by M I Rani Adityasari
Marine life has become an integral part of the community, embedded in their traditions, customary practices, and modern life. However, it's not just marine issues that are the focus of the 16 young leaders from the four islands in Wakatobi; they have identified several other important issues to improve their lives.
Known as the largest barrier reef in Indonesia, the Wakatobi Islands are dubbed as a famous diving spot and have captivated the hearts of avid divers around the world. Thousands of tourists visit the islands to experience the underwater beauty, which offers more than 50 spectacular dive sites. Located in the World famous Coral Triangle, the Wakatobi Islands are home to 942 fish species and 750 coral reef species.
Situated in the southeastern part of Sulawesi, with its richness of marine biodiversity, in 2002 the Government of Indonesia established Wakatobi as a National Park. Marine life has become part of the community’s life, embedded in their tradition, customary practices, and modern life.
The majority of Wakatobi’s residents—named after a combination of the four islands: Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko—depend on marine resources for their livelihood. The fishing sector and marine tourism dominate the livelihoods of the community, which also pose challenges for them. The community also identifies issues such as waste management and juvenile delinquency as serious concerns. These challenges were revealed during Photovoices International’s Training of Facilitators (TOF) held in Wangi-wangi, Wakatobi Islands, on May 4-7, 2023.
Sixteen participants attended the training. These sixteen participants are young leaders from the four islands in Wakatobi representing the following community-based organizations: Komanangi, Sikola Bajalan, Lepa Mola, Ceritakan Wakatobi, Tapak Liya, Forkani, Komunto, Poassa Nuhada, Kahianga Membali, Katutura, Pemuda Patua, Foneb, and Ruba (Rumah Baca) Wali Binongko. These organizations work closely with local communities, carrying diverse missions ranging from literacy enhancement and protection and management of natural resources to supporting fisher communities and promoting arts and culture.
Sharing, discussing, presenting. By engaging in sharing, discussing, and presenting, all participants improved their skills and knowledge regarding the issues in their environment (©PVI/Wakatobi/2023).
The participants identified the issues through several phases of critical group discussions, focused on the challenges faced in Wangi-wangi Island. Among the highlighted concerns was the waste problem, particularly the issue in Tee Kontamale. Tee Kontamale is a natural pond in Wangi-wangi Island that is now popular as a tourism spot. However, the area is polluted by a significant amount of plastic waste scattered around the water source, posing a threat to water quality. In addition to being a tourist destination, Tee Kontamale also plays a central role for daily activities of locals including bathing and washing.
Life in Tee Kontamale. The residents of Wanci Village frequently use this spring for washing, bathing, and recreation, as do people from other villages who sometimes come to the pond. The local government has provided waste disposal facilities, but plastic waste is still scattered around (© NYONG TOMIA/PELATIHAN PVI-Wakatobii/2023).
The waste issue also emerged in photos taken by one of the participants at the Central Market of Mandati 3 Village and the Marina Rainbow Market. Piles of garbage are visible in one corner, polluting the surrounding environment. As it is rich in marine biodiversity, waste problem in Wakatobi is indeed a serious problem. The coastal areas on several islands in Wakatobi frequently receive piles of garbage from neighboring regions, and even from other countries, carried by waves.
There were other issues raised during the training, such as inter-island public transportation, hospitality, customary law, coastal erosion, and social issues like alcohol consumption, child, early and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU), and bullying.
An irony. This photo was taken by one of the participants to raise awareness about alcohol consumption among teenagers. The sign in the photo reads "Do not bring alcohol to this school." ©TIA/PELATIHAN PVI-Wakatobi/2023
Hope at sea. The hand reaching out for the fish symbolizes the hope carried by the fisher. Mr. Samran is a fisher from Mola Village (South Wangi-Wangi District, Wakatobi Regency) who has long pursued his career as a fisher, relying on the sea for his livelihood despite unfavorable fish prices. Before reaching the fishing grounds, Mr. Samran spends 1-2 hours searching for bait. After that, he travels 50-70 miles. Sometimes, he and other fishers must spend 4-15 days at sea. They rely on ice blocks as fish coolers, using 30-50 blocks for 4-5 days. Occasionally, they bring as many as 100-500 blocks for a single fishing trip. ©Arman Wandailolo/PELATIHAN PVI-Wakatobi/2023
Extending the approach
The 4-day training inspired the participants, some of whom were also responsible for community empowerment in their organizations, and provided them with new skills and knowledge. Following the training, five alumni of TOF from Forkani (Forum Kahedupa Toudani) conducted a Photovoices training in Kaledupa. Held for 4 days, the training was attended by 8 participants who are representatives of 8 villages in Kaledupa.
Other participants have adapted elements of the Photovoices approach into their work, such as photography techniques, transformative facilitation, interview and probing techniques, and providing feedback.
Achieving a better life is possible through a series of collective actions rooted in critical thinking. One person has the power to inspire others, leading to collaborative efforts in finding solutions that yield long-lasting results. Small steps can make an impact.
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