Taking Care of Others During the Pandemic

KARANG TARUNA DESA NGABLAK

Vegetable donation by the community of Ngablak Village, Ngablak District, Magelang Regency to a village in Ambarawa, Semarang Regency, last May.

Despite changes in people’s lifestyles and behaviors, the Covid-19 pandemic has not undermined compassion and harmony in the village. Empathy and willingness to help each other has even grown during the pandemic.

Seneng Sujarwati, the head of Bugangan hamlet, Trasan village, Bandongan district, Magelang regency, Central Java, was surprised when he was told by the community health center (Puskesmas) that four of his residents had tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday (14/10/2020).

The information was immediately disseminated to all hamlet residents, who were advised to maintain their health and support the patients so they could soon recover. He was worried about the reaction of the residents, who have been terrified by the spread of the virus.

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He was very grateful because the response was very positive. That day, many residents made donations to meet the needs of four Covid-19 patients who had to undergo independent isolation at home. "Apart from money, aid also comprised vegetables, rice and various vitamins," he said.

The concern of the residents, according to Umi Kaningsih (27), a health worker who helped collect and distribute aid, was beyond expectations. Some residents even donated as much as 25 kilograms of rice, while some others offered to cook whatever the patient wanted.

"The patients were really touched. They never thought other residents, their neighbors would pay so much attention to them,” said Umi.

Also read: Solidarity Keeps Thriving

KOMPAS/REGINA RUKMORINI

Two men load vegetables onto a mini truck at the Ngablak Agribusiness Sub-Terminal, Ngablak District, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Friday (19/6/2020).

The same thing occurred in Pucungsari village, Grabag district. As soon as a resident was known to have died of Covid-19, the village administration immediately isolated the eight family members of the patient and a village official who had accompanied the patient to the hospital.

During the 14-day isolation period, their daily needs were provided by residents and the village treasury. Solikin, the head of Pucungsari village, said the village allocated Rp 18,000 per day from the treasury funds for each of the residents who underwent isolation to meet their daily needs.

Barter

We just need to trust each other. For me, the photos they send are more than enough

Ismanto (52), an artist who lives at the foot of Mount Merapi in Sengi village, Dukun district, Magelang regency, had a unique way of helping people. He offered his paintings in exchange for food.

Anyone can get his paintings simply by buying groceries for those in need. Some donors choose to give the money to Ismanto, who later buys the food, while others choose to give their donations directly.

Also read: Donors\' Silent Operations

Ismanto never checks whether the donations are given. The only proof is in the form of photos of the donations. "We just need to trust each other. For me, the photos they send are more than enough,” he said.

KOMPAS/REGINA RUKMORINI

Ismanto (52), wounded at his home in Sengi Village, Shaman District, Magelang Regency, Central Java, last April. In the midst of a pandemic, Ismanto took the initiative to create a food exchange program for food.

The offer to barter his paintings, which he calls the food emergency action, has been conveyed to the public through social media since April. Initially, residents could only exchange for paintings in his studio, over time, Ismanto also provided paintings according to the order of the potential donors.

Ismanto is a senior painting and sculpture artist. His works are worth tens to hundreds of millions of rupiah and purchased by art lovers at home and abroad.

To date, more than 10 paintings have been bartered. He also still has to work on other five paintings ordered by donors. In bartering for the pandemic solidarity, he did not fix the prices of his paintings.

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Bartering is Ismanto\'s subtle way of getting the citizens, especially collectors and art lovers, to help other people. He considered this method far more effective in generating empathy than raising funds through the sales of his paintings.

"This painting will serve as a reminder to the owner that during the difficult times, especially during the Covid-19 outbreak, he had helped ease the burden of other residents who were in financial difficulty," he said.