Three lighters for Sumba

(participants’ reflection of Exposure Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta)

Appreciate Time

(Desri Kahi Mila Meha, STT Terpadu Waingapu)

Time is very important for everyone to do activity and work, and it is used as benchmark for some people to start their activities. But sometimes people ignore the preciousness of time, just take it paltry and still doing habit of ‘rubber-clock’ (delaying time).

This habit is still practiced by many people in East Sumba, even in my community, unluckily it is inherent in me. My bad habit of delaying time wastes lots of things though it should be done. Another result of not managing time is causing many unfinished works.

I was so inspired by activities I joined during my time in Yogyakarta that is  discipline with time and  every activity is managed by time and also limited by time. Through this opportunity I learned to adjust myself and it is  necessary for me to do it because discipline is a very basic  thing to appreciate time.

I had to change my former habit by adopting new habit to appreciate and manage time well. If everything is set by time, I will be able to make it on time and I have time to do other things. I hope when I apply this good thing in my community, there will be positive effects done by people around me. The important thing is I have to start from myself first to be a role model for others.  I do start to respect time!!!

The power of different Iris

(Erik Bidikonda Hawula, Unkriswina, Waingapu)

In life we realize that everything that exists on earth is inseparable from the color or characteristic that distinguish us, both biologically to thinking in our heads, whether the visible and invisible differences. The difference we have is certainly not our request but destiny that we cannot avoid.

The differences that exist around us often trigger disputes or conflicts for others that if not be handled carefully will get worse and even lead to bloodshed. Of course, it is not impossible to unite differences.

Why I was born from a certain ethnic, a certain race having culture that shape me with different thoughts and perspectives, should not be a humanitarian issue. Different thoughts and perspectives can be used to feel and watch the phenomenon or nature and objects around us. Sometimes we do not think that someone who has different thoughts and views can take benefits from useless things became economically valueable, such as craftsmen of recycle and rubbish such as glass wastes into beautiful mosaic, coconut shells with export quality products or even arid sand land into fertile agricultural land. The eyes iris as power to observe, and make a change that will not be possible to happen when we fail to see differences.

Indonesia unites us among 1.300 ethnics, 1.158 local languages and various religions and local beliefs. this diversity of course can trigger conflict if we are unable to see the power of diversity. How do we see the power? Sure, with different eyes iris.

The process of Exposure to Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta taught me how to see everything that looks ordinary have dear value by accepting and optimizing diversity.

The photo below showed when I attended a training on peace studies at Ngesti Laras inn, Kaliurang.

Peacemaker in conflict

(Marinus Mardi Ishak, STT GKS Lewa)

Many conflict cases became public consumption in Indonesia lately. Actually, this situation triggered and stimulated critical and analytical power from all people, especially the young. They do not just sit and see, but also take part in constructive thought and action. When joining activities in Exposure Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta, I reflected that each of us should be a peacemaker.

The conflicts in this country are not only related to humanitarian-religious issue but also humanitarian-ecological issue. Topics that I have learned in Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta were model of reality conflict in life, including 1. Interfaith Dialogue, 2. Farming on sand banks, 3. Livestock Management, 4. Peace Studies: Conflict Management and Conflict Resolution, and 5. Waste Recycling. All these activities were part of conflict resolutions offered to each of us to act as peacemaker.

Obviously, we see the reality, but unconsciously we are in the middle of conflict. The question is, what we should do? Inevitably this is the responsibility of every one to manage and provide resolution of conflict. Of course we are not the trigger of the conflicts, but we got the effects of them. That is the reason why we have to act, as the idiom ‘If not us, who will be, and if not now, when will be’. This idiom motivates me to be a good mediator in analyzing and mediating conflicts.

Peacemaker is not only thinking and analyzing but also acting synergically with interfaith, ethnic and race network from Sabang to Merauke and  not be interfered by personal conflict. This responsibility should start from myself. I was so grateful for the opportunity to attend many activities in Exposure Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta, as well as to know Stube team and friends in Yogyakarta. The experience and knowledge I gained will be shared to my friends in Stube-HEMAT Sumba. Thank you for the network linked with friends in Stube Germany.