Exploring Villages for Education

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

Perdana Romi Saputra and his wife, Rahmiana Rahman).

Asked about their occupation, Perdana Romi Saputra, 36, and his wife Rahmiana Rahman, 35, declare vehemently that they are volunteers. Through Rumah Relawan Remaja (house of youth volunteers), they have joined hands to raise hope across Aceh.

Romi comes from South Aceh regency and Rahmiana, or Rahmi for short, comes from Makassar, South Sulawesi. When they were at university, the two were both actively engaged in student organizations for nature lovers.

They met several times at national events for environmental student organizations. They clicked, got to know each other, and then tied the knot in 2017. After they were married, Rahmi joined her husband in Aceh.

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Today, they live in Lam Lumpu village, Peukan Bada, Aceh Besar regency. Their three-story wooden house is their home, as well as the headquarters of Rumah Relawan Remaja (3R), a youth volunteers’ community.

The ground floor is the community’s office space shared by volunteers, and has a kitchen, toilet and study. The second floor is the library. The third floor is where the couple lives.

When Kompas visited on Thursday (3/3/2022), Romi and Rahmi were arranging books on cabinet shelves. Their son, Adli Salam, 3, was helping them. While putting the books in order, Salam asked his father to read a story. “Living with books is truly a luxury. Perhaps this will be a legacy for Salam,” said Romi.

Romi set up 3R in 2013. Before that, he was an active volunteer at The Frontiers, a nonprofit organization from South Korea. When The Frontiers terminated its program in Aceh, Romi founded 3R. “I want my fellow volunteers to stay organized as a forum for further [programs],” he said.

To date, around 300 youths and students are volunteering with 3R’s many programs.

The name Rumah Relawan Remaja, or “house of youth volunteers”, was chosen in the hope that the community would be a house shared by youths. To date, around 300 youths and students are volunteering with 3R’s many programs.

Since university

Romi and Rahmi share the same philosophy of leading a modest life in harmony with nature and striving to help a lot of people.

When studying at Muhammadiyah University, Aceh, Romi was frequently involved in volunteer activities. For instance, when an earthquake hit Padang in 2009, he signed up as a volunteer with The Frontiers.

While in Padang, Romi helped clear the rubble of damaged buildings, set up emergency schools and taught children at evacuation posts. Romi also helped out often with community activities in the remote villages of Aceh.

Meanwhile, while she was studying at the State University of Makassar, Rahmi managed The Floating School organization. Along with other volunteers, Rahmi taught children in the interior regions of South Sulawesi.

Rahmi was also an active member of Sahabat Indonesia Berbagi, a community that taught marginalized groups in Makassar.

“I like teaching, leading many classes. I was aspiring to focus on social work after getting married. Finally, God gave me a husband who aspires to do the same thing,” said Rahmi.

Today, Romi and Rahmi share the role of managing 3R’s activities. Rahmi is the chair, so she handles the daily programs and more of the administrative tasks, while Romi is more involved in the field.

They have continued with this activity after they were married.

As environmental activists, Romi and Rahmi liked exploring isolated villages. They gained knowledge through interacting with the local environment and people. They have continued with this activity after they were married.

They now climb mountains and sail to remote islands together. They take along their only child on their trips.

Romi said he had discovered many things from their adventures. One of the things he discovered was that children of junior high school age in an isolated village in Aceh Besar could not read.

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

Perdana Romi Saputra (36) dan istrinya Rahmiana Rahman (35) pendiri Rumah Relawan Remaja di Aceh

In 2016, they set up the village library and teacher program they had dreamed of. For one year, 3R sent teachers or volunteers to teach children to read, write and other basic skills.

Village libraries

The pair has opened these “dream village libraries” in several other remote villages like Bah and Serempah (Central Aceh), Lapeng and Klieng Cot Aron (Aceh Besar), Sarah Baru (South Aceh), Balingkarang (Aceh Tamiang), and Meuke Beurabo (Pidie).

Apart from distributing books, 3R also sends a teacher and selected volunteers to the libraries to provide classes in basic reading, reading comprehension, writing, drawing, traditional arts, handcrafts and photography. At the end of the year, the village library hold festivals and peace camps in appreciation of the village children.

Nearly all of the books at the libraries are gathered through donations from many people. Sometimes, they don’t even know who sent the books. “We believe that many people out there want to share,” said Romi.

The 3R libraries are open to the public. Their book collection varies from children’s books to literature and from religion to philosophy. Romi does not limit the number of books people read. This is because they will be stimulated to think and analyze problems by reading many books.

To cover its operational costs, 3R receives funding from The Frontiers. Teachers receive an honorarium but not much, because the program is founded on the spirit of sharing and commitment. “The true nature of volunteers is to do something without expecting material gain, but rather purely to help other people,” Rahmi pointed out.

They repurpose diapers into flowerpots, sew face masks from old rags, cook their own food and grow vegetables at home.

At 3R, they pursue a modest lifestyle and avoid wastefulness. They repurpose diapers into flowerpots, sew face masks from old rags, cook their own food and grow vegetables at home.

Romi and Rahmi take care of their home, child and the 3R community together. There is no division of roles because they manage everything together.

“Our concept of life is walking hand in hand. There isn’t one person in front and the other behind, because we are both volunteers,” added Romi.

Perdana Romi Saputra

Born: Suak Bakong, 4 Feb. 1987

Education:Bachelor’s degree, Muhammadiyah University, Aceh, Banda Aceh

Rahmiana Rahman

Born: Makassar, 20 June 1988

Education: Master’s degree, Makassar State University.

Residence: Lam Lumpu village, Peukan Bada, Aceh Besar regency.

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira)