Dream of a Village Kid

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

Ferdinandus Watu

When he was still a child, Ferdinandus Watu, 33, had a dream. The dream of the village boy living at the foot of Mount Kelimutu in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), was to develop his homeland one day.

As he grew up, he chased the dream, crossed continents, then took it home to turn it into reality.

In the past four years, more and more foreign tourists have come to the village of Nando, the nickname of Ferdinandus, in Detusoko village, about 30 kilometers east of Ende, the capital of Ende regency. They joined the tour package on offer, which was to get to know the daily life of the Lio people in the village. Lio is one of two big tribes in Ende, the other being the Ende tribe.

The daily life of the Lio people is not very different from that of other tribes on Flores. The tourists are invited to plant rice, feed livestock, fish in the pond, pick crops, process food on a fire stove and attend village gatherings. Lucky tourists get to take part in the biggest traditional processions, nggua uwi and nggua uta. The two events reflect the self-identity of the Lio people as an agrarian society.

Inviting tourists to enter the daily life of the people has become our tourism concept. This makes the tourists particularly impressed with Flores.

Such social interaction is rare for tourists who grew up in European, American, Australian or Asian mainland cultures. The tour package affords them an experience that goes beyond just enjoying nature. "Inviting tourists to enter the daily life of the people has become our tourism concept. This makes the tourists particularly impressed with Flores," said Nando.

Flores is an island with the most complete range of tourist destinations in Indonesia. There is Lake Kelimutu, the ancient reptile of the Komodo dragon, traditional houses, various languages, traditional woven fabric, beautiful beaches, mountains and spiritual tourism. The destinations are stretched out along the 643-kilometer trans-Flores road from Labuan Bajo in West Manggarai regency to Larantuka in East Flores regency. Detusoko is in the center of Flores.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

Ferdinandus  Watu

The concept of experience-based tourism is not completely new. Nando found it on the other side of the world when he was studying tourism for a year (2014-2015) in Florida, United States. He adopted the concept and applied it in Detusoko and then in nearby villages. At least 1,000 foreign tourists have enjoyed the concept of daily life-based tourism, with more than 4,000 residents having enjoyed the benefits.

Nando is the driving force in his village. Residents are trained to serve guests and given free English courses. Each guest will be put up in a resident\'s house for Rp 150,000 per day. Meanwhile, young high school graduates are sent to Bali for internships at a number of tourist sites. For the past three years, 30 people took part in internships in Bali.

It is not uncommon for high school graduates in the area to be confused about their future. They don\'t have enough information to choose study programs in tertiary institutions. Meanwhile, many others from disadvantaged families are forced to bury their dreams. Many of them migrate to other provinces or become unregistered migrant workers in Malaysia.

Agriculture

Nando realized the potential of agriculture as a strength of the region for specific tourism. Unfortunately, a lot of local potential has been eroded. The rice food program since the New Order era has displaced local food staples. Certain types of beans or rice are no longer found on Lio farmers\' lands.

Nando has encouraged residents to reintroduce local Bangalaka sorghum and local rice plants, and around 50 farm households have begun to cultivate those crops. "More than 90 percent of the materials needed for the traditional Lio events are agricultural produce," he said.

The Lio customary land under Mount Kelimutu is very fertile, to the extent that fruit seeds or cassava stems thrown to the ground will grow without having to be cared for. Unfortunately, most of the harvested commodities is sold without adding value. Nando has helped residents make peanut butter, sorghum flour and Detusoko coffee.

Some time ago, there was a group from Solor Island [East Flores regency] who learned about sorghum here. Sometimes we are invited to provide training in places where they need it.

Now, Detusoko is a learning center for many communities in NTT. People come to do a comparative study at Detusoko. The teachers are locals trained to impart their knowledge.

"Some time ago, there was a group from Solor Island [East Flores regency] who learned about sorghum here. Sometimes we are invited to provide training in places where they need it," he said.

When we met Nando in Maumere, Sikka regency, in August, he was training young entrepreneurs of Flores. An international aid agency had asked Nando to lead the training, as he was considered an inspiration and the driving force in NTT. "He opened our eyes that young people must have dreams. The dream starts at the village," said Remigius Nong, a participant from Maumere.

Nando proved that he could develop the village by optimizing resources of the village. He chose to struggle with problems in the village that could not be resolved in a day or two, commonly accepting scorn and slander. "Don\'t answer with words, but with real action. Time will change. Those who used to look down [on me] now are at the forefront of support," said Nando.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

Ferdinandus Watu

Ferdinandus Watu

Born: Detusoko, 6 April 1986

Education: Ledalero Catholic Philosophy School, Maumere, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Graduated in 2012

Wife: Nurmasida Meng

Child: Quina Dessy Nayara Mbu