by Ye Pingfan
JAKARTA, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The sun scorches during the dry season in Indonesia. Villagers of Purwosono in eastern Java Island are relaxing and enjoying the cool breeze by the "Cooling Creek." Their lush green farmland is neatly arranged between houses, with swaying coconut palms in front of and behind their homes.
Along the banks, there are walkways, stone tables and benches, and pavilions for leisure. Several villagers have opened small shops there, and a children's swimming pool and restaurant are also nearby.
It might be hard to imagine that just a few years ago, this place was a garbage-strewn ditch that everyone avoided. Village chief Hendrik Dwi Martono recalled that villagers habitually used the riverbank as an open-air garbage dump.
Hendrik mobilized villagers to thoroughly clean the stream, transforming it into a recreational area for the villagers and giving it the appealing name "Cooling Creek." His decision stemmed from a 2023 study trip to China with the Indonesian Rural Cadre Training Program, or village chief program.
During that trip to China, Hendrik visited Beijing, Zhejiang, Anhui, and other places in China. He was particularly impressed by the water system management and water resource protection efforts of Dongziguan Village in Hangzhou in China's southeast Zhejiang Province.
"The entire village, surrounded by water, is breathtakingly beautiful. The water and streets are spotless, and garbage is sorted and disposed of properly. Inspired by this, I immediately took action upon returning," he told Xinhua, "Our Chinese friends are doing a great job, and we in Indonesia must follow suit. Through the collective efforts of our villagers, we've seen fewer mosquitoes, a better environment, and better health, which benifit us all."
The village chief program officially launched in 2019, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia and in partnership with the Indonesian Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions Villages. Each year, 20 to 30 Indonesian village chiefs are selected to visit and study in China. By 2024, the program had held four sessions, with over 100 Indonesian village chiefs visiting China to experience and understand rural development.
From Dongziguan Village in China to Purwosono Village in Indonesia, rural environmental governance has become an international relay. Hendrik hopes that the successful "Cool Creek" project can be replicated to benefit more rural Indonesians.
Hendrik said that after returning from China, he "gained a new understanding of the function and significance of the village office." He renovated the office and redesigned its functions: handling grassroots civil affairs, providing a public meeting space, undertaking education and knowledge dissemination, and promoting the village's image.
He also plans to set up an exhibition hall within the village office to introduce Purwosono and promote its unique products.
"China's development is advancing rapidly, its rural governance is excellent, and the use of high technology is becoming increasingly common. Although our national conditions differ, we may not be able to learn everything, but by starting where we can, we can make progress," he said.
What impressed him most during his visit was the Chinese people's unremitting spirit of striving for a cause they believe in. "We must not only be inspired ourselves, but also inspire others to participate in the cause of building our homeland. I think this is the greatest gain from my trip to China," Hendrik said.
As part of his routine, Hendrik receives update of the latest market prices for ducklings on his phone, as there are 70 specialized duck farmers in the village. This year, he used government funds to build over 300 meters of cement road in the village. Not long ago, a girl in his village married a young Chinese man, and he even went out of his way to help them obtain an Indonesian marriage certificate.
It is observed that everyone recognized Hendrik as a village chief who worked for the people. He was greeted warmly wherever he went. When he met elders or acquaintances, he would chat about the latest agricultural market trends.
"If we do nothing, the results will be mediocre; but if we do something unusual with extraordinary passion, the results may be completely different. I am grateful for the cooperation between China and Indonesia and for giving us the opportunity to study in China. I sincerely hope that the program will continue to flourish. If the opportunity arises, I would like to visit and study in China again," Hendrik said.
A single purchase
