KAIL Training Team brings Systems Thinking Workshop at BCCF

On October 1, 2016 KAIL cooperating with Simpul Space BCCF organized Systems Thinking Workshop at their place, located in South Cibeunying No. 5, Bandung and runs from 8.30 am to 17.30 pm. The theme in the workshop was education. The workshop was attended by 22 participants representing various communities, schools and individuals.

The team was Deta Ratna Kristanti Iswari (Deta), Kukuh Samudra (Kukuh) dan Debby Josephine (Debby), trainers Systems Thinking of KAIL. In addition to the three of them, the workshop was also supported by student volunteers, namely Habib, Farhan and Hana from ITB. Habib and Farhan acted as group mentors and Hana did the meeting minutes.

In this workshop, the participants were introduced to the basic concepts of Systems Thinking and practiced it as a strategic planning tool. To ensure that participants understand the material and be able to practice Systems Thinking, they were divided into four groups, each of which was accompanied by a mentor. Each group chose a theme that will be appointed as a case to be discussed together. The themes raised by each group were: family education, ideal teacher, mindset and character of child, as well as individual learning.

The methods used in this workshop were very diverse. A serious conceptual framework lecture, interspersed with fun games that make abstract concepts easier to understand, and is followed by practice of direct application of the concepts in the context chosen by each group. Participants were very enthusiastic throughout the workshop process. By the time the session ended, they went home with happy face.

Duck Egg Harvest of KAIL Garden

In KAIL garden there are twenty-six ducks, six males and twenty females. The ducks are kept in a special place by a bamboo fence. In it there is a pool for the ducks to drink and swim. There is also a sort of raised bed under the sapodilla tree to place the ducks shelter when it is hot or raining.

Ujang, who lives in our neighboring house, takes care of the ducks. He is in charge of feeding the ducks twice a day. The food is varied, ranging from rice bran, corn, leftover of rice and vegetables as well as snails. Sometimes KAIL staffs also stop by to feed the ducks with leftover food brought from home.

Initially, ducks rarely spawn. Usually they do not lay eggs while molt. Once observed, nesting frequency likely influenced by the number, the type of feed and the quality of the happiness of the ducks. The last two months, they have started diligently laying eggs. Perhaps this is due to the snails that Ujang captured from rice fields.

Now we can begin to enjoy duck eggs. Our staffs can buy duck eggs with the price of Rp. 2.500, - per item. When there are remaining eggs, outsiders can buy them. So far, the eggs are still consumed by KAIL staffs, either to take home to stock the protein, or fried or boiled for lunch at staff meetings and other activities KAIL.

Duck eggs taste delicious. The egg can be boiled, can also be fried. It could also be marinated first. The yolk is round and large. It is very savory and delicious. Eggs can also be used as a mixed for baking cake or other food preparations. Hopefully with more diligent ducks lay eggs, more people can enjoy the savory duck egg. Thanks, ducks!

Kenikir in KAIL Garden

Have you ever eaten urap? Urap is a salad dish of steamed vegetables mixed with seasoned and spiced grated coconut for dressing. Well, one of the best vegetables for delicious urap is kenikir leaves. Kenikir, known as Cosmos caudatus, is a tropical plant originally from Latin America, grows wild and easily found in Indonesia too. The leaf for urap is not just any kenikir leaf. It is the one with tiny flowers with a crown of pink on the outside and white in the middle, and its stigmas are amber.

In addition to the salad, kenikirs also have other functions. These plants are also often planted as an insect repellent because the smell is particular. The types of kenikir that are commonly found are the one with yellow and orange flowers. The leaves of these kenikir are not to be eaten.

How to plant kenikir is very easy. The old flowers will produce seeds. Dry seeds will fall on the ground and grow into new kenikir trees. In KAIL gardens, there are many new kenikir-growing from seeds that fall from the first kenikir tree.

