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Sembalun Bamboo Youth Development Centre
Lombok, Indonesia
image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY-ND_black.png some rights reserved
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Location:
Lombok, Indonesia
Category:
work & business
Phase:
under construction
Updated:
10 August 2021
The goal of this project is to contribute to the capacity building of youths in the rural farming village of Sembalun to develop a local bamboo industry. Sembalun experiences high poverty and unemployment rate among youths whose livelihood depends on farming and tourism activities. 

The Sembalun Bamboo Youth Development Centre project will provide disadvantaged Sembalun youths access to a purposefully designed facility for training in bamboo construction, crafts and furniture production as well as to develop a local youth-run co-operative in producing and selling bamboo-based products.
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Introduction
There are no local bamboo craft and furniture products being produced and sold in Sembalun and disadvantaged youth do not have the adequate skills or facilities to produce and sell bamboo products. The youth community centre in Sembalun was severely damaged in the 2018 earthquakes and since then the economic empowerment programs, in tourism, farm and business development, offered to the more than 50 members through the centre have mostly ceased.
Sembalun village has limited human resource development and a high poverty rate which has increased due to both the 2018 earthquakes that damaged or destroyed up to 65% of the houses in the region and the impact of Covid-19 pandemic during 2020. Pre-pandemic, 50% of the total population in Sembalun was earning below minimum wage based on a recent study by Sekolah Tinggi Parawisata Trisakti in 2017. Covid-19 has further increased unemployment in Sembalun, as across Indonesia, by 24%, and 64% of the population have seen reduced incomes, with poverty rates three times higher in Lombok and other eastern islands than the rest of Indonesia.1
The younger generation in Sembalun rely heavily on tourism for income. The impact on tourism and the resulting loss in income firstly due to the 2018 earthquakes, and now Covid- 19, has further increased the need for capacity-building activities to support alternative income generation for disadvantaged rural youth. This will support the development of a skilled and more productive workforce and aid in the economic recovery of the region whilst tourism slowly increases.
Bamboo forests are an existing local asset in Sembalun, that hold significant ecological and economic benefits for local community members that are currently underutilised for income- generating activities. When properly treated and processed, the value of local bamboo is significantly increased, offering rural communities increased income through the sale of bamboo products and services to domestic and international markets. For local construction bamboo offers an earthquake-safe, strong alternative as building material. The market for bamboo products is fast growing and the lightweight nature of many bamboo crafts and products offers the potential to sell both locally and internationally.
Bamboo also has an incredible potential to aid in environmental conservation through reforestation, improved water regulation, reduced soil erosion and as an effective carbon sink and the development of a bamboo industry in Sembalun will contribute to a unique ecotourism destination when tourism increases.
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Impact
1a. At the beginning of this project there was no community centre available to youth in Sembalun due to earthquake damage in 2018. By the end of 4 months a 150sqm community centre co-designed by Sembalun youth will be accessible for at least 60 local youth. We will assess completion once a Completion of Construction Certificate is obtained.
1b The community centre will be built using local bamboo. By building completion 90% of the main frame, roofing, walls and interior structures will be built using local bamboo. We will track use of local bamboo with site visits and invoices.
1c. By the end of 6 months 50 female and 50 male youth in Sembalun will have been offered registration and access to facilities as community centre members, we will track the number of youth accessing the centre’s facilities through registration and booking sheets.
1d. At the beginning of this project the community centre had 10% regular female participation. To support culturally acceptable female participation, up to 50% of classrooms and workshop spaces will be designated for females only, as needed. We will track female participation via booking lists.
2a. By the end of 6 months 20 youth will be trained in bamboo construction, 20 youth will be trained in bamboo craft making and 20 youth will be trained in bamboo furniture making. We will track participation through training registrations.
3a. By the end of six months the workshop space and equipment needed for cooperative members to produce and sell bamboo products will be installed at the community centre. We will track equipment usage via log books.
3b At the beginning of this project the local bamboo cooperative had started building the community centre and members had trained in bamboo treatment. By the end of twelve months cooperative members will be producing and selling a variety of bamboo craft, furniture and construction projects in Lombok region. We will track the success of the cooperative via financial records of sales and quality assurance checks for products
sdgs
Core team

Sembalun Community Development Centre - the local based youth organisation who are the direct beneficiary of this project. 

