Suar Ruas: Voices for Banda Through the Lenses of Residents of Rhun, Ay, and Selamon
A total of 35 photo series and stories created by residents of Rhun, Ay, and Selamon through the Photovoices–CTC Banda Program were exhibited in Masohi, Central Maluku.
Masohi, Central Maluku, 11 December 2025—Nine key issues, presented through 35 photos and stories by 18 residents of Rhun, Ay, and Selamon, were showcased in a photo exhibition and discussion titled “Suar Ruas” in Masohi, Central Maluku, on Thursday (11 December). This series of works also marked the conclusion of the Photovoices–CTC Banda Program, which has been running since April 2025.
Photovoices International (PVI) collaborated with the Coral Triangle Center (CTC), a nonprofit organization focused on the protection and sustainable management of marine resources in the Coral Triangle region. With support from the Central Maluku Regency Government, the program trained 18 residents from Rhun, Ay, and Selamon to identify local potentials and challenges, encouraging positive change.
Photovoices, or participatory photography, is a methodology designed to engage communities in decisions that affect their lives. First developed by Caroline Wang and Mary Ann Burris in the early 1990s, it serves as a creative medium for communities to improve their lives through photography.
“Our second collaboration with Photovoices has been an important way to further explore the perspectives of Banda communities on living in harmony with the sea, as well as other issues they consider important. The voices we have heard from residents of Rhun, Ay, and Selamon can serve as a foundation for developing resource management plans in the waters of the Banda Islands,” said Rili Djohani, Executive Director of Coral Triangle Center. CTC has supported the Government of Indonesia in developing marine protected area networks in the Banda Islands since 2012.
Voices from Banda Communities
Housewives, fishers, students, and youth from Rhun, Ay, and Selamon engaged in weekly discussions and learning sessions to identify issues they consider important in their lives through the Photovoices Program. Throughout the process, participants developed photography skills, explored issues, conducted interviews with relevant sources, developed photo narratives, and learned to present their work publicly as a form of community advocacy.
Although they live within the same marine region, the issues raised by residents from the three villages are not entirely the same. In addition to marine and fisheries management, nine key issues were highlighted: health, waste management, access to clean water, tourism, agriculture, marine and fisheries, education, customs and culture, and disaster risk.
Through 35 photo series and stories, residents from the three villages take us to explore another side of Banda—rich in history and natural beauty, both on land and at sea. One story tells of residents in Ay who lack access to clean water. Another highlights the lives of Selamon residents who face seasonal disaster risks: during the west monsoon, waves crash into coastal homes, while in the east monsoon, landslides from surrounding hills pose constant threats.
Meanwhile, Rhun holds a unique place in global history—it was once exchanged for Manhattan, New York, between the Dutch and the British under the Treaty of Breda in 1667. Every corner of Rhun is woven with historical narratives that have played an important role in shaping Banda and Indonesia. However, the island has yet to fully develop its tourism potential, which directly affects the livelihoods of its residents.
“Photovoices is an important method for elevating community voices—listening directly to what matters most to them. These photos and stories reflect the roles of women, youth, homemakers, and fishers in the development of their communities. This exhibition and discussion serve as a medium to provide recommendations to policymakers at the Central Maluku Regency level, as well as to organizations and partners working in the Banda Islands,” explained Tri Soekirman, Executive Director of Photovoices International.
“The sustainability of Banda can never be achieved without the involvement of its own communities. This is where the Photovoices Program finds its essence. Participants do not merely produce photographs; they bring perspectives, voice their concerns, and express their hopes,” said Zulkarnain Awat Amir, Regent of Central Maluku, represented by Zahlul Ikhsan, Expert Staff for Development and Community Affairs, during the opening of the “Suar Ruas” exhibition and discussion.
“Through these photographs, we can see the true face of Banda. The participants have shown that Banda communities are not objects of development, but the main actors in shaping their own future,” he concluded.
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About Photovoices International
Photovoices International (PVI) is an Indonesian nonprofit organization committed to empowering marginalized and underrepresented communities to improve their lives. Grounded in the power of perspective, communities express their voices through photos and stories. For more information, visit www.photovoicesinternational.org.
Contacts
Maria Adityasari
Communication Specialist, PVI
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