"I Miss My Madrasah*"
Adi Abdurrahman's story (September 2020) Madrasah teacher in Bandung, Indonesia
It's hard to believe that we have to deal with this situation This was the first thought that came to my mind when the COVID-19 pandemic began to appear in Indonesia in February 2020 Since the beginning of March 2020, the Madrasah, where I teach, restricted our learning activities and applied some health protocols We could only fill 50% of the classroom capacity, all teachers and students must wear masks everywhere, and there was regular body temperature checking Facilities for handwashing were built in some places
However, this did not last long because at the end of March 2020 the local government issued circulars about schooling from home The Madrasah had to follow the regulation, whether we liked it or not At first, it was difficult to accept because the teachers had to adapt to new learning tools such as Google Classroom For teachers, it was a challenge but we learnt quickly. It was different for the parents who had different abilities and facilities Some parents had problems accessing the internet, others had cell phones that were not compatible with Google Classroom, and some didn't even have cell phones
We used WhatsApp as an alternative learning platform And for students who didn't have cellphones we instructed them on assignments to be done at home We haven't been able to study at the Madrasah for almost a year Most parents also complain about online learning, especially those who are busy with their work We, the educators who were initially enthusiastic about teaching, gradually felt bored too Hopefully, this pandemic will end soon, so we can all return to the Madrasah to study as before
*A Madrasah is an Islamic boarding school
SPEAR team
Community Challenges
SPEAR Indonesia Team's Story (January 2021) Researchers in Sumba, Indonesia
Traveling out of town or abroad is not something that is recommended during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for vacation purposes However, some trips are unavoidable, such as those for work purposes
In January 2021, almost a year after the [SARS-CoV-2] virus emerged, we had to travel from Jakarta to Sumba for a research project which had to be done in person and could not be done online
This trip was our first out-of-town mission since the beginning of the pandemic But even for one of us, who had traveled several times during the pandemic, there is still anxiety and the fear of being exposed to COVID-19 It is not only us who have this fearful feeling, but also our closest relatives such as parents, who were calling us more than usual
Aside from the fear of being exposed to COVID-19, we were also afraid of bringing the virus from big cities to remote parts of Sumba This fear meant that we brought things that we don't normally carry on our work trips, such as equipment to meet the health protocols These included cloth-made masks, medical masks, disinfectants and hand sanitizers We also used face shields, especially when travelling at airports and on crowded aeroplanes.
Once we arrived in Sumba and went to the field, we continued to follow the same health protocols as on the journey Sticking to these health protocols certainly makes our luggage heavier and creates trouble In the past, we only needed to carry a small bag to the field But in the current situation, we have to carry a large backpack with the additional equipment for health protocol requirements We believe these need to be considered for the sake of safety, otherwise, you are risk your own life
Community Challenges
"Online Lectures in the Village"
Ray's story (January 2021)
Student in Sumba, Indonesia
Even though I'm in Sumba, I attend lecture activities. We study online. I started this online course in Jogjakarta but [now I am] in Sumba it is much more challenging The biggest challenge I feel is the internet signal I live in an area that has a bad internet connection Not all places in my area have a good signal Even in my house, some points have different signal access
The terrace of my house has better signal access than my room On the terrace, I can get two or three signal bars compared to rooms that have only one signal bar or none.