http://www.cdc-sembalun.org/

Ceres Global Australia
- Australian NGO who have been working with SCDC since 2014 through volunteering activities centred around environmental education and the main fundraiser of this project.
https://ceres.org.au/global/projects/sembalun-sustainable-rebuild/


etc.lab, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore 
- a design research outfit based in Singapore which led the participatory design workshop, initial design of the centre based on the workshop findings and project management of this project

https://www.np.edu.sg/etclab/Pages/default.aspx

Aurbamboo - A social enterprise established from this project whose mission is to maximise the potential of bamboo in rural communities to achieve economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits.

http://instagram.com/aur.bamboo

Meeting with the youth members to discuss about the construction of the youth centre

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Image gallery
Current stage of the construction

image: Muji | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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South View of the Youth Centre

image: Muji | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Interior View of the youth Centre

image: Muji | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Aerial Shot of the Youth Centre

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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South View of the Youth Centre

image: Muji | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Aerial vIew of the Youth Centre

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Youth learning how to build with bamboo

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Youth visit to bamboo buildings in other parts of lombok

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Youth discussing on their business plan

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Planning the schedule of the construction of the youth centre

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Youths and their business plan for a bamboo social enterprise

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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After the business plan workshop

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Site of the youth centre

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Youths of Sembalun

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Youths of Sembalun

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Youths of Sembalun

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Technical drawings
Ground Floor Plan

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Second Floor Plan

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Second Floor Plan

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Longitudinal Section

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Transverse Section

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Grand steps View

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3D perspective

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Help bring our project to life!

There are no updates yet.

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Where are we now

Right from the beginning, participatory design method was employed in the design of the youth centre. 20 youths from Sembalun were involved in the initial workshop of identifying the needs and aspirations of the youths in Sembalun in Jun 2019. From this first workshop, bamboo was identified as the main natural resource that could provide them a new source of livelihood after farming and tourism. They further identified bamboo construction, furniture and handicrafts making as the area that they wish to develop their skills in. Thereafter the idea of rebuilding their collapsed centre totally out of bamboo was crystalised. Etc.lab from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore designed the youth centre based on the findings from the participatory design workshop conducted. After various rounds of consultations and feedback of the design of the youth centre, the construction of the youth centre began in November 2019. During the construction itself, local youths were trained in bamboo construction which led to the formation of bamboo construction social enterprise led by the youth themselves. This social enterprise is called AurBamboo. Under the guidance of bamboo experts in the region, the youths learned bamboo construction skills and ultimately began the construction of the youth centre with initial funding by funds raised by Ceres Global (an Australian NGO who have been working with the youths in Sembalun since 2014). With funds of up to AUS$18,000, the construction of the Youth Centre is 25% completed with the main structure and roof. Construction was halted due to the pandemic at the start of 2020. 
A basic bamboo treatment facility was also built using the raised fund. However it is still not performing to its optimal capacity. Up till now, construction of the youth centre has yet to continue due to insufficient funding and the youths have to seek other source of livelihood at the moment

 

An indication of our team’s capacity:
30% funding already raised
50% expertise already found
30% materials / equipment already found
80% builders already found
Finance: € 40,000

Recommencement of community centre’s activities:
● Local farmers and producers benefit through recommencement of outreach for organic farming initiatives
● 100+ primary and secondary school students will have access to free English classes
● Local families will benefit through income and cultural exchange from international volunteer program.
● Local guides and porters benefit from the CDC’s renewed activities and programs that safeguard natural resources and landmarks, attract tourists to the area and help local businesses develop ecotourism initiatives.

Community centre infrastructure
● 60 or more youth in Sembalun who gain access to a community centre facilities
Training and education
● 20 youth trained in bamboo treatment and construction
● 20 youth trained in bamboo craft production
● 20 youth trained in bamboo furniture making
Gender equality
● 30 or more young women who gain access to culturally appropriate facilities at community centre
Local income generation
● At least 60 youth have opportunity to sell bamboo products locally and online
● At least 5 youth being paid wages for construction projects

  • Furniture
5,000
  • Tools
5,000
  • Construction materials and labour
30,000
Skills: Financial advice, Planning & Management, Design
Skills required
1) design - to assist in the detail design of the youth centre
2) marketing & PR - to assist in marketing efforts of the youth centre, setup website and social media marketing 
3) social entrepreneurship - to assist in the development and running of the social
Stuff: Materials, Equipment & tools
Construction tools & equipment 
Bamboo Treatment facility
Treated Bamboo at Bamboo Treatment Facility

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Hands
We welcome both local and international volunteers to join the rebuilding efforts. Volunteers will learn more about bamboo as a sustainable building material. Volunteers could also contribute to the community through homestays and tourism activities. Volunteers could also conduct English classes as well as any other skill-based volunteering that could benefit the community.
Local youths with the Youth Centre in the background

image: Raja Mohd Fairuz | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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