In the village of Lubuk Ampolu, Badiri Subdistrict, Central Tapanuli, clean water from the public water utility has not yet been restored, and flash floods recently devastated parts of Central Tapanuli in early 2026, turning the river water red and murky—making it unfit for drinking.
This is what Suwarno, a Petani Milenial innovator working with the Ngudi Mulya Farmers’ Group and the Rukun Santoso Farmers’ Group in Gunungkidul, along with staff from YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU), encountered. Suwarno and his colleagues acknowledged that this was his first time participating directly in an emergency response. “This has been a valuable experience for me and my friends. After all, this is our first time,” he said.
The mission is to build Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RHS) at strategic locations so that residents have safe and easily accessible clean water. It’s no easy task. At the Mutiara Al Hamid Foundation’s Madrasah Aliyah in Sibuluan Nalambok Village, the access roads are so narrow that materials and equipment are limited.
What Suwarno found interesting was that when he and his team set out to cut wood, they had only a small hacksaw—one meant for cutting metal, not wood. Using that tool, and with the help of the local community leader, they managed to get the job done, even though it took much longer than expected.
In Lubuk Ampolu Village, the Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RHS) initiative truly brought something new to the community. YEU installed 10 water tanks, each with a capacity of 1,050 liters, equipped with a rainwater harvesting system from the building’s roof. Immediately upon completion, YEU coordinated with the local Red Cross for the initial filling: two tanker trucks, each with a capacity of 5,000 liters, directly delivered clean water to the newly built tanks. The Red Cross has also committed to continuing water deliveries as long as the residents need them.
The impact was immediately felt. Among the residents who came to collect clean water from the Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RHS) was a man in his 60s with a speech impairment. Previously, every time he wanted to get clean water, he had to walk a long way. Now, with the YEU installation in place, the source of clean water is right nearby. Without saying a word, he picked up a full jerrycan and walked home.
Another story comes from an eight-year-old boy named Andi. After school, he often grabs two five-liter jerry cans and walks to the Rainwater Harversting System water source. His six-year-old younger brother tags along beside him. At home, his blind grandmother is waiting. The water in those jerry cans is the only water they have for drinking, cooking, and bathing for the whole family.
In addition to building the Rainwater Harvesting System, YEU also conducted Early Psychosocial Support for children affected by the disaster, ranging from elementary school students in Lubuk Ampolu and students at SMP Negeri 1 Sarudik to children living in temporary shelters.Through games and discussions, the children were guided through the process of post-disaster recovery while also learning about diversity and disaster preparedness.
For Suwarno and the rest of the YEU volunteer team, the trip to Central Tapanuli was more than just a field trip. He brought back something priceless: the realization that simple innovations like rainwater harvesting can change people’s lives, and that willing hands—even with limited tools—are the beginning of change.