods and a centre for arts and eco tourism.

“The people of Selemkai have struggled to develop themselves,” he noted. “I really hope this event will continue (to grow); we need to coordinate with the Tourism Office of Tambrau Regency and ask them to support SALSES,” he added.

At the end of this event, before returning home to their respective villages, participants expressed their gratitude, shared their opinions and their hopes for the future. After a packed schedule of five days, attendees went home motivated to preserve their traditions and their mother tongue, proudly carrying their heritage into the future.

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GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE & LOCAL COMMUNITY

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Tue, 05/03/2022 - 12:00

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Indigenous youth of the Moi in activities to commemorate International Mother Language Day. (Agus Tafuran/SAMDHANA)

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Finding common strategies among neighboring Mekong countries

admin_samdhana — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 06:50:51 +0000

Finding common strategies among neighboring Mekong countries admin_samdhana Mon, 02/21/2022 - 13:50

Last February 8, 2022, NGOs, non-profit associations and local organizations with whom Samdhana had worked with or had supported came together for the Mekong Partners’ Meeting. Twenty-eight participants from 19 organizations from Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos joined the meeting via online. Albeit, it was not face-to-face but the Partners had a meaningful exchange on their current situations, the challenges they have to hurdle, and strategies that for them have been effective. The Partners work on a range of focus or topics, such as livelihoods, women and healthcare, youth capacity development, gender, land governance and natural resources management, nutrition, forest protection, community water system, climate change, land and housing rights, and disability rights. Many are grappling with the situation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with communities in remote areas. While many have shifted to online, there is still difficulty in accessing internet connections. Many issues that communities face continue on, and more so because of the pandemic, and these range from land rights, government recognition, agriculture and drought, climate change, illegal logging, lack of access of persons with different abilities, capacity gaps, and military and civilian conflict. COVID-19 has been especially difficult for internally displaced persons in Myanmar who have to contend with the virus while the unrest and clashes are taking place, and force them to seek safer places.

Most of the Partners have been working in their respective countries for several years, honing their strategies to address the issues they focus on. Some partners promote gender and social inclusion in all the processes of development. A number also are experienced in working with other organizations within and outside of their borders to increase opportunities for collaboration. A number also identified their work with government agencies at various levels, and part of the advantage is learning more about the government’s program, to be able to adopt such strategies in their own work. Organizations that promote disability rights coordinate with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, as well as the Committee for Disability and the Elderly. Other organizations apply the collective learning and praxis learning (action-reflection-action) processes.

Partners were asked their thoughts on creating an informal network, and some responded positively, as this would be opportunity for learning from one another, being able to understand the common issues through different political views, as well as opportunity to increase evidence-building to support their work. Others were also open to this idea as it will be a chance for organizations who may be working on other topics to increase their awareness and sensitivity to disability rights and promote inclusion in all their programs. Partners still have a need for further support in capacity development for community members to raise their voices, and to engage government at the regional level and private sector. There were also pragmatic needs that were mentioned such as support for students’ and youths’ capacities for online education, traditional seeds conservation, improving livelihoods and learning how to fundraise. And more urgently were the needs for people who were bearing the heaviest brunt of the pandemic.

The Mekong team and the CapDev Program of Samdhana will follow through with country-level conversations with Partners to further flesh out and inform Samdhana’s work to support Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in the coming year.

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GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

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Sun, 02/21/2021 - 12:00

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Samdhana Partners Meeting

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Welcoming Le Anh and Ho Ming to Samdhana’s Board

admin_samdhana — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 08:29:37 +0000

Welcoming Le Anh and Ho Ming to Samdhana’s Board admin_samdhana Mon, 02/14/2022 - 15:29

Samdhana welcomes Le Anh Nguyen Long, Ph.D. and Ms. Ho Ming So Denduangrudee who joined the International Board starting January 2022. Getting younger members of the Samdhana Board is one of the key steps in regenerating the Institute, as they bring in fresh perspectives and new energies. With the new Members, Samdhana also expresses its heartfelt thanks to Board Members who have stepped down: Yvan Biot, who served as Treasurer of the Board and Head of the Finance Committee, and Tony La Vina who was one of the longest-serving Fellow on the Board, both the Philippines and the International Board.

