Erna, a girl from the Talang Mamak Tribe, lives in Datai Hamlet, Batang Gansal, Indragiri Hulu, Riau. His house is located deep in the forest, right in the traditional zone of the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park (TNBT). Even though she is isolated from urban conveniences, Erna has a firm determination to pursue education for a better future.
School is not an easy matter for the children of Talang Mamak, a marginalized indigenous tribe who live in the TNBT area. Distant access and limited resources mean that education is not as smooth as other groups in society. The story of the new school is experienced by the generation born in the late 1990s, but it still hasn't touched all children. Previous generations did not know letters and numbers at all.
Luckily, when Erna was of school age, Datai Hamlet already had a school managed by volunteers with the help of the Natural Resources Conservation Center. As the years passed, the school building which was originally made of bamboo has now become semi-permanent. School managers have changed, from volunteers, contract teachers, remote school teachers, to missionaries who help Talang Mamak children learn about education and eradicate illiteracy.
Difficult access means that remote class teachers rarely visit and teach Datai children. However, Erna's passion for school continues to grow, not just knowing letters and numbers, but education that gives meaning to her people. This is what encouraged this girl to dream of continuing her education, even though it wasn't easy. Learning with all limitations and challenges is part of his life journey.
As told by Erna's father, when he was in grade 6, his child had to take a graduation exam at the main school which was located in the center of the village. The village center is not close to this hamlet. It took two days by raft down the Batang Gangsal River to get to the main school. Sufficient supplies and a strong will were able to deliver Erna a primary school diploma, a requirement to continue her education. Unfortunately, not all children are able to undergo this process. Many are dropped out midway for reasons of costs and teachers who are not regular, causing enthusiasm to fade and eventually dropping out of school.
For Erna, secondary school is her dream. As part of the Talang Mamak tribe who live in the forest area, many researchers and community assistants visited their village. Erna is very interested in how they work and wants to have the same knowledge to help her community. After graduating from elementary school, Erna begged her parents to be allowed to continue her studies at junior high school. Her parents were unmoved because of costs and who would accommodate Erna if she went to school outside. Her father was worried, but Erna always asked to be registered. He was determined to go to school while working, whatever was important was being able to go to school.
After two years of begging, Erna's father finally gave in. With all his might, he collected money for his daughter's enrollment at Keritang Middle School. Erna was then taken to junior high school which was accessed by motorbike for three hours through jungle and oil palm plantations. Erna works part time as a canteen waitress and receives wages scrubbing clothes on weekends. He spent three years well, with good school grades too.
After graduating from junior high school, Erna was confused again. He really wanted to continue his studies, he didn't want to return to his village with just a junior high school diploma. His father was also upset, the costs for high school or vocational school were increasing, and there were no acquaintances who could be entrusted near the school. The decision about secondary school has been put on hold for now. Not long ago, KKI Warsi, which is active in Datai, invited Erna's father, Mr Peheng, to Jambi to take part in Disaster Management Training in Traditional Communities. During the two-day training, Pak Peheng met Pak Wito, an Orang Rimba companion. Pak Wito offers assistance with education costs for Talang Mamak children who want to go to school.
Proudly, Mr Peheng took Erna to Bangko, where Mr Wito worked. Erna also continued her education at SMK 1 Bangko. Three years of school there, Erna still persisted with increasingly strong enthusiasm. He is trying to get to college. September 2021 was a beautiful moment for Erna and other Talang Mamak residents, because Erna officially became a student at STIKES Merangin, majoring in midwifery.
Erna wants to become a midwife to help residents of her village who have difficulty getting health services. Datai Village very rarely has health workers who want to live and serve the community there. Traditional medicine through shamans is still relied on, but sometimes medical assistance is needed, especially during the birthing process. There are a number of cases where the placenta is left in the uterus which ends in the death of the mother giving birth.
Erna hopes to help Datai residents get adequate treatment and health services. So far, Datai residents have had to travel three hours by vehicle to reach the nearest health center. Roads that are muddy and difficult to navigate in the rainy season often cause delays in getting medical help.
Erna hopes to become a health worker living in her village. He believes that indigenous people who understand the conditions, customs, culture and behavior of their residents will be more helpful in dealing with health problems. This is what makes Erna's enthusiasm never go out. She continued to move forward, seeking knowledge for her noble dream of becoming a midwife.
Erna's dream is not only for herself, but also for all residents of the Talang Mamak Tribe. She wants to be a new hope for her village, ensuring that every mother can give birth safely, and every resident has access to proper health services. His struggle is a reflection of extraordinary courage and determination, an inspiration for the young generation of the Talang Mamak Tribe and other marginalized communities.
*This article was written by: Rahmat Hidayat, KKI Warsi
