YCMM as a partner of the Estungkara program participated in the 2023 Inclusion Day activities. The first activity in the 2023 Inclusion Day activities began with visiting 3 locations determined by the committee, namely Cindakko Hamlet, Bara Hamlet in Bonto Somba Village and Tanate Bulu Hamlet located in the Bonto Manurung Village area, Maros Regency.
I was placed in Bara Hamlet, Bonto Somba Village. The journey begins by driving a pickup truck. The engine started roaring to be able to climb the climbing concrete road accompanied by a fairly heavy load on the back. After a few minutes we were dropped off at the motorbike taxi base, and then continued our journey using a motorbike taxi. At that time I had not imagined what kind of terrain I would traverse to Bara Hamlet.
I got the last part for departure. And I just realized why many motorbike taxi drivers refused me, apparently the heavy passenger load would make things difficult for them. The road climbs and descends, the width of the road forces drivers not to make even the slightest mistake and the rocky road that we took to Bara Hamlet. On the way, the chain broke and the tire burst, which later became part of the story that adorns the stories of the people who use this route.
More than thirty minutes on a motorbike on dry and rocky roads always leaves dust flying along the way. So it is important to always use a mask as a mandatory safety device. However, all these feelings were relieved when we arrived at Bara Hamlet with a sincere smiling welcome from the local community.
After taking a short break we watched the making of sugar from palm trees, starting from the cooking process and ending with putting the palm sugar liquid which had thickened due to being heated at high temperatures into molds made from coconut shells which had been prepared previously. Palm sugar, also known as ant sugar by local people, is one of the local commodities that is bought and sold apart from processing pine sap.
In the evening the activity continued with discussions with traditional stakeholders about the history of the village, traditional institutions. Some of the information we obtained was how the institutional structure existed, their respective roles and authorities. From this information, it is clear that women have a vital role in the traditional structure of the Bara Hamlet community, both in the traditional institutional structure and in decision making in the village.
It was a dark night, fatigue during the journey finally ended the meeting with traditional leaders that night. The internet network which was unable to reach the area forced us to go to bed early on the first day.
The next day after enjoying local cakes, we continued our journey to the kolong school which is located about 1 km from the village. There we met children who were studying. There are about 40 children in the school below. The name is that because they study under the house which is about 2 meters high. That's where children spend time studying from morning to evening.
There are many touching stories of struggle from the process of starting this school, but the children's cheerful laughter is medicine for the teachers who teach there.
The visit to the school was the closing of our activities while in Bara Hamlet, and returning to the center of Bonto Somba Village of course by following the same route.
During this visit, we gained valuable experience from the people there. We felt the totality of the companions visiting the place and interacting with the community, seeing firsthand the children's enthusiasm for learning and the sincerity of the teachers' teaching, and no less important is that the women there are the axis of life, both economic, social and cultural in the Bara Hamlet community as well as being the fence of life. on all aspects of local community life.
