Friday, April 23, 2010

Sebuah perayaan musim 29 tahun hidupku...

Anak Alam brings joy to children of Blandingan
22 Apr 2010

I Wayan Juniartha
THE JAKARTA POST/KINTAMANI

It was arguably the most touching birthday party Kadek Purnami had ever had. She struggled to fight her tears back as she looked at a group of around 50 children sitting before her. The children were dressed in worn-out clothes and most of them apparently hadnt taken a bath for quite some time. Water is a precious commodity in that village and taking a bath regularly is a luxury most of the villagers cannot afford.

Standing next to Purnami was Pande Putu Setiawan, the founder of Anak Alam Community (www. anakalam.org). The children obviously adored this tall, dark-skinned young man. When Pande asked them about their day at school, the children answered spiritedly.

Pande turned to a little girl in the corner and asked her whether she would continue going to. school. The girl, who was carrying her kid brother on her waist, had just finished her elementary education. In an almosfc inaudible voice, the girls answered. "I want to enroll in the juniorhigh school, but I dont think it will be possible. My father will not allow me to [continue going to school]," she said as she tried to comfort her kid-brother.

At that point, Purnami couldnt hold her tears. She turned her face away in a vain attempt to hide the tears. Celebrating ones birthday is supposed to be joyful affair. Yet, this year the native of Padangtegal, Ubud, wanted to celebrate her 29th birthday in a different, more meaningful way. She asked her friends to donate books, foods and used clothes for Anak Alam Community. Purnami admires the works that Pande has done for the children through his Anak Alam Community.

"He is so passionate about helping the kids and I want to do my share," Purnami said. On a cloudy Saturday afternoon, "Purnami and his friends embarked on a trip from Ubud, that would eventually bring them face with face with the less celebrated reality of Bali, a reality comprises of poverty and suffering.

Upon reaching Kintamani, a tourist destination popular for its scenic view, they descended to Lake Batur, the giant caldera of a mighty volcano in ancient times. The villages surrounding the lake are populated by the descendants of proud warriors, whose rebellious nature was thesource of constant headaches for the occupying troops of the might Majapahit empire in the 14lh century.

The decent road ends in Songan, but their trip didnt end in that village, where Pande was born and his father is a well-known and well-respected public medical officer. The small group passed Songan, criss-crossed patches of cultivated land where the locals grow shallots and other seasonal plants, their primary source of income.

The road became narrower and steeper but Pande, standing on the open back of mini-truck, insisted that they must see the children. "I have told the children we will be here. It is very difficult to bring them together because most of the time they will be scattered outside the village, helping their parents Rnd the farm or collecting firewood," Pande said.

The group finally arrived at Blandingan, a small village perched on the northern rim of Lake Batur. Pande called Blandingan "one of the most underdeveloped villages in Batur", Brick houses are a rare sight, most of the houses have woven bamboo walls, dirt floors and thatched roofs.

"There are around 300 households in this village, most of them shallot farmers," an old man with untrimmed moustache and dirty clothes said, also the secretary to thevillage chief. The awaiting children gathered at the village hall and took turns performing before their guests. Some recited poems, a little girl sung a popular love song, others performed a play.

"They are talented, hard-working children. The main problem is they dont have access to education, the only thing that would enable them to break free from the bounds of poverty," Pande said. "There are around 3,000 children in villages spread along the rim of Lake Batur. So far, we have only managed to reach 200 children in Blandingan," he sighed.

Pande, who holds a master degree, has traveled abroad and pub-lished a literary trilogy, believes that bringing education to these children is the only way to give them a better future. One year ago he founded the Anak Alam Community, an organization of concerned individuals, who have put together various educational programs for the Blandingan children, from an English course to a photography workshop. Anak Alam now runs a small children library in Songan and is preparing to launch a computer course.

"All those programs were made possible by donations from generous individuals and institutions across the island. Several people have came here, spent two weeks with the children, teaching them the skills theyuse in their profession and in turn learning from the children about the various aspects of this beautiful place," Pande said.

Now, concerned young men in Sumbawa, Riau and Semarang have established their own Anak Alam Community. A thin curtain of mist descended upon Blandingan when the group prepared to leave. The children shouted and yelled when the car roared. In unison they screamed "I love you". Purnami silently waved at them. "This is the most meaningful birthday I have ever had. I will be back," she said. Photos by I Wayan Juniartha

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Pada Sebungkus Nasi

Aku membukanya dengan rasa lapar, dan ingin segera menikmatinya. Bau masakan khas padang ini menyeruak menyergap hidungku. Sepotong daging rendang dengan bumbu yang pekat. Aku bersiap menyantap dengan lahap. Pada suapan pertama aku tertegun.
Kepada padi yang telah menjadi beras dan nasi, pada musim manakah dia telah tumbuh, dipetik hingga di panen. Berapa peluh petani telah jatuh berbulir-bulir pada pertiwi yang basah.Mungkin suaranya nyaris hilang serak saat mengusir burung yang ingin memakan bulir padinya.
Kepada sapi yang telah menjelma menjadi daging begitu gurih pada mulutku, berapakah usiamu saat disembelihnya? Seberapa besar ketakutanmu saat pisau penjagal menyayat urat nadimu? Rintihanmu tak sebanding dengan gurih dimulutku. Adakah kau hidup bahagia semasa hidupmu menjadi sapi?
Pada cabai, bumbu rempah, sayur dan semua yang melengkapi. Seberapa jauh perjalananmu yang telah kau tempuh hingga kau bersatu disini, adakah kau tumbuh dalam kekeringan dan dikelilingi hama wereng? Namun kau melewati, berjuang menjadi unggulan.
Adakah dia yang menjual nasi ini dalam keadaan bahagia membungkus untukku?
Pada semua mahluk yang telah berkorban pada sebungkus nasi ini. Padamu aku ucapkan terima kasih dan telah menjadikannya ada untuk aku bersantap siang.

Ubud, 12 April 2010
Kadek Purnami