Zakiah Yayasan Pena is a Rare Pride campaign manager in Aceh, Indonesia. She is creating a giant mascot of the Cempala Kuneng, a local song bird, to raise awareness about deforestation. With 40+ other marketing vehicles to create, she needs all the help she can get. Here is one story of community support.

I talked to few women in Lamseunia village and asked them to make a costume of a Cempala Kuneng bird – the Pride mascot for our campaign in Southwest Aceh, Indonesia. The women shook their heads and said they could not do it because they had never made a costume, nor did they have time to make one. I went back with a very sad feeling.

After a telephone discussion with Rare’s staff, I came back to the village with a slightly different strategy. I meet the same women and talked with them about the health of the forest in the area and what they thought about their future. Then, I explained the purpose of the costume and how it can inspire children to take care of the forest.

Nothing is impossible if you give it a try! The next day I met again with several women– Ibu Ratna, Syukriah, Sulasmi, Kak Eli, Kak Sapiah and other young women in the same village. Again, I explained the purpose of the costume and the excitement created by a mascot visit in schools.  I also explained that I would work together with them in making the costume. They still seem doubtful and unsure.  Ibu Syukriah said “I have never sewn that kind of garment.  That is why I said I could not do it”.  Then I said to her “It will be okay, mam, how about we try to make one and see if we can make the bird costume or not?”   Finally they agreed to try and we set a day to work together.

 
A local woman begins sewing the Cempala Kuneng costume.

On that day, I went to Ibu Syukriah’s temporary housing with clothes and material for the costume. Later on, I learned that people call Ibu Syukriah “Bunda” (mother). I started by explaining the steps in making the costume and we all started making pattern and cutting the materials. The next day, we sewed together all the material and had lunch at Bunda’s house. The process did not long … wow, the costume was ready in 2 days!

I asked Bunda how she felt after the costume was done.  With a proud and happy smile she answered in Acehnese, “Hayee cit nyo ternyata jet ciet tanyo peget, loun ragu karena loun han tom loun cop bajee lagee nyo, ternyata jet ciet.”  (This is great. We finally can make a bird costume. I was doubtful that I can make one. Now, I am happy I can make one.)

What makes me most proud was that we were working in a temporary housing, but we were still able to make the costume. It is not perfect, but it is the best we’ve ever had. Thank you Bunda and friends for giving it a try and working so hard on this costume!

 
Zakiah and the community members who helped her proudly show off thier work.

Note:
This Cempala Kuneng  costume will be used to send messages to all children in Leupung, Kueh, and Lhok Nga about  the importance of forest conservation to ensure water availability.