Hello Hivers!
So, I spent almost a day in the central of the district. The Director needs to make some calls and of course online conference with the Foundation who support us in the project. Why do you need to go out of the village just for the conference? I have no idea, I remember that I need to ask my co-worker to work on my shift as Splinterlands' Costumer Service team at that time due to the poor internet signal 馃槅.
We're working in front of the local government office, where we found a place to sit to enjoy the local famous coffee and it's drizzling. By the way, Bener Meriah also renown with their coffee plantation, Palm Sugar and can be considered as one of the rice production areas because it's warmer than the rest of the highland area. There was a sugarcane plantation built by the Dutch's government, but it was shut down a long time ago. The area still being one of the sugarcane's producers for other districts in Aceh.
We went back to the village after once again visited the traditional market to purchase anything requested by the team who prepare the official ceremony next day. Quite Thrilling on our trip back because it was raining whole afternoon. Fortunately, nothing happened along the way though we need to drive carefully, 1 hour turned to 2 and half an hour. it was dark and too quiet. The driver kept me silent all the time and I took a nap to stop myself from talking unnecessary thing.
Back at the village and having our dinner together as a forum to discuss anything we did today also checking the final preparation for the next day ceremony. I was appointed as the master of ceremony together with the village leader's nephew, a handsome young man, Roma (I forgot to take a picture with him). The team shared some funny moments when they're there before. But I need to talk about the project first before I can relate to their funny but thrilling story.
Katahati Institute supported by The Canadian Fund for Local Initiative (CFLI) have been working for 2 years to empower the local women's group to produce non-timber forest products.
The villagers have a local product which also known as "janeng" in Bahasa Aceh, Gadung aka Ubi Hutan in Bahasa Indonesia and also known as Indian Three-leaved yam. It's poisonous when you eat it fresh; it needs to be processed before you can consume it. Even the water used to wash the yam is poisonous for human. The villagers are used to consume this yam. I have tried the processed one long time ago, because it's not rarely found anywhere in Aceh.
A few weeks ago, when the team completed the first phase of the project, which mean they already produce something made from the yam. So, a small celebration was conducted for the team and the villagers who are involved in the project at night. They made few types of the yam-based foods. A few minutes after consumed the foods, everyone in the team were having a headache and start to act like a drunken 馃ぃ馃槀 and the police was called. None believe that they're drunken by the yam at that time. Living in a desolate place like Kerlang. It won't work if you call an ambulance or any paramedic. A local shaman did his work immediately before the police arrived. He used the shots of the plants to cure the drunken. Funny that none of the villagers got poisoned 馃檭. According to Raihal's story, she still needs to go to the police station and clarify the unexpected incident. The team kept eating the foods after that and they're still kicking.
I will add a link to a video made by Katahati Institute about the project here, it's in Bahasa but already has English Subtitle on it. So, you can watch the process and how this project made me proud to be part of the organization.
Katahati Institute project in Samarkilang
I will be back with the story of the business center launching ceremony next day, Thanks for your support馃槝