Ginger harvest in Gardens KAIL

About 15 months ago, Deta, Dhila and Mrs. Ela made beds in front of the kitchen Home KAIL. Bed was created as a means to practice practice makes permaculture-style gardens. Bed in front of the kitchen it aims to provide the necessary spices for cooking. Most are planted rhizome-rimpangan variety such as ginger, turmeric, kencur and buffoonery.
When viewed from above, the bed is shaped like a keyhole. Parts such as keyhole used as a place to plant, maintain and harvest; while parts such as keyhole part of the house used to create a worm. Whenever there is activity KAIL, we incorporate many leftovers home to worms. Included in the category of food waste is a farrago of grain. Grew among others the seeds of citrus trees, jackfruit, mangosteen, avocado, bark and cayenne pepper. Most of the seedlings are moved elsewhere, while the rest are still in the bed.

Nothing feels more year has passed. Seasons change, drought dries the entire bed followed by a rainy season that grow leaves rhizome-rimpangan verdant meet bed. Then, at this time, drought comes again. The leaves to dry rhizome. Bulbs popping. Well, turns out tiny little bulbs germinate once planted, now grown up. Ready for harvest. Fun! The plan, ginger ginger will be made to complete the course in one of the activities KAIL come.

Chicken

There are three chickens roam freely in KAIL garden. They belong to a neighbor. They like to visit the gardens since last Eid. The chickens are beautiful, glad to see them. However, a problem arises. When they visit the garden, they often search for food among the plants in the garden. So, many plants are damaged. One bed of corn and peanut depleted ruined. Not to mention the grass in the backyard. And, the ginseng plant leaves are exhausted. Sniff! Hopefully soon we find a best solution together to solve this problem with the chickens.

Mulberry in KAIL Garden

Several months ago, Fitri from the Joint Study Group presented a white mulberry tree to House KAIL. The tree was planted in front of the bed along with paper flowers, kale, marigolds and other crops. One tree is then grown, flowering, fruiting and multiply into many. The flowers are tiny and white. The young fruit is green and becomes red when ripen. It tastes sweet and sour. Slurp! According to Ms. Fitri, mulberry fruits are best for jam. Hmmm ... we still have to wait though. Because, the fruits in KAIL garden are still too few if you want to make jam. Hopefully we’ll get more and more fruits. Thank you, Fitri.

Mulberry

Yellow Cambodia (Plumeria) in KAIL Garden

Years ago, a friend from Jatihandap, Esti Wijayanti, gave a Plumeria cuttings for KAIL garden. Plumeria, also known as Frangipani, is native to Indonesia and is called as yellow cambodia by the locals. The cuttings are then planted in the front beds of House Kail at the beginning of the last rainy season. The cuttings are then grown leaves. At first was two, then four, and now widely. Well, this month the cuttings start flowering. First flowers bloom on the date of August 3, 2016. The next day, the second flower follows. They are very beautiful. More and more flowers are in bloom. Really beautiful! Thank you, soil and water. Thank you for helping to grow this beautiful yellow frangipani. And, thank you, Esti.

Paper Flowers in KAIL Garden

Last year, when sending my son to participate in the Batik for Peace, I took a walk around the location of the event. On the roadside, grow colorful paper flowers. Very beautiful! The flowers that are drying are filled with seeds that can be planted again.

I took them with me and scattered the seeds in KAIL garden. Initially, they were on the back beds. But, as the beds are lack of sunlight, the shoots of paper flowers trees do not grow up, alias dwarf-dwarf. Finally, some of the shoots were transferred to the front bed with more sunlight.

Then, some trees grow well. Now they begin to bloom. Some flowers are white and some red. Some crowns are formed in a row, some are stacking piles. They color the front beds very nicely. Soon, the flowers will dry up. The seeds would be planted again and would produce more flowers in KAIL garden.

Coffee Harvest of KAIL Garden

by : Any Sulistyowati

In KAIL garden there are several coffee trees. Two of them started to bear fruits and the fruits began to mature. On July 9, 2016, we harvested them. Very well, we’ve got one plate of beans. The beans will be dried, roasted, grounded and then brewed into coffee drinks.

The trees were planted three years ago, when KAIL House was. Seedlings were donated by Pak Nas, the carpenter who built the house KAIL. There were approximately fifty trees. Unfortunately, the tree growth is not uniform. Some grow rapidly because they were in the heat of sun; others grow very slowly because they were under the shade of trees and bushes on the sidelines. The trees grow without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. So you could say that the coffee in KAIL garden is organic coffee.

