One of the three main activities is the workshop, which was held together with the community of Barrang Lompo Island (image by Weathering With You).
PELAKITA.ID – “My name is Raudyah Faatiha Taruna. I’m the project coordinator of Weathering With You, and I’m here with several of my teammates from different ASEAN countries,” began Raudyah in her introduction.
Raudyah was speaking to Kamaruddin Azis, host of the Pelakita Podcast, during a recording session held at the Marine Station of the Faculty of Marine and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, on Barrang Lompo Island, Saturday, 31 May 2025.
“I’m from Indonesia. Dan is from the Philippines, Jonathan is from Malaysia, and another teammate also joins from Indonesia. Together, we represent a diverse, multidisciplinary team working across community development, program design, and research,” she explained.
From left-right: Dan, Raudyah, Alya and Jon (image by Weathering with You)
Raudyah introduced her fellow participants: John Denyl A. Tornijos from the Philippines, Jonathan Glenn Wong Jun Sheng from Malaysia, and Aliya Maghfira from Indonesia.
They are participants in Weathering With You, a collaborative project supported by NUS Singapore, BMKG Indonesia, the Climate Change Study Center of Hasanuddin University, and the local government of Barrang Lompo Island, Makassar City.
Ilustrasi Pelakita.ID
The project aims to strengthen the capacity of Barrang Lompo—an island community off the coast of Makassar—facing increasing threats from climate change.
“We chose this island because of its vulnerability,” explained Dan. “Barrang Lompo is densely populated and frequently threatened by flooding. It also lacks reliable electricity and other critical infrastructure.”
From the outset, the project was designed to address these challenges using low-tech, community-friendly approaches. “We are currently developing and installing three main solutions,” Dan continued.
“First, sea-level benchmark markers that help warn of flood risks. These require no electricity and are intended to help residents recognize when flooding is imminent. Second, we’ve placed informative posters in key public spaces across the island. And third, we’re conducting workshops to integrate this knowledge into everyday life.”
The inspiration for this initiative came from Raudyah’s previous 12-week research project under UNESCO and the Tanoto Foundation.
“We found that although people had some understanding of climate change, many still held misconceptions,” said Jon. “Our goal was to bridge that gap—linking communities with scientific knowledge and helping them see the real impacts of climate change in their lives.”
The sea-level benchmark markers serve a dual purpose. “They not only inform residents but also provide a standardized reference for future infrastructure development,” Raudyah explained. “For example, houses and drainage systems can be built above marked flood levels. They’re also useful for future researchers tracking tidal changes and assessing long-term climate impacts.”
The posters, placed throughout the island, were carefully designed with accessibility in mind. Jonathan, who led the localization effort, elaborated:The symbolic handover of a Sea-Level Benchmark (SLB) to the Head of the Marine Station of Hasanuddin University, Dr. Syafiuddin. (Weathering With You)
“I translated the posters into Indonesian and adapted the language to make it more relatable. The aim was not just for people to read the information but to truly understand it. The posters explain what climate change is, highlight its signs, and offer practical advice on how to adapt,” he said.
To enhance connectivity with broader sources of information, the posters also feature QR codes linking to BMKG—the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency—allowing residents to access real-time weather and climate updates.
As the team engaged with residents, they found that many already noticed unusual changes.
“The local leader told us that during high tides, seawater now reaches the front yards of houses—something that didn’t happen before,” shared Alya.
“We’re helping them connect these observations with the broader concept of climate change, which often feels too abstract or global,” she continued.
She emphasized that one of the project’s main goals is to make climate science feel more personal and actionable.A woman from Barrang Lompo Island shares her concern about climate change impacts (image by Weathering with You)
“We want people to see that climate change isn’t just a distant issue—it’s already affecting their lives. When they understand that, they become more invested in preparing for future challenges,” Alya said.
Jonathan reflected on his own learning experience. “I’m an urban boy from Kuala Lumpur, and just getting to this island was eye-opening. It made me realize how different the challenges are in coastal and island communities,” he said. “This project taught me how important it is to design solutions that fit local realities.”
Ultimately, Weathering With You aims not just to inform, but to empower. By blending scientific insight, community engagement, and simple technologies, the team hopes to help Barrang Lompo build resilience—and offer a replicable model for other vulnerable island communities across the region.