Since April 2020, I have been studying online at my home in Homba Karipit in Kodi, Southwest Sumba district Usually, we use Zoom Online lectures are held Monday to Friday from morning to evening, depending on the course In addition to online lectures, I also have to do assignments and send them to the lecturer Usually, the task is in the form of handwriting which is then photographed and sent via email. But because of the signal and data packets, sometimes I miss some tasks. It is not only assignments that I miss, I never even took the final semester exam
Community Challenges
Joviend Mano's story (Apil 2021) Nurse in Sumba, Indonesia
Handwashing is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to prevent disease transmission But unfortunately not everyone understands the importance of washing hands properly and correctly Children in schools have been taught about this long before the pandemic occurred, but because it is not practiced at home, they tend to only wash their hands with water And this practice is considered to be clean The community around the village where I work also does not have a good understanding of the benefits of washing hands The counseling that has been carried out has not yet reached all houses
On the other hand, the availability of clean water is still a challenge for villagers. To get clean water, people have to buy water for Rupia 150,000 [US$10] per tank, which contains 5,000 litres. This is one of the reasons why the practice of handwashing is not carried out optimally in homes Moreover, when the dry season comes and the water supply decreases, people tend not to take a bath every day, and the water purchased is only used for drinking and cooking This context means that every time the dry season comes our clinic is flooded with patients with complaints of skin diseases and diarrhea
Community Challenges
Joviend Boli's story (February 2021)
In Bulir Village, one house can be occupied by more than 3 families Given this situation, and with houses located close to one another, it is hard for the communities to maintain physical and social distances Each family has relatives who stay outside Sumba, such as in Bali, Java, and other islands I am worried that these relatives will transmit COVID-19 when they return to the village
One day in January 2021, there was someone who stayed in Bali and returned home to Bulir Village Although he did not live in this village during his vacation, he often visited the village and talked with the people here What if he is exposed to COVID-19 and is asymptomatic?
In addition, the communities in this village are often going to the city to buy basic needs. When they go to the city, they rarely wear masks properly I am worried about them being infected in the city and bringing the virus to the village
Nurse in Sumba, Indonesia
Community Challenges
Grief in the Family: Church's inability to provide requiem mass
Paul's story (January 2021)
Elementary School Teacher in Sumba, Indonesia
Throughout 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world At that time, I also experienced consecutive family grief, namely the father of my sister-in-law passed away. At that time, the church did not have a service for the blessing of the dead body. There was a recommendation from the government to abolish it because it would bring a crowd of people. The bishop of the Weetabula Diocese also issued a warrant that the church is closed and would only have online mass.
A few days later, during the hamburung tobo [“to give a plate to a relative who has just died” in Kodi language], our family was shocked by the news that my sister's son had suddenly become ill in the afternoon His mother took him to the Kori Health Centre but, because of a lack of oxygen and medical equipment, the child was finally taken that night to the Waikabubak General Hospital Five minutes after arriving at the hospital my sister's son died The same thing happened to my partner’s mother, who also died This incident occurred at the same times as the increasing number of cases during the pandemic in Indonesia
So, according to the advice of the government and the church, there will be no mass services and large crowds of people It is permissible to worship, but the number of people is limited in scale while still adhering to health protocols, which are to always wear masks, wash hands, and to keep a distance. At that time, the number of families invited to the mass was limited and only a few nuclear families were invited. Likewise, those who could participated in the burial service was limited in number
Community Challenges
"Stress during the pandemic brings me closer to God"
Paul's story (January 2021)
Elementary School Teacher in Sumba, Indonesia
For approximately seven years, I taught at a national high school [as an honorary teacher] in North Kodi Day after day, I taught diligently and faithfully, even though I had many problems At that time, I was still optimistic that even though there were many problems I was sure that God would help.
In May 2020, my contract decree was issued [from the Ministry of Education] and I was placed at the same school Unfortunately, a few weeks later, the placement was revised The previous teachers who were already registered in that school were not allowed to leave, therefore there was no placement for the newly hired ones like me After the revised decree was issued, [I] was placed in an elementary school quite far from my home.
However, I was still grateful to God [that I had a job still] At that time, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had hit the world I felt depressed because of the virus and the process of learning activities being carried out remotely using the internet As a teacher, I experienced difficulties because I could not teach optimally, especially since the school where I taught did not have a network or electricity, and teaching materials are not conveyed properly to students.
Even so, I am still grateful to God, and always approach and pray for the students so that they are still enthusiastic about learning.
Community Challenges
George's story (December 2020)
Freelance photographer in Jakarta, Indonesia
As a freelance photographer, the COVID-19 pandemic has had quite an impact on my work At the beginning of the pandemic two events at which my services were required were cancelled: one wedding and one reunion event Of course, I can't impose a penalty, because the cancellation was not the client's choice, but because the situation didn't allow it
Fortunately, it was only the wedding reception that was cancelled, and the wedding blessing ceremony was still conducted in July 2020 The ceremony was shorter than usual and attended only by the family, the priest, the civil registration officer and the musical accompaniment All invitees had to follow the health protocols. There was a temperature check before entering the venue, and everyone has to wear a mask, especially those who were not family members But at least my income was not zero in that month, and there was a little income from this work photographing the wedding blessing Although it was not as much as the initial agreement for photographing both the blessing ceremony and the wedding reception.
