Kurau Coastal & Fisher Village Project

Local partner: The Marine Science Major, Faculty of Fishery and Marine Science, Bangka Belitung University (UBB). It is one specific major and faculty in UBB (Universitas Bangka Belitung) located in Bangka Belitung University Provice, only about 1 hour flight from Jakarta. Central Bangka has many potential eco-touristic destination areas for travelers. Sunbathing in sandy beaches, snorkeling in coral reef spot, hiking to reach the waterfall and hot spring and many other activities. One of the busy part for water transportation and fishing port is Kurau, name of the coastal village area, also famous jetty connecting surrounding small islands. Kurau village has an important role in fisheries product supply, most of their fishes sent to Pangkalpinang city as the main fisheries resources. The main problem in the village is lack of sanitation awareness from the fisherman community. One IVS veteran who is a professor in UBB wishes to bring IVS to enhance change to one coastal & fisher village community service program that is implementing by the Univ right now. The change to bring by IVS volunteers are for the students, lecturers, local kids and just all the local people there by creating collaboration activities between volunteers, students and locals in Kurau coastal area. UBB will send a group of students to carry out the community service program for four weeks in the project site. The students with the guidance of the lecturer will support the local community to solve the environment problem. The international volunteer will live with the students and support to succeed in the program. The university students, international volunteer, and local community will do the sanitation campaign, clean the area, and paint the village into the rainbow village. Furthermore, they are expected to promote Central Bangka eco-touristic destination by creating a tourist guide book, updating the web page, and maintaining the library. Most importantly we hope by this project, the local community will be more wiseful in protecting their own environment for the future generations. Aims: • To build the community awareness to protect and maintain their coastal environment • To encourage university students and children to break their English language barrier and to speak English • To have experience on intercultural understanding • To create interactive - fun–educative learning process for children • To raise spirit of volunteerism on education support