I love Banda Epilogue

For her project I love Banda, between 2016 and 2019, Isabelle Boon portrayed six Bandanese young people with whom she developed a special bond: Mega Vani, Karis, Ulfa, Ode, Nabila, and Nyellow. Their ambitions, dreams, and ideas formed the heart of the project. How are they doing now? How does the pandemic affect their lives, and how do they look back to I Love Banda? This epilogue was written in collaboration with Feba Sukmana.

Nyellow

I'm doing well! Currently, I am in Banda Neira. Lately, I have been going to the sea to fish often. I started as a temporary worker to earn some extra money. I go on a boat and work there with a group of men. What we do is take fish out of the net, clean them, and we also do a lot of other different things. I usually use the money to eat out or buy some cigarettes. Just so I can continue doing some little fun things during this difficult time.

I also offer diving lessons to children of Banda with a Spanish friend, Rafael. It is the first time for me to actually teach. I have over 5 years of experience as a divemaster, but now I have my instructor diploma. I find it fantastic to train the kids. And the pay is not bad, by the way. Tourism in Banda has collapsed due to the pandemic. We are highly affected by it. I used to dive every day and felt like I was on a working vacation, but now I have to go fishing to make some money at the end of the day. On the other hand, Corona has helped mother earth a lot, she can take a long rest now.

I am definitely very proud to be part of Isabelle's project. […] on the one hand, I am proud. But on the other hand, I am shy of all the attention. Thus, sometimes I don't know how to behave as I'm not used to such emotions. What I find most special in Isabelle's book is that she also captured my parents. It really means a lot to me, because my parents are my everything.

Ulfa

My daily life goes as follows: during the day, I go to the campus [in Jakarta, ed.], in the afternoon I rest, in the evening I work on school assignments or study. On my days off, I sometimes go out or stay in my room to spend time on social media. Luckily, I still see my friends, and I'm doing fine.

Fortunately, I am healthy and happy that I could come home to Banda briefly last January. While I was there, I helped my parents, sold my mother's cookies, bathed in the sea, ate fresh fish, and did so many more things I had missed badly.

For me, the most major effect of the pandemic is the restriction on social contact. At first, I found it relaxing that I didn't have to leave the house. But gradually staying at home became boring and tiring. Corona has made me more patient, and I have come to appreciate my time with friends and family better.

My encounter with Isabelle is the most special experience of my life. Isabelle captured me in a unique way and as it was. It was an unforced, honest look at my life. I am very grateful for Isabelle's hard work and effort. I am also grateful for the people who took the time to look at our story, the young people of Banda. I Love Banda is a reminder for me to keep studying and fighting. When I read my words in the book again, I realized that I was still so naive back then. At that time, I was more stubborn than I am now, and my 'I' was very dominant. I told in the book what I would like to become when I grew up, and until today, I try to stay true to what I said back then.

Nabila

I am fine. I still live in Banda, and I am now a mother. So, now I take care of my family full time. I am so grateful to Jesus for the birth of my daughter because it was not a given. When I was 3 months pregnant, I fell while getting water from the well. I had to be hospitalized for 3 days. It was a difficult time, and I surrendered and hoped for a miracle from Jesus. Finally, I was allowed to go home.

During my pregnancy, I was very careful and prayed to God that my baby would stay strong. The delivery was so painful, and I was hospitalized for two days. But fortunately, my baby and I both got out healthy. My baby was born on Sunday, and her name is Fergita Elshifra Ginzel which means: water baby from which I draw strength.

I met my husband for the first time in an old church in Banda Neira. He looked at me for a long time, and I hated it. He continued showing me that he loved me. He proposed to me in that same church. My heart melted. He has become my first (and my last) love. He's incredibly sweet, and even though he's 10 years older than me, I believe that God has sent him for me. From annoyance to love, that's my story. I am proud to have been part of this project. That period was very special to me. Thank you, Isabella, for capturing special beautiful photos of me. My favorite photo is the one where I was happily jumping, with the green nutmeg trees in the background. I love Isabelle.

Ode

I am fine. I currently work at a navigation company in Ambon but am stationed in Banda Naira. I am a temporary worker, and I combine that with my studies. Aside from my office job, I also work as an ojek driver. And in the afternoon, sometimes I have a bit of time to play football.

Fortunately, Banda is a green zone [safe area without/with a low number of Covid-19 infections, red.]. But due to the Coronavirus, traveling from Banda is no longer self-evident. It is very tricky to leave Banda because there are many documents that you need to take care of first. During the pandemic, I feel restricted in my space to move. We are not allowed to gather, to socialize. Making money has also become harder to do. 

I still become very happy when I look at my photos in the book I love Banda. I am also incredibly proud that out of all the young people in Banda, you chose me as one of the young people in your project. I am very pleased that my photos were displayed in the Maritime Museum in Amsterdam. My favorite photo is the one where I jump into the sea. It was taken at the Malole beach, where the view is extremely nice. I really like the picture, and I feel happy when I look at it. 

l love Banda is a means to promote Banda. I know that Banda is famous, even since the colonial period, but this photo book shows modern-day Banda to the Dutch and other foreigners as well. It is an honor for us, the Bandanese young people, to talk about the Banda of today. Thank you very much, Miss, for promoting the (thoughts of the) youth of Banda. Hopefully, in the future Banda will become better than it is now.

Mega Vani

I live in Ambon now, and I study pharmacy. I am doing fine. To become a midwife was my dream. My mother and father would want me to become a midwife. But in the end, I chose to study pharmacy. I changed my mind because I can't stand blood or wounds, while a midwife has to deal with those things every day. I think pharmacy is fun because I learn a lot about medicine. When I'm not studying, I'm usually chilling in my room.

Despite the pandemic, everything is going well here. You only have to follow the measures, such as keeping your distance and wearing a face covering. However, I do have fewer activities due to corona. For example, my classes on campus do not take place every day.

I am very happy that I was involved in the book. I want to thank you, Miss Isabelle, for choosing me as one of the young people. My favorite photo in the book is the one where I was tying my shoelaces at school. This photo is unique, it shows me as a high school student. The photo portrayed my story perfectly: a student who would like to study pharmacy. In this photo, you can see the courage, my intention to become successful.

Karis

Every day I work as an ojek driver (motorcycle driver). When I only have a few passengers, I also go fishing in the sea. With 30 to 40 men and a large net. I no longer work at Cilu Bintang hotel.

Whatever I can do, I will do to support my family in a halal way. If only there were no coronavirus, our lives would already have become better, but unfortunately, there has been no change so far. It has become harder to earn money, and food prices have increased. 

I am happy that I have become a father, and I am also proud that I am able to give my mother a grandchild. Having a child is indeed exhausting, but I have committed to being a good father. A good father never gives up, no matter how difficult the situation. I am responsible for taking care of my family.

My family and I are very proud and happy to have had the opportunity to work with you, Isabelle. My family and I thank you very much because, through you, foreigners can hear/see my story. It is not something that one can experience just like that.