Before fruiting, the tree produces flowers first. The flowers are white, organized in clumps and highly scented. It is so beautiful, like strands of jasmine into ornaments bride. These flowers are then pollinated by butterflies and produces fruits. Young coffee fruit is green. Over time the color changes to red, purple and then black. That's when the coffee fruit is ready to be harvested. Hmmm ... cannot wait to brew coffee crop of KAIL House.

Translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

Systems Thinking Training for Students

By: Any Sulistyowati

On 16-18 June 2016, KAIL held a training of Systems Thinking Techniques for some students of Bandung. The training was attended by 19 students from various student organizations in the city. For three days they were guided by a team of trainers and facilitators of KAIL.

The training materials they got were as follows. On the first day they got Systems Thinking Base. On the second day they took the field data and implement the measures that they earned on the first day. On the third day they learnt about mental models and how mental models influenced mapping and analysis system.

In addition to the materials Systems Thinking Techniques, participants were also invited to get to know each other more deeply through the River of Life shared activities, in particular for their own concern. It is hoped that through this activity the awaken friendship will continue as they make changes in the future.

For more information about this event or when interested in getting the training services of the Systems Thinking Techniques from KAIL, please contact kail.infomasi@gmail.com.

translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

Students Bandung Gardening at KAIL House

By: Any Sulistyowati

Thursday afternoon before iftar, June 16, 2016, several dozen students filled holiday in KAIL House. They volunteered gardening at Home KAIL. In this gardening activity, their role was to prepare a bed named "bed student". Unlike the daily activities on campus were using paper and pen, in this day they worked with hoes and sickles. Joy showed in their faces when plowing and hauling the soil, filling the beds with fertile soil, forage and manure.

 KAIL’s garden is designed using the principles of permaculture. Following these principles, the garden is divided into several zones, ranging from zone 0 and 1 which is closest to the house up to zone 5 at the riverside of the most distant from the house. Zone 0 and 1 contain plants that are commonly used, such as vegetables, spices and flowers, while zone 5 contains hardwood and bamboo plants that serve to greening, firewood and barriers to erosion. Among these zones, there are zones 2, 3 and 4, which contains fruit trees, fish pond and ducks.

Before gardening, the volunteers got an explanation of the principles of permaculture. In addition to learning about the zoning, they learnt about healthy agriculture, maintaining the balance of nature and promote local biodiversity. Included in it were free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. They also learnt about the stages of preparation of the land to be conducted in their bed.

They worked vigorously while joking. According to the plan, this bed would be planted after the Eid. Hopefully by then forages and manure would have decomposed into fertile soil. Happy were their faces when they finally finished bed before sunset. Activities ended with group photo. Thanks for the students.

translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

Salted Eggs Feast in KAIL House

By: Any Sulistyowati

Salted Eggs

On Sunday, June 12, 2016 afternoon, KAIL House was filled with sixteen children. Most of them were from Kampung Cigarugak, the village where KAIL House is located. They came to attend Children's Day Learning (Hari Belajar Anak, HBA). HBA activities held regularly every month in KAIL House, the children learn all sorts of interesting and useful things for their lives. This month HBA was a feast of salted eggs. The eggs were made by the children themselves in HBA event last May. After three weeks stored, the salted eggs were ready. Due to coincide with Ramadan, the feast was held as Iftar.

In this activity, children cooked their own salted eggs. They can choose to fry or to boil the salted eggs. The small children were helped by volunteers of KAIL. They cooked alternately in an orderly manner.

Salted eggs are most delicious eaten with rice. For this Iftar, kids can select one or more options of rice, which is the usual is white rice, green beans rice, red rice and corn rice. There were also stir-fried vegetables cooked by Kak Fine, a volunteer of KAIL. Hmmm ... delicious!

