Berbeda Membuat? - Making a Difference?

bedroom up the ladder

This title is another one of those bad translations “Pam style!” apologies to Indonesian linguists.

A few bits from the last week include a great weekend visiting the island of Alor, a short 50 minute plane ride in a small prop carrying about 50 people max. We stayed at a place on a tiny island, 5 minute boat ride from the main island at a place owned by a French family called La Petite Kapan. It is set up along the lines of local types of housing, cabins as well as traditional housing, in which my 5 friends and I stayed. I had one to myself as we were odd numbers and on first sight I was a little hesitent to be alone but once heading to bed, found it to be a fantastic accommodation, waves lapping on the shore through the night in front of my “house”.

my "cabin" at La Petite Kapan

This is a dive destination and the family runs dives daily and is the main draw there but I enjoyed lying in my hammock, drinking coffee, swimming often in the totally clear water, going for walks to more beaches with not a soul on them. Once there was a lone fisherman out in the water spear fishing it’s that clear. We ate fresh fish, and lots of delicious dishes to go with it. So great to have these spots to go to, reasonably priced and accessible.

tall women in Bemo on Alor

On the work front it has been pretty active with some rewarding work. One of the first young persons we interviewed/assessed in the village was a 20 year old who looked like he perhaps had polio when he was 13 - later confirmed when we saw the doctor report. He laid in bed for 4 years with no further education than his elementary schooling, due to lots of mobility problems but at age 17 went to the city 45 minutes away for rehab and therapy which helped him to regain strength in his upper body but still walking with great difficulty, around the home mostly, home consisting of a bedroom and sitting room and living with his grandparents. He went to the fields with them on occasion but felt helpless in this land of farming with all manual labour.

Once we had connected with the provincial social services department and a local Disabled Persons Organization as part of our networking we learned he might qualify for 2 years of educational upgrading, including learning a trade and assistance to find employment when returned home. All training would take place on another island, a fair distance by plane but all paid for by the Social Services Dept. The hitch was the next intake had a deadline 2 days after we learned of it. Boy, did Berti and I scramble, calling the village head to immediately get all the family assessbled as this would be a family decision, then to take a representative of the volunteer disabled persons organization to explain it to everyone as one peer to another. The woman we took had very limited mobility due to a bad accident a few years ago.

Family decision: LtoR:village head, young man

shelling peas - 3 generations

Then to get a physical exmination and doctor report, letter from the village head, approvals signed by the young man, and his father, passport type photos of him and of his disability, photocopies of it all, etc etc!! Seemed monumemtal to me but with the guidance of the village head and the volunteer who came with us, all was accomplished between Thursday and the following Monday and papers into the provincial department responsible for the programme. Whew! The young man, who was initially reluctant to talk to us is thrilled, the village leadership now knows there are such programmes and a connection to services and supports has begun for this village. Our job is to strengthen this connection and have a local person designated to keep track of disabilities and keep updated on services and support programmes availalbe. This is just one man, one village, but it’s a start. More to go, but the most important thing is, we have begun.
While waiting for the village head to arrive I had the fun of shelling beans, looked like black eyed peas and black beans to me but with the same shell - with grandma and her granddaughter. Grandma was a bit perplexed at me sitting on the floor with them and thought I just wanted a photo op as after the photo kept trying to have me get up but it was fun so I stayed with it til we finished the tray. I’m sure they have bags full in the back room. Never idle hands!

(Just got a text from Berti as I'm writing this Blog that he has been approved and leaves end of May for the Makasar). We are so excited for him.

Moved into my new digs yesterday with my housemate Anna. Saw the most magnificent sunset from our balcony overlooking the sea tonight! Well, 5:30-6 pm so not really night, just dark!

Oh Yes - rode my motor bike from Anglea and Morten's to my new him today - an easy short ride and arrived successfully. Will keep on going now.

sea and sunset from the balcony

All for now - hope you enjoy and all of you are keeping hale and hearty