Two Volunteers from Sekaralas, Ita and Wulan share their experiences

Much of the activities reported here are managed on the ground by Godeliva Sari.

Sari manages SGN, which is a small community development group established to fan grass-roots entrepreneurialism in the village of Sekaralas in East Java, some 60 km away from the region immediately affected by the earthquake.

In 2004, the artist Bramantyo Prijosusilo and his sister, the environmental communicator, Chandra Kirana Prijosusilo established SGN in Sekaralas, their ancestral home.

SGN works to revitalise Sekaralas, protect its environment, and build it’s capacity for self-reliance by generating alternative income streams (traditional crafts and papermaking) working with children to rediscover local knowledge about indigenous plants and their uses, and providing opportunities to connect with a globalised world through Internet and English lessons. (The photo above shows Sekaralas children on an excursion to the local creek to see first hand the importance of clean waterways in maintaining ecosystem health).

Bicak and Ngunut is Sari’s ancestral home. Through Sari, the people of Sekaralas have been able to embrace the people of Bicak and Ngunut in friendship, forging a strong bond that has strengthened both communities.

The name SGN (Subur Gemi Nastiti) comes from Javanese mythology. Legend has it that in the Kingdom of Purwacarita (the beginning of tales) the King, Prabu Mahapunggung (King of the Mighty Back) had three wives (some say one) named Subur, Gemi, and Nastiti, which literally means Fertile, Thrifty and Prudent. The King and his Queen(s) had three children, Dewi Sri, Raden Sadana and Raden Wandu.

Dewi Sri and Raden Sadana taught the people of Java how to cultivate rice and other plants and how to keep them safe from pests. Until relatively recently the rice and fertility deities Dewi Sri and her brother Raden Sadana were venerated in every Javanese home, and given the most sacred part of the house called the petanen or kobongan to reside in.

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Between 9-16 July, two young women from the village of Sekarals, Ita and Wulan, spent their holidays volunteering in Bicak and Ngunut, Klaten Central Java.

Both are in their final year of senior high school (which is the equivalent of year 12 in Australia) - they are 3rd year students at SMA Negeri 1 in Ngrambe, a small town that is just a little up the road from Sekaralas.

Ita and Wulan assisted SGN worker Mia around Bicak and Ngunut doing important research, talking to each household to collect data on what is needed.

They worked hard, entertained the children and put in a helping hand wherever they saw a need.

Here they report on their experiences volunteering during their school break.