The new members were nominated by Samdhana Fellows who have worked with them directly and know them very well. Le Anh is currently a Professor of Public Administration in the University of Twente in Enschede, Netherlands and is a Fellow of Parabukas, and a member of the European Research Association. Ho Ming is currently the Organizational Capability Advisor of Chevron in San Ramon, California, USA. Both Members are of Southeast Asian in descent. Whilst they are based outside of Asia, they have worked in the region for many years. Le Anh has worked with the Samdhana Philippines team in a previous project in 2018-2019, while Ho Ming was an Associate in Samdhana in 2014-2018, leading the project design, monitoring & evaluation and social impact assessment for the Dedicated Grant Mechanism, among others.

Welcome and best wishes, Le Anh and Ho Ming!

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GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

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Mon, 02/14/2022 - 12:00

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Welcome and best wishes, Le Anh and Ho Ming!. Samdhana’s new board member

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Reforestation Field School: A space for inspiration and sharing to build Young People who care more about the Earth

admin_samdhana — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 04:04:03 +0000

Reforestation Field School: A space for inspiration and sharing to build Young People who care more about the Earth admin_samdhana Wed, 12/29/2021 - 11:04

“When I went to the Reforestation Field School, I immediately knew this school was the school I had always wanted to attend. I wanted to go to a school where I could be outdoors; I wanted to study directly in the field and get practical experience, not just read books and theoretical materials in the classroom.At the reforestation field school, we study the material, then immediately put it into practice in the field. I find that really stimulating”. Adam|Student of Sekolah Lapang Reforestasi Jurusan Budi Daya Kopi

That is one of the happy expressions of one of the Reforestation Field School Students, on his graduation day. Adam very proud to be a student of the Reforestation Field School and urge other young people to participate in field schools like this one, so they can be part of a new, modern generation that proudly takes care of its own lands. Adam hopes that in the future field schools will grow beyond the grassroots level, and spring up all over Indonesia.

Adam is one of the offspring from a coffee farmer, a member of The Classic Beans Cooperative comprises more than 3,000 coffee farmers from West Java, who are also members of the Sunda Hejo Farmers Association. Founded in 2009, this cooperative brings coffee farmers and producers together, so they can gain a share of the European export market. Today, the Classic Beans Cooperative regularly produces coffee for export to Europe and the United States.

Many coffee farmers who are members of this cooperative feel that coffee farming is a promising source of income. Over the years, these coffee farmers have worked hard and are committed to producing high quality coffee beans to meet export demands. This coffee farmer also only picks the red coffee beans, and has become a major supplier to a large coffee retailer that operates not only at the national level but even internationally. This promising income makes the coffee farmers hope that their children can be the successors of their coffee business.

Following on from this farmer's ambition, the Tanah Air Semesta Foundation (part of the Sunda Hejo Cooperative) established the Reforestation Field School. The establishment of a reforestation field school under the auspices of the Tanah Air Semesta Foundation is a collaborative effort, geared towards helping the children of coffee farmers to become more knowledgeable and prevent the urbanisation of the younger generation, many of whom are lost to cities and leave agriculture behind.

“According to data from a survey conducted by Papandayan University in collaboration with Paguyuban Sunda Hejo, farmers still working today have an average age of more than 50 years. That is also part of the reason we formed the Reforestation Field School”. Said Eka Yudagarmana, Head principal, Sekolah Lapang Reforestasi.

