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Village fireflies (Kunang-kunang Kampung)

Village fireflies (Kunang-kunang Kampung)
The village people of Loncek practice how to use the internet.. Photo by Alexander Mering

CU is the short form of Credit Union, a micro-credit institution popular in West Kalimantan. The KTM PPB leader had begun to save in CU Pancur Kasih, one of the largest savings cooperation here. According to Yati Lantok, Pancur Kasih members total more than 110 358 thousand with a total asset of Rp 1. 2 trillion per month as of May 2012. Yati is the General Manager of CU Pancur Kasih Pontianak. Other than CU Pancur Kasih, the other large CUs here include CU Keling Kumang and CU Lantang Tipo.

Since the PNPM Peduli Program started at Loncek village, Edi had stopped selling dog meat, as well as sausages and used clothing from house to house. He was busy as the facilitator, and also teaches part-time at a high school owned by the Catholic Association at Ambawang river. He also sells chicken for a living. He never gambles, nor dances to the dangdut tunes with the karaoke dancers. The salary he makes as a facilitator, teacher and chicken business is deposited into his account at CU Pancur Kasih. The money is also used to further his studies.