Finally I Have My Own Boat
Allaf's only source of income as a fisherman was lost when an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 hit Palu, Sigi and Donggala on September 28, 2018.This disaster ravaged the coast and hit Allaf's only boat that he used daily to go to sea. After living in a temporary shelter for some months, Allaf was finally able to return to his village. Unfortunately at that time, hed did not have any boat to go to sea. He used to switch his job into a casual worker to provide for his family.
“After the earthquake, I lost my source of income. I worked as a casual worker to provide for my family's needs,” he said.
Allaf was not the only fisherman who was affected by the disaster. Hundreds of other farmers in Marana Village, Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi, also lost their jobs. Being a casual worker is certainly not easy for Allaf because he did not get income as much as if he went to sea.
In 2019, Allaf became one of the fishermen who was assisted through the Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) fisherman assistance program which is fully supported by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). Alaff was one of the fishermen in Donggala Regency who received boat assistance. Through the Cash Voucher Program mechanism, Alaff could freely choose a boat builder that the cost of building it transferred to his bank account. In addition, Allaf can purchase fishing equipment at the bazaar using a similar mechanism.
Not only that, Allaf and other fishermen also received capacity building about financial literacy, employment insurance in collaboration with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (Workers Social Security Agency) Palu, and fishermen field schools in collaboration with BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency) Central Sulawesi Province to understand the risks when carrying out fishing activities.
“Thank you for providing the boat and the training for me. Now I can go to sea again,” he said.
The fishermen assistance program was provided for 130 fishermen in Donggala Regency (82 in Lombonga Village and 48 in Marana Village). Meanwhile, boat building assistance was provided to 99 fishermen who were affected by the disaster. This entire process involves the fishermen both individually and in groups to monitor the completion time and quality of the boats.
Written by Rena Tanjung, Communications Officer, Wahana Visi Indonesia