In addition, I did not get a single photo assignment from February to September 2020 Usually in one month I would get at least one photo job So, at that time I was quite challenged financially.
Community Challenges
"Late Payment"
Iin's story (January 2021)
Physics teacher in Sumba, Indonesia
During this pandemic, I am also facing financial challenges, especially in terms of personal income. This is because the payment of honorarium for me, as a teacher, was frozen during the pandemic. As students were required to learn from home, and neither students nor their parents came to school, the process of paying tuition fees became difficult. Payment of school fees online or by transfer was also not an option, because in the Kodi area, Southwest Sumba, there is only one ATM, and that is at the Bank NTT, and not everyone has an account at that bank So payment of tuition fees must be done directly with the school However, due to studying from home, the payment of teacher salaries, which is also part of the student's school fees, has been held back
When my salary was frozen, I chose to ask my relatives for help in Weetebula, a city in Sumba From Kodi to Weetebula, I usually take the bus to my relative's house Although it cost me money to get there by bus, when I got there I could ask for financial assistance to survive temporarily, until the payment of salaries or honorariums begins again
Community Challenges
Iin's story (January 2021)
Physics Teacher in Sumba, Indonesia
I am originally from Flores and came to Kodi in Sumba in 2018. During my time in Sumba, I have never had a vacation or returned to Flores The plan was to return to Flores in the June 2020 school holiday, but it didn't happen because of this pandemic, and because there was also a lockdown in Ende, Flores So, I can only make regular phone calls or video calls with my family.
In Sumba, I live in a dormitory My friends in the dormitory also could not return to their respective places of origin In the dormitory, all of my friends are from Flores but from different districts At that time, the vacation period was about one month, so living in a dorm in Kodi, Sumba was boring for a month. Because I couldn't go out of town, and was afraid of the pandemic, I chose to vacation at my family's house in Weetebula, still in Sumba, but in an urban area
At the family home, there is an older female relative who works at the puskesmas [community health centre] So, she always pays attention to us, reminding us to drink a lot of water when waking up in the morning, to take vitamins, gargle salt water And we are forbidden to drink cold water She also looks for guava and eats guava leaves which are said to provide protection against the coronavirus*
Even though she works as a nurse at the puskesmas and is in direct contact with patients, I am not afraid of contracting the coronavirus. This is because of her habit on coming home from the community health centre and before entering the house, of always taking a clean shower and soaking her clothes in salt or alcohol She always sat for a few hours outside the house before entering the house
*There is there is no evidence for guava protecting against COVID-19
Community Challenges
Chika's story (December 2020)
Musician - Jakarta, Indonesia
I completed my undergraduate degree in 2018 at a musical school abroad, and returned to Indonesia in 2019 So, I was considered a 'newbie' in the music industry in Indonesia Although I am relatively new, I am very lucky because apart from having enough savings, I can also still work and apply the things I learned from school Before the pandemic, as a musician, I usually held private courses at a music school. I also held a big band practice (a jazz-band format with various instruments and rhythm sections including guitar, bass, piano and drums) and a workshop with a band that I founded with some friends In this way, I had a stable income every month, and other work that is project-based or related to my passions, which could be arranged according to the my schedule.
In addition, I am also a gigging musician I gain an income from stage performances at events playing together with a group of singers depending on when we are requested to play, as well as accompanying some famous musicians (who have been my idols since childhood) This job is a bit uncertain and depends on the requests, but fortunately, before the pandemic, those calls are always there The activities were also sometimes arranged with rehearsals a few days before the day of performance. Since a musician is working on a project basis the set schedule is not an issue because everyone is flexible with their time
After quite some time performing with my idols on the stage, suddenly the pandemic occurred Some of the job appointments had to be postponed indefinitely and I realised that it was a serious matter as I lost the job instantly I was quite disappointed with the situation because, I was on the journey to the top of my career, but then suddenly I lost my job. I felt sad and confused. Now, how do I make money?
Community Challenges
Zarni Amri's story (December 2020)
Retired Lecturer in Jakarta, Indonesia
Another challenge I faced during the pandemic was when I received grief news and I had to be able to sort out which events I should attend and which I shouldn't. On 27 September 2020 my only sister suddenly had a seizure after she had finished praying Maghrib* She passed away That night our family went to her house all the time respecting the health protocols The funeral procession, the three-day and the forty-day ceremonies were all carried out with very strict health protocols.
One month later, another sad news came from my cousin I decided not to visit him because previously I had a video call with him when he was in the hospital ICU, and I saw there was his brother and children taking care of him. Besides, his house is very far away Even though it's sad that I can't send him to his final resting place, I prefer to avoid it, if I can't keep my distance from people or there is a crowd Even though I was not physically there, my prayers have always been there for my relatives to be in the best place on God's side. So far, we have only attended two mourning events, the first was when my husband had to give a speech at the funeral of his former teacher, and the other one was our childhood friend who lived near our neighbourhood
*The sunset prayer for Muslims.
Community Challenges
Since the news of COVID-19 emerged, people's activities in the market are limited. This also affects the economic activities of residents such as farmers and weavers Their products are hard to sell
At such a time, there was other news circulating in Kodi about the treatment of COVID-19* At that time there was a man who claimed to be able to cure COVID-19 with the potion he made The ingredients are a mixture of one 1 5-litre bottle of drinking water, Winston candy, seven onions, seven cloves of garlic and salt. The man prays, or casts a spell over the mixture. The patient must then drink half a glass every day
News about this potion began to circulate and many people believed this potion and began to come to him People came from all over the place and not just from the Kodi region They came to get these potions and to be given [healing] words or spells My family was also interested in going there. They had invited me to go there, but I refused. A total of five people in my family decided to go there for treatment But instead, they had stomach aches, vomiting and diarrhoea This made me angry with them But they answered my anger with: "It's good that you work in a clinic so it's easy to get medicine For us it is difficult " I explained to them that if they were sick and needed medicine, anyone could come to the clinic to get medicine They then realised and did not go there again
*There is no evidence for this home-made 'treatment' for COVID-19 working, and as stated it had potential harmful side effects.
Yohana's story (February 2021) Clinic staff in Sumba, IndonesiaCommunity Challenges
"My Vulnerable Family"
M's story (February 2021) Researcher in Jakarta, Indonesia
As China began to close its doors and other countries continued to follow, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic The news stated that some people were at a higher risk for severe illness from the virus, especially adults over fifty years old, children, and people with chronic diseases. Imagine how vulnerable it is to live under one roof with two elderly parents, a husband who has a brain tumor, and three children who are still very young My parents forced me not to leave the house, so all my needs were fulfilled by shopping online from home Necessities could also be ordered online. One problem solved. Schools are closed so children are learning from home Ah, one more problem solved But, what about a husband who has to visit a hospital and get medical treatment once a month? The increasing number of COVID-19 patients and low levels of awareness make us feel anxious every time we go to the hospital. Will we bring the virus back home and infect our loved ones?
Community Challenges
"Unexpected Farewell"
When there is a meeting, a parting shall follow, and so this occurs in pesantren or school All the times we shared from the first day until the last day of school will become memorable for us Ideally, we would share the farewell moment with asatidz [teachers], parents, friends, and even juniors, while capturing these moments on mobile phone cameras However, it cannot happen to all santri [students] from the batch of 2019/2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the farewell event to be carried out in a way that could be considered 'unusual' No graduation ceremony and no presence of community leaders, parents or even juniors This action needs to be taken to maintain the health protocols as outlined and regulated by the Al-Hidayah Tajur Foundation.
There are limitations to everything, including time management, the number of performers In addition all the graduates were divided into several groups Even the final messages from the santri representative were also omitted After the event, there were no farewells, parties or group photographs. All the santri were immediately instructed to leave the school and stay at home The farewell that should have been a touching moment felt very painful It was such an unexpected farewell
Adi Abdurrahman's Story (November 2020) Madrasah teacher in Bandung, Indonesia