When we hear the word waves, we definitely think of the sea. But did you know that rivers also have waves? The river has small ripples like waves, but they are not very visible.
As with Bono, the waves downstream of the Kampar River, Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province have waves that reach 5 meters high!
In the past, mentioning Bono’s name to the surrounding community would make goosebumps goosebumps. Bono is associated with ghosts in the form of seven layers of waves. Not surprisingly, the waves in this unusual place do have a pretty terrible appearance, the color is a bit brown because it is mixed with mud.
But now, Bono is becoming one of the powerhouses and of course a tourist destination!
For surfers, the waves at Bono are a challenge in itself. But for the mothers in Mainstay Batik House, Pangkalan Kerinci, Pelalawan Regency, Bono is a source of inspiration for making Batik.
bono batik has bold colors like Javanese coastal batik. Not like the palace batik in Jogja or solo with the classic monochrome brown color
Riau creates contemporary batik with its own motifs like this Bono. The women at this flagship batik house are the initiators. Previously, they did not know anything about batik.
However, starting in 2013, the community development program from APRIL Group who collaborated with the local government began teaching these women batik making as an alternative to working in the garden.
In fact, these women are sent directly to cities that are experts in batik, such as Pekalongan, Solo, and Jogja!
Like Mrs. Ni’mah, one of the batik artisans at the mainstay batik house. Before becoming a batik maker, he used to work as a laborer in one of the gardens. She works to help her husband provide for the family’s economy.
“I used to work with my husband in the oil palm plantation. Help as collectors loose fruit (palm fruit that falls naturally to the ground),” he said.
The first time he learned batik, he really didn’t know anything. Like other mothers. Because Riau did not have a batik culture from the start. He pays attention to his friends every day who make batik, sometimes also helps with coloring. Only three months later did he dare to try.
“The first written batik I made immediately sold for 400 thousand rupiah,” he recalls proudly.
In a day, Ni’mah can finish three batik stamps. If it’s batik, it takes three days to finish one batik. Besides bono batik, he also mastered acacia batik motifs. Acacia is a type of tree that is used as raw material for the paper industry.
Apart from receiving training community development by going directly to Pekalongan, he also received assistance to get raw materials to marketing his batik products from APRIL.
Currently, his monthly income exceeds the minimum wage he received as a gardener. They can even buy a house and send their children to college.
“Hopefully after I can go to the holy land with my family,” he said again.
Although it is difficult to train these women to make batik, APRIL group’s community development program never stops to motivate them so that batik can become the hallmark of Pelelawan district, Riau province.
Apart from Rumah Batik Andalan, APRIL group’s community development is also have a mainstay Honey House program. Damn Honey is now rare for various reasons.
Sialang honey production also continues to decline so there are no permanent buyers. Mainstay Honey House is made to distribute crops at competitive selling prices. After that, Rumah Madu Andalan will process the honey and pack it under the name “Foresbi”. The mainstay honey house will also be in charge of marketing and selling the honey.
On the environmental side, the APRIL group set zero burn policy. No more forest being burned to clear land. All use mechanical methods.
However, not all land owners understand. So in July 2015, APRIL launched Fire Free Village program to provide knowledge to the public about the adverse effects of land fires in the Riau region. This is very important for sustainable agriculture.
APRIL took three stages for fire-prone villages. The first is a Fire Care Community, the second is a Fire Free Village, and the last is a fire-resilient village.
At the Fire Care Community stage, the community is still given concepts and increases awareness of the dangers of fire. And erode myths such as if burned the land will become more fertile.
The second stage is in the Fire Free Village, the community is expected to have adopted a policy of farming practices without burning. At this stage the village will be given an award if it is successful in achieving the target of no fires in one year.
If you pass and survive as a fire-free village For two years, the village will continue to be a fire-free village. Fire Free Villages will no longer have the opportunity to receive awards or prizes. But they are directly involved with APRIL’s more advanced fire management team. Currently there are nine Fire Free Villages that have succeeded.
The company will not be able to operate properly if the surrounding community is not directly involved. Moreover, companies like APRIL absorb a lot of workers. In addition to having a big role in protecting the environment, companies must also be able to develop communities like Ni’mah so that the life of the nation will be better.
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