Taman Daun Community’s ‘stepping up to the plate’ at the time of most needed

2020 Would be unforgettable year. The world is suddenly shaken by the outbreak of Covid-19. This tiny invisible vicious virus has stunned us “How fragile and helpless human being we are when the nature roars.” In deep silence, we must honestly admit that no technology, intelligent, genius, positions, wealth, medicine, are able to overcome this global pandemic. Whenever the natural disaster occurs, we become powerless, nor rich nor poor can escape; we become equal, we are all suffered. The human’s arrogance and pride are crushed to become humble.

Amidst all the fear and suffer, there is a whisper of inspiration. Whilst our leaders may be slow to respond, Taman Daun Community is rising up. Like of a new dawn, of a new order whispered and heard in the wind rustling through the trees “If the leaders will not lead and take action, we will do it ourselves before it’s too late.” This virus is very contagious and spreading very fast, if we were late, many could be infected and cause many death.

Since the lockdown on 24 March 2020, Taman Daun Volunteer was stepping up to the plate taking positive action to help the community in Lembata, taking a right decision and act in time at the beginning of outbreak play a very significant role. The first step which the most effective and the only way to prevent the spreading of corona virus is by washing hand. At this stage, washing hand becomes very vital. Sounds very simple, isn’t it. But for people in Lembata, the access and facility to have clean water are still very limited. Understanding how crucial that everybody must wash their hand and live healthier, Taman Daun Volunteer immediately assembled 50 buckets to be used as hand-washing buckets and distributed for free to local clinics, hospitals, markets and many public services. Unexpectedly this initial step was very helpful and enthusiastically welcomed by the community. Metaphorically, we depend our lives on ‘a hand-washing bucket’; we want to survive and not to get sick. Hundreds and hundreds of hand-washing buckets were continued to be made, with all efforts so that the virus won’t infected the people and to make Lembata free from Corona. Making more than 1000 hand-washing buckets in just few months, given for free to the community, not to pursuit popularity but an awareness that the corona problem is the responsibility of all of us, we must break the chain of the virus for the safety of all.

The fact is we don’t need to have a complicated and expensive solution.

A cost of a bucket is not more than 5$ (~60k rupiah). With this inexpensive solution, we were able to make a hand-washing bucket and save many lives.

Although there was no help whatsoever from anybody and local government, the people in Lembata were very happy and enthusiastic to have a hand-washing bucket made by Taman Daun. They didn’t mind to walk kilometers from their village to our place, waiting all day just to get their bucket. Sadly, we could not always give them at the same day due our limitation. But for these people who were so desperate, they were willing to return on the next day bringing their own old bucket and asked us to renew it as hand wash bucket. It touched our heart deeply and made us not to give up working day and night. The bucket has wiped away their fear into hope and gave little happiness. Our little things become their lifesaver.

People of Lembata are secluded and forgotten. But they don’t scream like many others would do. They are very resilient and have faith. We come for them because we listen their silent heart. The reality there is actually sadder than what we might think or feel. Every person and family we visit from village to village, each of them has their own story. Mostly they are very poor, old, alone, blind, disabled, neglected. How they’re still survived in that poorly condition, we couldn’t understand.

A long lockdown has affected daily life. The poor is getting hunger. With sensitivity of day to day needs, we realize it’s time to save them from famine. A sack of rice is not that expensive, it’s not more than 250k rupiah (~15$), but for them who don’t have any cents at all, they cannot afford to buy rice – they have to hold their stomachs from hunger. To rescue them from hunger, Taman Daun Volunteer acts immediately to distribute rice aid, one sack rice for one family could feed them for a month. Understanding in this way, we are also helping them to stay home without worrying of what to eat for tomorrow. Hundreds and hundreds sack of rice have been given to the most needed in all villages in Lembata and continue to this day.

Tears of joy and grateful flowed from the eyes of these helpless people who were so desperate for the help that never came. The presence of the rice that suddenly on their doorstep has surprised them and made them cry.

Taman Daun has stepped out to the plate taking positive action at the time of most needed and crucial.

We have proven with our limitations, we are still able to help the community in big scale, covered all corner of our villages in Lembata. Limitation is not an obstacle, as long as the heart is moved, human can use their instinct and intelligent to find solution and act. If you have a power to make someone happy, do it.

Don’t just ideas but put it into action, act quickly without hesitation for the sake of others. This is the way in making different.

We hope our short story will inspire you how to be able to help people in need around you.

We may not safe the whole world, but we can safe one person, one family, or our society.

In this strange and uncertain time, instead of feeling vacuum and worry of our own safety, we can together helping each other. Perhaps we should consider this outbreak as starting point, like a new dawn, a new order to build a fresh and better life.

Taman Daun will continue our humanitarian social actions until this outbreak ends and even further-on especially in taking care our poorest community, to ease their burden from hunger and poverty. Go along with us in making different, for better and noble life. It’s not about the amount of giving that matters, but mostly our caring and friendship beyond borders

Here is the message for you from the people of Lembata: “Dari setiap doa tulus orang-orang susah di desa, dari balik celah-celah dinding bambu reyot, selalu terselip nama mereka yang menolong”.