(a note of inspiration from trip to Ujung Kulon Campaign - Dec 2009)

Support trip for me is always a highly valuable experience. Not because it is my main job, but more than that, it gives me an opportunity to understand directly the challenges and opportunities of the Campaigh Manager working for conservation in the site, as well as getting to know and learn more from the Campaign Manager about conservation and life in general. I personally belief, to have the endurance to work in conservation and community development, a person not only need to have 'the brain' in the issue but also need to have 'the heart full of passion' and 'a strong driven of internal motivation'to being successful. Pride, especially, has never been an easy job (it became even harder nowadays!) moreover an easy life.  

So here I am, for the Ujung Kulon National Park Campaign, including a - 5 hours motor trail ride (and another 5 hours back to town) to learn about life from a Campaign Manager - Indra Harwanto, that definitely has the brain and the heart to make conservation a success.


I still remember the 1st telephone conversation after module 3 ended ... "No, no way, I can streched my available budget to do more than 7 communication activities. How can I do more than that?. At the other part of the discussion, "Well ... , I have some ideas for some other activities, but I better don't write it down in the COWP, so I don't feel guilty and no one can blame me if i didn't accomplished it". And this one ... "what? radio program? that must be expensive, we never do that. I know survey said, radio is strategic channel, but going to the radio ....? let me think about it first"


And, he had proven that he had given it a thought! 2 version of radio PSA in local language, with the 1st rank favourite radio - Radio Krakatau FM -, is being aired and loved by the audience. This has been the first radio PSA for the Park. More than that Indra was successful in getting a sponsorship from the radio that supported the creative production of the PSAs and discounted rate to regularly aired the ad. Puppet show will be playing very soon in schools surrounding the Park, as well as  'conservation banners' in the front gate of each 10 target villages that will depicted photos of village leader and campaign logo encouraging  community  member to support the Park.

Indra and Sari with Mr. Subuh (Radio Director) and Ms. Dian (Program Division) at Radio Krakatau FM Station

Indra uses mind mapping technique to facilitate a youth training session

In a discussion with the radio management, Indra skillfully use the negotiation techniques that he had learned during the university phase. "The challenge to work with radio and the challenge to get out from my comfort zone, had lead me to read again the module on negotiation. I read the negotiation section page by page, again and again ... I feel confident and skilful now when I need to enter a negotiation context. I have to make the pie bigger ... not arguing over a slice of a pie" . Radio Krakatau FM happens to be part of a national-wide radio network that have vision to preserve local culture and environment - while the radio is operating for profit, it also has strong committment to empower its audience to be proud of their culture and environment. Result from this discussion? A journalist trips organize by the radio will be the upcoming collaborative project with the Park, as well as a follow up meeting to discuss on a package of program to promote the conservation initiatives of the Park.

An all-terrain ride to reach Cegok Village

To get stakeholder support and contribute to the project, it needed negotiation and network building skill. To get to the site, it needs more than that. Indra regularly spends 2-3 weeks in months staying in one village to another.  To get to site, it definitely need a rain coat, skill to ride a motorcycle through a heavy terrain, courage, and a strong bottom (yes, you are right, ... I mean 'strong butt' :D), especially going to the direction of the last village in the north-est part of Java island that directly in the border of Gunung Honje range of the Park.  The distance to Cegok sub-village from the sub-district town is 'only' 20 km, but it took more than 5 hours to arrive at the village due to the road condition.

Community housing at Cegok Village 

The only school within the village is Kindergarden. To go to Elementary School, children need to walk 30 mins. To go to Junior High, children need to go to sub-district town. 

Faces of kids at Cegok village

To arrived at Cegok, we had to go from sunny to rainy, through muddy road (that gives a free foot mud - spa treatment, to my knees ..:D), rocky road, upward - downward, crossing few farms and some streams, and riding through the Java southern coastal sands. This has been one of the hardest site to arrived at. Because of this condition, people - especially women and children - hardly went out of the villages, television (using satellite dish) is the main entertainment in the village. Umbrella is a luxurius product - with the regular heavy rain, prices of umbrella is high due to high transport cost. So guest are warmly welcome especially people that come to work and learn with the community. "We missed him, if Indra is working in other village. If he is here, we feel exited and enthusiast, because he gives us spirit to have better life" said a women.  "Usually, Park's staff only stop us or forbid us, Now, Park's staffs listen more to us and discuss options that we can make as a community as well as stop expansion land into the Park", said a farmer leader.

Together with Agriculture outreach's staff facilitate a farmer group meeting in the evening 

Continuing the 'hot' discussion in the morning .. just before Indra had woke up from bed ...!

and discussion can happen anywhere, including at the rice fields ... 

During the trip's wrap-up session (after another 5 hours ride back to taown), while soothing down our painfully bottom :D, I asked Indra on what has driven him to stay committed and stands  towards all the challenges - profesionally and personally (his family lives in Bogor and he only meet them on holiday). "At first, i was not
thinking about the academic degree. at first, i want to show that i can make a difference. Now, of course is the academic degree from UTEP and  .. I want to prove that with strong network and negotiation skills we can discuss how to reach our common goals strategically. Budget limitation should not limit our work. With collaboration and creativity we can achieve success in our project. I just want to prove that I can really make a difference"

Being with Indra in the 5 days trips strongly reminding me that a positive attitude, an internal force to get out from the comfort zone, and internal motivation to create change, are definitely needed to embrace challenges and turn it into a success conservation outcome. Go for it Indra ... you definitely are creating change!