This is the third and final photo gallery of my time in Indonesia. Click here for previous galleries on the Mt Merapi volcano and slums in North Jakarta. If you would like to contribute to any of these projects please contact [email protected]

Inter religious violence in this remote province of Indonesia almost destroyed one village on a major island a few years ago. Early one morning before sunrise the neighbouring village attacked, killed anyone they found and burned all buildings to the ground including schools, houses and churches. The attack was in retaliation for a dispute over land; resultant from a governor awarding land to one village that had belonged to the other. Project work has thus focused on rebuilding homes.

The seeming idyllic nature of life on the Maluku Islands.

While isolated with limited transport/road access, electricity, shopping or the luxuries of life there is much to enjoy here in beautiful natural surrounds.

Coconuts in abundance.

Life was and remains simple with a real sense of community.

It is common to see older people entertaining young kids outside school hours.

People take pride in the cleanliness and presentation of their village.

This village won some competitions for being a tidy/beautiful town.

There is an industrious nature to the population.

A young boy climbs a coconut tree when he is thirsty to get a drink.

Rarely do you see people sitting around.

A lady cuts papaya flowers to use in the evening meal.

Despite its isolation the village does have a school. Kids from even smaller villages arrive by dugout canoe to attend.

Kids arrive for school by dugout canoe.

Wells provide fresh water for the population.

Bath time.

However all of this was cut short when the neighbouring village attacked and razed the place to the ground.

The hole left in a wall by a fire bomb.

House beams were hacked by machetes so if the fire didn’t burn them down they would still need to be replaced.

Machete gouges in the wooden support beams.

While most families have received new homes it was not possible to rebuild them to their original size.

The original base and the new house.

But the families are getting on with the business of living even if their homes aren’t quite ready.

Washing hanging in an uncompleted home.

A lot of the homes however are finished or nearing completion.

A lady with her kids who had just moved into her new house.

Residents are also concentrating on providing a future for their children.

A group of young mothers have started a kindergarten. They have no chairs, no blackboard, no books – nothing really beyond their imagination but it was a fun morning in their class.

A good thing about this area is how active and happy the kids are. There are no TVs or computers to entertain them (there is sometimes electricity 2-3hrs/day) so they help with household chores.

Getting water from the well is a common task even for young kids.

Even older people still have their roles.

This woman had caught fish for the family’s evening meal.

Despite their apparent poverty and all they had lost the people were very generous with their time and food.

A huge bowl of corn provided as a "snack" before lunch.

Many supplement their families through a number of industries such as fishing, agriculture and small local shops.

A man drying cocoa.

Above all life is about community and providing for their families.

The village men come to assist when our boat gets stuck in the mud!

They spoke about the community spirit that had been born as a result of their hardship and their longing to provide for their children.

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