Urban Farming Project in Manyaran

Manyaran. That is not strange name for me. Because since I was staying and working in Semarang, I often passed Manyaran to goes to my office. Manyaran location still same district with my office. Ok, from here my new great experience began. When I decide to joined workcamp of IIWC with urban farming theme. That was my third time I joined IIWC workcamp, but first time joined VSTV (Very Short Term Voluntary). Yeah, it was my good chance, because I have enough free time in that time. BTW, actually the right location was not in Manyaran, but in Kembangarum, the urban area near Manyaran.

Wed, 27 July 2016. Afternoon in my office, suddenly I got a called. A weird voice (like girl voice) called me and asked me about IIWC workcamp. Suddenly I remembered that voice, Aring voice I think and in fact I was right. Aring reminded me and my friend to prepare workcamp tomorrow at 8 a.m. He told me that there was 2 participants from czech and 2 other from Semarang (me and my friend).

Our first day and first lunch with Pecel & Ice tea

In the H day, I went to IIWC office and met with the international participants. They were from Czech Republic, Tomas and Peter. After we walked together to found Tomas's backpack, Aring invited us to had lunch. We ordered pecel (vegetable with nut sauce) and fruit ice tea. Tomas and Peter actually felt full but they did'nt want to rejected Aring's invitation. Obviously they spent the meal while I and Aring was not. They said that the meal is tasty just Peter think it was too spicy for him.

 We went together to the campsite in Kembangarum after we met with the local partner, Edi. Edi was the Unwahas agriculture student who initiating a movement in his urban area to planting vegetables. Wow, Kembangarum area consist of hills, so enough hard to me drived my motorbike with Tomas behind. Tomas told me that was the first time for him got a ride motorbike. He said that in Czech, motorbike is rare.

 

Our campsite was good I think, wide, clean and no mosquitos, but too hot for Tomas and Peter. Near our campsite there was a "creepy house" with chicken and birds. We often utilized the front of that house to parked our motorbikes. The street in front of our campsite was so unique, 45 degrees limit. The best part of our campsite was the view around, especially in sunset. So cool, like Sao Paolo view, city in the top of hills. BTW, Edi's home located near from the campsite. We did some activity there.

Planting vegetable

Some activities of urban farming project were created some seed place with pipes, planted the seeds and water the plant. We also made a handycraft from plastic garbage. Aring teach us and the local people created a rose from plastic garbage. He was a little bit failed, because his rose was a little bad :-p. We mocked Aring with called him, "bad teacher" (sorry). Oh yeah, we also went to local primary school to promoted planting vegetable movement to
the student. We did some games, but because the students were to many, the game didnt work well. The student (children) too hysteric with Tomas and Peter. The student swarmed them, fight over to shaked their hand, and asked their signature (Oh my God, just like celebrities). But yeah, overall the last activity quite succes I think. We could promoted and ensure the student to love vegetable, besides that Tomas and Peter felt so happy because they never met with many children in Czech.

In Sunday, we did activities with Unwahas Student Workcamp (KKN) in Nongkosawit, Gunungpati. There, the student also did planting activities like vegetable and fruit. Besides that, cause Nongkosawit was the village tourism object, they also did tourism activities like created traditional souvenirs and traditional toys. There, we met also with the Mangkang Project camper and did all activity together. Mangkang project camper consist of Remi (Netherland), Haruka (Japan), Marsha and Malesa (Italy), Matheo (France), Rian and Rahil (campleader). The best part of that day was we have chance to played Gamelan (Traditional Javanese Orchestra). I think it was magic because we could played one simple song only in one hour practiced (Wowww). Actually I was ever learned Gamelan (5 years a go) and I think it's hard to played it before. The gamelan's sound was great. I love it so much. We were very happy and satisfied.

It was great experience for me could met and to be friends with Tomas, Peter, Aring and Edi. They are very kind persons. Aring is a funny man, he often jokes and sometimes do absurd and weird behave. I met him in the first time, 2 years a go. But, in workcamp moment was the first time we knew each other well. He was a good person and has many similarities with me such as same old, working in PKBI (he in Grobogan, me in Semarang), and founding youth center of PKBI. Unfortunately, he told me that he will resign from PKBI Grobogan. I felt so sad but anyway I will resign too. I hope we still also do some good activities together in the future. 

Edi is a smart student. Despite his campus is not big campus, but he could reached many great achievements there. He has great ideas and idealism. He told me the story when the first time he was initiated the movement. It was hard for him because he should sacrified much times, money and energy to invited the local people to joined his movement. But the best part of him, he is a low profile and open minded person.

Tomas and Peter also great persons. They are so friendly and polite. They always asked me if wanted to did something to ensure that it was polite or impolite. They also fullfilled their promise and accept every local people invitation. They also be patient to did not drunk some beer because they respect with us and the local people (I proud with you, mate). I tried to be their translator in some moments and I thinked they were very patient and kind because my English actually bad. But I was very enjoyed became their translator and their friend during workcamp. 

Thank you guyz. Maybe it was 5 days, but really great experience for me. Im so sorry if any mistakes from me. I hope we can reunited in the other chances (maybe in Czech Republic). See you next time!!!

Tomas wrote our name in Greek alphabet