Lapeng is one of the remote villages in Pulo Aceh, Aceh Besar District. I was in Lapeng village, the people’s daily life here is fishing and farming.
Lapeng was the 5th village for my placement as a Dream Teacher volunteer. On May 15, 2022, we departed from the Peace Volunteer Centre (3R) to Pulo Aceh using wooden boats (the name for the public transport ship which is the main mode of transportation to the island) or fishing boats via Lampulo Port route in Banda Aceh to Gugop Harbor in Breuh Island.
For me, the experience of setting foot on Pulo Aceh was the first time. Being here felt different compared to previous placements, especially since the language used daily is Acehnese, which is also the language I often use in daily communication.
At the start of the week, it wasn’t very easy to get along with the young people here. I also tried to play volleyball and football with them so that communication could be created.
Talking about education, in Lapeng Village there are only elementary or elementary schools. To go to high school, you have to go elsewhere. Some went to “dayah” or boarding schools, some went to public schools.
As for the livelihoods of the people of Lapeng Village, most of them prefer to go to sea, some have started gardening by planting chilies, corn and vegetables. Meanwhile, most young people like to go to sea. Moreover, this time the east wind season so that every day they go to sea to look for octopuses. Usually, they leave at 8 am, come back around 5 pm. Income can be in the range of 750,000 per day. The nominal is quite tempting, in my opinion
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Currently, Lapeng Village is increasingly being visited by the general public, even from outside Pulo Breuh. Moreover, the road access that has been repaired has made the route to this village easier. The support of the village apparatus, especially the Village Head, which is very optimal, especially activities with children, youth and the community, has encouraged many people to come to make activities here.
I personally hope that in the future, the younger generations in Lapeng Village will be able to maintain the social conditions of the people who are rich in land and sea natural products, accompanied by friendliness and close kinship to build Lapeng village into a powerful village.
written by Tajuddin