The children cooked their salted eggs

Iftar would certainly be more complete with iced fruit cocktail dessert. In this activity, children prepared together their fruit cocktail. Some cut papaya, melon and watermelon and other scraped coconuts. Then, ice was added. Thus, the iced fruit cocktail is fresh and healthy. In order for the whole process of making the cocktail and of cooking salted eggs running smoothly and orderly, the children were divided into four groups. Each group sat around a table and get specific tasks, such as cutting papaya, cut melon, coconut curry etc.

Preparing fruit cocktail for Iftar

Before the cooking, kids could play giant board game together on the lawn. It was a very exciting game. In this game, they were divided into two groups. Each group determined their representation to become the pawns, the ones to jump on the checkered board game. In addition to playing board games, they also listened to Kak Debby telling the story of Bandung from-time-to-time. HBA cannot be possible without the support of KAIL staff and volunteers. Thanks for Kak Fine and Kak Kukuh who were willing to volunteer HBA this time. Also thanks to Kak Debby and Kak Deta who are faithful to accompany the children in each event of HBA. Also Mrs. Melly, coordinator of KAIL House who took time to attend this HBA.

Board game

Hopefully by time HBA events get more and more popular among children and bring benefits to their lives.

Translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

Let’s Systems Thinking!

By: Umiazh

Triangle Idol Games

KAIL held a training of Systems Thinking Techniques (STT) on Saturday, June 4, 2016 in KAIL House. The event started at nine in the morning and lasted for approximately nine hours. Participants of this training came from a variety of backgrounds, including psychology UNIBI, ASF-ID, Energi Persada, Sadagori and Literature Rim ITB. Participants follow a series of STT materials hosted alternately by the facilitators of KAIL.

In the training, participants created groups based on the same background. Furthermore, in a group, participants were taught by each mentor to describe the vision and mission for the next five years based on their organization. Participants assisted with the tools used in ST, such as indicators, Behavior Over Time (BOT), Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) and leverage points.

Materials included logic of cause and effect, indicators that can intervene and composing strategy plan. Participants also did a simulation game that was of course related to the material

Causal Loop Diagram

being studied. One interesting simulation game was a game idol. This game was about simulating interplay indicators and existing loop, anyone who could intervene were to give effect into the loop.

It was expected that after the training participants can apply Systems Thinking Techniques not only in their organizations, but also to apply it in all aspects of life.

The participants and the facilitators

translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

IBEKA Training on Systems Thinking

By: Pute

Training on Systems Thinking

On May 24-25, 2016, KAIL was invited by IBEKA to train Systems Thinking Techniques (STT). The training was conducted in Panaruban, filling the day 28th and 29th of IBEKA Camp and was attended by 85 participants. For two days, participants followed a series of materials of STT provided by KAIL. The materials were delivered alternately by the staff of KAIL. Behavior Over Time (BOT) by Melly Amalia.

Participants created groups, each contained 14-15 people. In the group, participants were invited to describe a vision based on case studies and were introduced to the tools of systems thinking such as indicators, Behavior Over Time (BOT), Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) and leverage points. Participants were also given the material on the logic of cause and effect. The training was not only through presentations by speakers and group discussions, but also through games such as a triangle idol and a living loop.

All participants were very enthusiastic. Many questions have arisen from the minds of the participants. During the training, many discussions echoed in all corners of the hall of the mosque where the training was held. Two days was fairly not enough to explore and to deepen the understanding of systems thinking. Participants were expected to take advantage of the systems thinking.

translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

Making own cleaning products with Botanina

By: Kukuh Samudra

On Sunday, May the 8th, 2016 Kail House received guests from Botanina. Botanina develops homecare and skincare products from natural ingredients. Guided by Botanina, Kail staff with participants coming from various backgrounds intended to create their own cleaning products. The workshop participants were more than 10 people. At the time of introduction, they admitted how curious they were to create their own cleaning products.

In the beginning, Kak Tina and Kak Olva of Botanina explained the initial formation of their organization. Kak Tina, as the founder, had the thought of making home cleaning and baby care products when she was pregnant.

Tina thinks that typically people do not understand the process and materials used to make cleaning and baby care products on the market and the fact that these products actually contain synthetic ingredients that have negative side effects for health in the long term.

According to Tina, nature actually has given everything to us. She admitted to have wept when applying her self-made natural Telon oil to her baby. "Thank you universe, you have protected my baby," she said. There are two types of products developed by Botanina, namely household cleaning products and body care products. Currently the focus is on developing household care products, because there are already many other organizations that develop body care products. Tina added that nowadays many of us pay more attention to the aesthetics of the body rather than the health of the family.

Botanina began in developing their products since five years ago, but the marketing started about two years ago. The products they develop are diverse, ranging from soaps, oral hygiene products, natural pesticides and air freshener.

In the workshop at Kail House participants made some cleaning products, ranging from toothpaste, mouthwash, furniture cleaners and natural pesticides.

To make toothpaste ingredient needed were salt, baking soda, cacao, charcoal (powder), honey and coconut oil. These materials are full recipe and can be simplified according to availability. The main property of toothpaste is abrasive, ability to help the process of tooth remineralization and in paste form for easy use. "The foam effect on the toothpaste is actually only a suggestive of a cleaning effect," said Olva.

Botanina colleagues added that we often obsessed with very clean teeth so clean that kills all the bacteria in the body. The main purpose of a cleaning product is not to kill all the bacteria but to create a balance of ecosystems in the mouth so that the beneficial bacteria can stay alive.

Charcoal powder and baking soda both are examples of abrasive ingredients, so they can be interchanged or complementary. Cacao and salt both are needed for tooth remineralization process. Lastly, the coconut oil is used to dissolve the ingredients and honey to make the taste more palatable.

The next product is mouthwash. The materials used were simple and often encountered as spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. Boil all materials together. Once cool, add salt and a little baking soda as cleaning agent.

Moving to make furniture cleaner, an important point to note is that knowledge of material properties and functions. To make glass or metal furniture cleaner, we need the alkaline material. We dissolve baking soda with water and a bit of vinegar.

To repel insects and pests, Botanina introduces a mix of 10 essential oils. Every insect or pest has its own fears to a certain flora. For example, mice are fear of coffee, while mosquitoes are afraid to lavender. To make natural pesticides, we can use a mixture of essential oils dissolved in water in a spray bottle. Instead of camphor, a few drops of the mixture on a piece of flannel fabric can be hung in a closet. Needed to understand is that essential oils are extracts of plant oils processed by distillation technique to have similar concentrations of 50-fold.

Making own cleaning products is pretty easy as long as we recognize the nature and function of materials to be utilized as well as the process of making safe and natural.

translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

Let's Create Your Own Cleaning Products

By: Tien Widiyaningrum

A housewife would not want to come in contact with various cleaning products every day, ranging from detergents, dishwashing soap, toothpaste, floor cleaning soap and so forth. But, did you know that regular cleaning products we buy in the shops nearby were not all safe?

Cleaning products were initially created to ease daily activities. But, many of us do not realize the danger of the impact of commercial chemical-based products, ranging from long-term effects for the health of the family and environmental pollution caused by production processes and waste. Because of this concern Botanina and Kail House did a cooperation to conduct a workshop on how to make household cleaning products with a base material easy enough we encounter every day.

The workshop was held in Kail House on Sunday, May 8, 2016. The event began at 10:00 and finished at 13:00. It was attended by 24 participants from different regions and backgrounds, ranging from students to housewives. This time, Olva and Tina from Botanina took turns telling how to make toothpaste, mouthwash, all-purpose cleaner (liquid and powdered versions), pest and germ control, wood cleaners, and floor cleaning soap. Not only that, Olva and Tina also explained in details the functions of each of the base material used in making these cleaning products.

Participants were enthusiastic. Many of them asked interesting questions, animated the atmosphere in the workshop. There was also one of the participants whose children were particularly sensitive to commercial cleaning products so she was so excited in participating in the workshop. Some other participants hoped that they can figure out how to make natural soap, but unfortunately Botanina could not do that due to the fact that soap making process is complicated and lengthy. Perhaps at another time Kail House can have another chance to hold a workshop specifically to make natural soap for the participants who are still curious. We'll wait.

translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan