In two groups, the teams illustrated their interpretation of what their dream for their island was.

One group summed up the dream as damai (peace). To have a kota perdaban, a ‘civilised’ city that is good in everything, filled with positive things. For that to happen, the start is Education. Through Education, everyone will understand the tradition, culture and values of the island, that are important for the further of development, such as: “What you feel, I feel. Saparua will be free of plastic and garbage. The sea will be green, the fish will come back, the local fishermen will be happy and we will be civilised city.”

The second dream that emerged was that, by 2050, there will be an airport, a university, a place for non-formal education, a mall, a five-star hotel, and a bridge to connect to Ambon (the main island). When we asked where were the people in the picture, the conversation turned into deeper ambitions beyond the buildings. Keeping the educated new generations on the island and being connected with others came up. Culture and tradition would be taught in the non-formal education places. The young will be educated based on the happy green dream, and that will be the engine for the progress.

The two dreams illustrate the challenge. "We cannot go back to the old days. We can learn from the old ways", says Kees Lafeber of Maluku Competence. The old ways, the adat, considers human beings as part of nature in the web of life.

Both groups then formed a combined dream. The basis was laid for exploring the practices towards the dream the next day.
Ranganayaki Thangavelu