Planting trees, planting goodness, restoring Earth

The Tanah Air Semesta Foundation runs a variety of activities that focus on conservation and education. In 2020, we established a reforestation field school, to provide learning facilities for young people who are the descendants of farmers in forest areas. The purpose of this field school is to facilitate knowledge sharing through local cadres, thereby forming a bulwark against the urbanisation of the agricultural sector.

“In the beginning, the Reforestation Field School was set up for the purpose of replenishing sustainable forests. But, after seeing the talents and budding aspirations of the field school students, the Field School for Reforestation diversified its syllabus to include majors in coffee cultivation, barista training and various other traditional arts that complemented the original reforestation major programme”. Said Ani Hanifah, Head of Yayasan Tanah Air Semesta.

From this Reforestation Field School, the young people of the next generation of coffee farmers are taught that the Earth is not only a provider of natural resources, but they also taught to protect the mother earth and its sustainability. Planting trees not only planting goodness but also restoring the earth for our next generation.

The Samdhana Institute under the CLUA-Grants project in 2020, has supported the Tanah Air Semesta Foundation for the establishment of the Field School for Reforestation and Social Forestry, congratulates all the students graduating from the Reforestation Field School. After attending classes for around a year, it’s time for the students to graduate. The inaugural graduation ceremony was held at the Reforestation Field School on 29 August 2021. The first graduating class of the Reforestation Field School comprised a total of 60 students, 58% of whom were male and 42% were female. All were descendants of coffee farmers.

“I prefer to take classes in reforestation, because for those of us majoring in this, we get to go out into the mountains to practice. I never used to go into the mountains, but now I go there all the time to plant trees. Reforestation is a way of regreening, whereby we learn to do the little things, such as repairing the damage done to forests by landslides or illegal logging”. Said Sri Utari, a student majoring Reforestation.

Hendah, as one of the children companian as well as the Chair of the Griya Bukit Jaya KTH, expressed hope for the children of the reforestation field school to go to the mountains and check the endemic trees that have been planted, because there are some farmers there who cut down the trees that have been planted by the children of the Reforestation Field School. She repeatedly gave advise to the children, no to oversee the mountains as a place to make a living only, but also as a place that requires protection.

At this school, the children of coffee farmers can support their parents, while also developing their own business interests. These children bring insights home to their parents, who are coffee farmers, about how to grow good coffee.

The Reforestation Field School is not just a nursery for local cadres, facilitating knowledge sharing and helping to prevent urbanisation in the agricultural sector; it also fosters a younger generation who are more concerned about the Earth.

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GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

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Wed, 12/29/2021 - 12:00

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Nursery activities by Reforestation Field School. (Yayasan Tanah Air Semesta)

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Menoken in Tanah Timor: Building Youth Leaders in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) for a brighter future and resilient community

admin_samdhana — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 06:35:09 +0000

Menoken in Tanah Timor: Building Youth Leaders in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) for a brighter future and resilient community admin_samdhana Mon, 12/27/2021 - 13:35

As part of its ongoing commitment to foster unity to foster unity in diversity throughout Indonesia the Menoken journey recently travelled to the districts of South-Central Timor, with the aim of strengthening networks, sharing ideas for the protection and preservation of the environment. With theme of Menoken in Tanah Timor, the menoken putting special focus on the younger generation to be the next leader, this initiative was supported by a number of communities from outside East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

On Tuesday, 24 August 2021, Menoken in Tanah Timor, brought together community members, local officials and representatives, to discuss plans for environmental protection in the two locations. A key theme of the Menoken in Tanah Timor, was how the youth could lead the way in these initiatives, thereby planting the seed of a long-term, sustainable approach to community-led conservation.

Menoken in Tanah Timor was opened by local Regent Korinus Masneno, who reiterated the importance of cooperation and solidarity, especially in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. He added that this social support network must also be leveraged for the good of the environment.

“Facing the threat of environmental damage in the next 50-100 years, the children and youth of Timor today need to be prepared,” said Masneno in his opening remarks. “They must understand the threat of environmental damage and its impact on life in the future,” he added.

Various other speakers went on to highlight the vital role that children will play in the future of their communities and the stability of their environment; essentially, that tomorrow’s world will be designed and built by the children of today.

With that in mind, Menoken in Tanah Timor is supporting activities that will nurture the younger generation’s love of nature. The Menoken in Tanah Timor was also set out in Manusak Nature School in Kupang Regency, where children aged 2-5 years are encouraged to engage with nature, while also learning how and why it must be protected. Here, students learn to plant trees, to use water more sustainably, and how to properly care for the land without resorting to slash and burn.

The Menoken in Manusak Nature School was held over three days and attended by around 50 local representatives of the local community. This included children with disabilities, the Secangkir Koppi literacy community, Film Kupang, the NTT Language Ambassadors, Rumah Mentari, Kopi Kaoem, and the Mama Aleta Fund Foundation.

"Menoken activities always prioritise friendship,” explained the founder of the Beta Solusi Rumah Foundation. “We focus on getting together, camping, cooking and eating as a group, exchanging stories and knowledge, singing and enjoying cultural arts together," he added. Samdhana has conceived events such as these to build solidarity and pride in traditional knowledge, while also mobilising action for positive causes.

Deputy Chairman of the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago, Abdon Nababan, also noted that in NTT and many other areas of Indonesia, environmental damage is often the result of mismanagement by policy makers. “Fires are a common problem because the forest is dry and being degraded due to human activities,” explained Abdon during the meeting. “Everyone in the area has a responsibility to work together and reduce the risk of forest fires,” he added.

Many speakers were of the opinion that the current model of state control over the environment will ultimately lead to its destruction through exploitation. They request greater cooperation between Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) and elected officials, to ensure contracts for natural resources are not issued without prior consultation with those who live on the land. The Noken meetings reaffirmed that, in order to be managed effectively and protected for future generations, responsibility for the environment must be returned to Indigenous Peoples.

The local government in Kupang views nature schools as an essential part of children’s upbringing in the district. To show their support for the Manusak Alam School, the Kupang Regency Government recently helped to repair the trail that leads to its entrance, while also providing seedlings of fruit trees and bamboo in collaboration with the RSBI Foundation.

The Noken events in Kupang and Timor re-established ties between communities and offered hope for the future. The most positive output of the events was the involvement of the young people themselves. Several young champions were identified in each location, who will now take up the challenge of building solidarity through environmentalism in their communities and friendship groups.

To that end, Rian, Eu, Syair and Nong from the Secangkir Koppi community will document and publish poetry, books and stories about Menoken in Tana Timor; Esther and Tesa, from the Soke Felakdale Community, plan to open a gallery and coffee shop; Heru, from the Kupang Film Community, will make films that can help educate the community; and a group of youngsters from the Manusak Nature School Community plan to set up more nature schools on other islands, where coffee corners and online edu-ecotourism can spark a youth-led environmental movement.

Following the Noken meetings, various other youth groups resolved to tackle the issues faced by their communities, including land rights in customary areas, building relationships between differently abled groups, preserving and celebrating traditional arts and supporting gender equality and the protection of children throughout Timor and Kupang. Together, and with the support of the Samdhana Institute, these youth groups offer a glimpse of a brighter, green and more united future.

*Source of article: Menoken meeting notes; OELAMASI Kompas, 24/8/21

About Noken

"Noken" is a woven fabric that’s common in Papua, Indonesia. Used for knitted bags and other daily handicrafts, the fabric has many applications and great cultural significance; it is a symbol of traditional knowledge, new life, hope and communal spirit.

Inspired by this ubiquitous fabric, the Noken programme has created a strong network of communities, united by a common cause and linked together through various complementary activities. These activities relate to the rights of IPLCs, economic development, sustainable agriculture, food sovereignty and environmental sustainability.

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GENDER & SOCIAL INCLUSION

GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

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Posting Date

Fri, 12/24/2021 - 12:00

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Eu and Syair from the Secangkir Koppi community sharing knowledge with sign language. (SAMDHANA/Anggit)

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Indigenous youth lead in community conservation

admin_samdhana — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 05:39:40 +0000

Indigenous youth lead in community conservation admin_samdhana Sat, 04/24/2021 - 12:39

The COVID-19 pandemic did not deter Higaonon and Bukidnon communities in Northern Mindanao in sustaining community conservation.

The map below indicates the location of the indigenous tree nursery, women community gardens and tree-planting activities that were spurred on in the ICON Project (Indigenous Governance at the Forefront of Conservation Project, supported by Forest Foundation Philippines).

The Higaonon youth established their nursery through wildlings collection only, without purchasing any commercial seedlings. Communities also freely exchanged their tree seedlings with one another to increase the species they grew, such as molave, narra, teakwood, guiho, apitong, kamagong, ampion, spectabilis, balite, bangkal, anilao, bacan, salong, bansilay, tipolo, talisay, peanut tree, firetree, lambago and lawaan varieties. Fruit tree were also grown like mango, guava, guyabano, rambutan, cashew, lomboy, kamansi, lanzones and mangosteen

Tree-growing activities were held in Pagalungan and Tuburan in Cagayan de Oro Higaonon communities, and in Awang in the Dulangan Ancestral Domain in the last quarter of 2020.

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GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE & LOCAL COMMUNITY

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Posting Date

Thu, 04/22/2021 - 12:00

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Higaonon youth in Dulangan Ancestral Domain planting lawaan (Shorea spp). Indigenous youth lead in community conservation. (SAMDHANA)

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Feature

Stories of Hope and Struggle 2020

admin_samdhana — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 07:55:40 +0000

Stories of Hope and Struggle 2020 admin_samdhana Mon, 02/22/2021 - 14:55

The year 2020 is the year of reflection and resilience, our organization and partners remain hopeful and work tirelessly through these hard times. Through the release of the Story of Hope and Struggle vol #1 2020, we wish to share with you not only stories of struggle that bring out the best in people but also how a story on the power of collaborative action can reflect our, you and the people hope to reappear.

The story from "the Sekolah Alam Manusak" will share you the story on how youth in Manusak Village can still continue learning in a desperate situation that the pandemic brought, and built a school with the concept of learning by playing, using recyclable materials, that happened through the support from the community.

The article "Finding Resilience in the time of crisis"really shows a small initiative such as food assistance can mean so much to the Menuvu tribe in Southern Bukidnon, Philippines they not only fight against the covid but also face hunger and fear on a daily basis.

Another story about the struggle from the Higaunen-Talaandig people-indigenous communities across mindanao, Philippines to keep their Indigenous Knowledge System and Practises that are now disappearing, is cascading in The article "Ïf not us then who", this story would also share you the journey on how the young lumad who dare to dream to find and revive their identity

"We are only as blind as we want to be (Maya Angelou)", for Resti, as a young blind barista, does not limit her dream to inspire people, by serving "A story in a cup coffee" that she brewed from local farmers coffee beans, she learns nothing is impossible.

Last but not least, we would like to share with you the story that reflects the confidence of women to show their abilities to manage village forest in the article "Desa Gerduren: Beginning the women's journey in forest management"

We invite you to look on our website (https://samdhana.org) and blog (blog.samdhana.org) for more stories, messages of hope and resilience from our partners and communities.

Until then we would like to keep you reminded to be safe and healthy.

Yours Sincerely,

https://samdhana.org/sites/default/files/publication/Stories%202020.pdf

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GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

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Posting Date

Mon, 02/22/2021 - 12:00

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Samdhana Stories of Hope and Struggle 2020

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Thank you 2020: The year of resilience and reflections

admin_samdhana — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 10:09:10 +0000

Thank you 2020: The year of resilience and reflections admin_samdhana Wed, 01/20/2021 - 17:09

Dear friends, colleagues and partners

The year before has been a very different year for all of us – challenging our individual commitments, abilities, creativity, patience, and sanity. I wanted to share these reflections with you all as we end a very unusual year and wish you a better year ahead.

The conditions we were in for most of the past year allowed us more time for self- reflection - to reflect on “how effective we really are in enabling and empowering our community partners”. Are our efforts to support our partners enough? Are we truly helping them achieve their aspirations for self-determination, community development and resiliency in the most effective way? As we reflect on our previous support to partners in the social environmental movement across South East Asia region– on what works, what could work better, we know we could always do better.

As a community of social and environmental advocates and activists we are inspired by the resilience demonstrated by our CSO and community partners in the face of multiple challenges-continued marginalization, increased repression aggravated by the added restrictions brought about by COVID 19. Their ability to endure is inspiring. Despite all the challenges, we as individuals and our community partners faced in most of 2020, we continue to find hope within ourselves and the energy to smile at the odds we face on a daily basis. On reflection, last year was also a year of inspiration.

We learned to be kinder and more caring. In an increasingly “digital and logical world”, how does kindness and care make a difference? Our young partners in the Learning and Media Network in the Lower Mekong showed us how important kindness and caring is for any individual’s development. They showed us that knowledge and skills are better gained when this is presented in a kind and caring way. With support from friends, colleagues, families and partners we responded to the urgent appeal for rice and salt of some of our Higaonon partners in Northern Mindanao when the lockdowns started in March 2020. Our deepest gratitude to all those who showed their support for our community partners. In this movement we are in, we need to take care of each other and be each other’s pillars of strength. We learned the value of asking “how a person feels” as much as “what they are doing”.

Somehow, we and our partner CSOs found the energy to work together and jointly find creative solutions and to make our responses better, more flexible and effective. Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan (SMK) Swasta (Private Vocational High School) Arjuna Laguboti, our partner school in Sumatra was able to produce hand sanitizers for sharing with communities and health centers in Pintubosi Village, Sitoluama Village, Gasaribu Village; to the Sub-districts in Laguboti, Sigumpar and Porsea, at a time when it was most needed in the early part of the COVID 19. Young people from Mong Pan Youth Association and Nam Khone Alumni Network in Myanmar were the first responders in the Shan state - informing their own communities of the risks brought about by this virus and ways by which the community could protect themselves. We also found ways to reach out to partners amidst the isolation brought about by lockdowns and the travel restrictions through the“Noken” events in Indonesia and the establishment of community nurseries and home gardens in the indigenous communities in the Philippines.

Learning from 2020 would not have been possible if not for the commitment and engagement of all our partners from the social and environmental movements at the local, regional and global levels; the continuing support of our donor-partners; the dedication of our staff, board and fellows; and each and every small effort you all made to get us through the year with our hearts and minds intact. Our sincere thanks to all of you.

We look forward to finding creative and flexible ways to continue to support the social and environmental movements in South East Asia in the new normal.

Here’s to wishing you all a kinder, hopeful, caring and creative 2021. Have a wonderful year ahead!!!

Regards,

Suraya A. Affif

Chairperson of the Board, Samdhana Institute

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GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

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New Year Message 2021.pdf

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Wed, 01/20/2021 - 12:00

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To all our social and environmental movements, our donor-partners, our staff, board and fellows: thank you for your dedication and your kindness over the past year.

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Jambore Nusantara was conducted in Ketambe, Southeast Aceh

admin_samdhana — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 09:03:53 +0000

Jambore Nusantara was conducted in Ketambe, Southeast Aceh admin_samdhana Fri, 02/21/2020 - 16:03

31 women leaders, indigenous youth, and local community from 11 areas in Indonesia will join Jambore Nusantara in Ketambe Village, Southeast Aceh District, Aceh Province on 23-26 July 2019. They will join with other participants and local committees from Ketambe, Aceh Tenggara. There are 100 total participants.

The 11 areas comprise Papua, West Papua, South Sulawesi, West Kalimantan, Maluku West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, Bali, Central Java, West Java, and Aceh. Samdhana Institute collaborated with Sekolah Ekologi Leuser (SEL) in conducting this Jambore Nusantara.

Head of Capacity Development Program Samdhana Institute, Ita Natalia said that one of the Jambore Nusantara purposes is to allow participants exchange stories, experience, and skills in facing social ecology crisis in their village or their surrounding environment. She also mentioned that Another aim is also to compile the follow-up agenda in solving social ecology crisis?.

Participants also received inspiration samples through smart practices in natural resource management, sustainable farming, local food, herbal and organic products, as well as crafts and woven.

Another jambore activity is to inspire and to motivate particularly youngsters in developing social entrepreneurship to support the community independence. We also support participants to utilize technology innovation through social media platform in the effort to nurture their culture and local wisdom which hopefully could keep up with the current dynamics and development she continued.

Beside learning and sharing experiences, The Ministry of Environment and Forestry, The Ministry of Village Development of Disadvantaged Region and Transmigration, Local Government, civil society organization, and other practitioners are also giving lectures and sharing their knowledges.

During the Jambore, participants can contribute to several sessions, such as discussions, public dialogues, inspiration classes, composing their future expectations, culture and solidarity night, adventures, expression in emotional, intention, and creation, as well as exhibitions of products and crafts.

During the adventure course, the participants explore Leuser and Alas river (Jelajah Alam Leuser dan susur Sungai Alas). In the session of expressing emotional/ feel, intention, and creation, participants joins coffee rituals, archaeology product exploration, community craft, and eco-print.

There are also traditional festive and art performance of Southeast Aceh. Tarmizi stated that field activities during Jambore Nusantara rely on the fully organized and trained local cadres of Sekolah Ekologi Leuser (SEL).

SEL is a laboratory of area development in 10 village surrounding the Leuser Mountain national park in Ketambe sub-district, Southeast Aceh District.

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GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

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Posting Date

Sat, 07/20/2019 - 12:00

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One of the corners in Ketambe Village, Leuser Mountain National Park, Southeast Aceh District. Photo by: Anggit/Samdhana

Jambore Nusantara: Diversity in the heart of Leuser

admin_samdhana — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 04:08:23 +0000

Jambore Nusantara: Diversity in the heart of Leuser admin_samdhana Fri, 01/03/2020 - 11:08

The opening ceremony of Jambore Nusantara in the Ketambe village, Ketambe subdistrict, Southeast Aceh district, was conducted with Peuseujuk indigenous procession which officially began on Tuesday July 23, 2019. The ceremony was led by four indigenous woman leaders, which intended to wish safety, peace, and happiness for the Jambore event since it commenced until Thursday July 25, 2019, which was bring to a close with Saman dance by the full spirit Ketambe youngsters. Saman dance is listed as one of the UNESCO’s intangible culture heritage.

There are more than 100 participants, which include woman leaders, indigenous youths, and local communities from 11 areas in Indonesia gathered during this 3 days Jambore Nusantara event. They are from Papua, West Papua, South Sulawesi, West Kalimantan, Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, Bali, Central Java, West Java, and off course Aceh as the event’s host. The location of Ketambe village in Ketambe subdistrict, Southeast Aceh district was chosen due to its proximity in the National Park of Leuser Mountain, which is the largest tropical rain forest in Indonesia or the second largest in the world after the Amazon, Brazil. It is also next to the Protected Forest.

H.Bukhari, the vice head of district/ vice regent (wakil bupati) welcome and embrace the Jambore Nusantara in his area. He expects that the event conducted by Samdhana Institute and Sekolah Ekologi Leuser (SEL) would deliver smart practice in human resource management and development, sustainable farming, local food, environmental friendly herbal and craft products. This may also stimulate entrepreneurship spirit for all participants from many provinces.

“We expect breakthrough and innovation in local wisdom to evolve during this event. Let’s make the most of it to share and to exchange experience from each region”, he appealed.

Moreover, the vice head of district highlighted as the Leuser Mountain area is now one of the world heritage sites, continuous communication is needed to unify perception amongst people, local government and central government in how to best conserve the Leuser Mountain National Park (Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser (TNGL).

People of Ketambe village which are related with the Gayo people culture and tradition in Aceh also supported their vice regent in welcoming the committee and participants of Jambore Nusantara 2019.

On behalf of the village, indigenous figure, and Ketambe village officials, Tarmizi Alba, the Jambore committee representative in Ketapang appreciate the involvement of indigenous figure and women from Sabang to Merauke. He said that he is grateful that by the mean of this Jambore Nusantara, all participants are willing to gather to form a mutual power, which will be a vivid strength to achieve an excellent civilization.

“We have a mutual goal here which is to link the government and communities surrounding forest areas in terms of communication and information, in order to optimize protected area management, for the sake of forest preservation and people’s wellbeing,” stated Tarmizi, Southeast Aceh youth figure which is also the founder of Sekolah Ekologi Leuser.

Jambore Nusantara is a meeting room to exchange knowledge, experience, and best practise in many places which will enrich knowledge and expand cooperation network amongst communities. Jambore Nusantara will be an effort to actualize this and to capture community intelligence that strives to free themselves from their socio-ecological problems, so they could adapt and survive by benefiting their natural and human resources as their asset to achieve civilized society.

Cristi Nozawa of Samdhana stated her appreciation of Jambore Nusantara conduction in Ketambe. The presence of youth, indigenous figure, and elders, which gathers to share their knowledge in one community is hard to find. Many attend the event to share with each other from Papua to Aceh. This kind of treasure and diversity of Indonesia are things to be proud of as a country. She also acknowledged natural materials’ usage in several Ketambe products.

“I am thrilled that Ketambe are making use of natural sources for products, such as mattresses, instead of using plastic. Because we are collecting many sources here to be one power, and this turns out to be very beautiful” Cristi explained.

Beside the opening speeches, the first day of Jambore also presents stories of leaders and their change movements. They are Dicky Senda (East Nusa Tenggara), Ni Luh Yeni Arianti (Bali), Slamet Diharjo (Banyuwangi), Arifin (Central Java) and Agusta Maria Wanggadipa (Papua).

Next is the public dialogue with the General Director of Natural Resource and Ecosystem Conservation from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ir. Wiratno, M.Sc on conservation partnership. Conservation partnership is a program in his directorate which involves communities within and in surrounding the conservation area. A cooperation programme that put people as the lead actor in managing the land to be productive as well as preserving them as it supposed to be.

“I have a program now, to achieve a conservation partnership agreement. I come her to meet you all and offer to form this conservation partnerships together,” explained the general director of KSDAE, Ir. Wiratno, M.Sc.

During the question and answer session, Wiratno highlighted Ketambe for their orangutans which become a research object. The message was to intensify the existing management area, not to extend the area. He allows collaborative management in natural preservation area. “The forest not only contain woods, we are all responsible of the God given nature because animals in the forest are also providing use with many intangible benefits,” he added.

The 3 days Jambore Nusantara also presents three inspiration classes, i.e. sovereignty, independence, and solidarity. Classes that provide inspiration to formulate future plans, to formulate their aims.

During the last day of Jambore, the residents and participants were entertained by saman dance, bines dance and several culture performance of participants’ origin areas.

Category

GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

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Posting Date

Thu, 08/01/2019 - 12:00

Photo Caption

More than 100 participants, which include woman leaders, indigenous youths, and local communities from 11 areas in Indonesia gathered during this 3 days Jambore Nusantara event. Photo by Samdhana/Anggit.