“We have to save ourselves”: A community prepares before disaster strikes
Marwan was born and raised in Bolapapu village. He has built a life with his wife and children in the same community he has called home all his life.
A lot has changed across the decades. There are better roads and more people riding motorbikes in and out of town. He has also seen recurring disasters strike his small village—floods surging through his community, destroying livelihoods and causing tragic loss of life.
The region in Central Sulawesi is highly prone to flooding during the rainy season. Early warning systems and disaster preparedness are critical for communities like Bolapapu. Marwan is doing his part. As a member of the local emergency readiness group, he helps monitor river water levels, maintain early warning system equipment, and spread information about disaster preparedness in the community.
Marwan had joined the local group through a Prosper Global program supporting disaster preparedness. In 2024, Prosper Global delivered communications equipment, provided evacuation training, and built a radio tower and water level monitoring system. The solar-powered system includes a loudspeaker siren that alerts residents before flash floods occur—which are managed and operated by Marwan and the community group. “No one else will come to save us—we have to save ourselves,” said Marwan.
In Bolapapu , Prosper Global is committed to more than simply helping the village prepare for the next flood. “Surviving the initial flood is only the first step. Without food security, surviving three days without food becomes another disaster,” said Marwan.
Recovery doesn’t end when the immediate danger passes. We’ve introduced additional tools to help communities navigate the days and weeks that follow a disaster. Our teams are working with women farmers to grow a variety of alternative crops. With more options, there are potentially more profits and food at hand if other crops fail—helping communities recover quicker in the event of a natural disaster.
What prosperity means in Indonesia
“For us, when our food supply is secure, when we can be certain we have enough to eat by the evening, that is already extraordinary for those of us in the village,” said Marwan. “The definition of prosperity for us is not about luxury cars or anything like that, but about education, healthcare, and being certain that our food supply is guaranteed—that is already more than enough.”
When looking toward the future, Marwan hopes that the sense of togetherness of his community never wavers. “I don't need to fear if I face a crisis today or tomorrow, because my neighbors, my relatives, and the people in the community will definitely step up to support me.”
What keeps me motivated every day is my family—my wife and my children.
Marwan , Indonesia
Marwan’s feeling of community spirt is shared across Indonesia. As part of our Voices of Prosperity initiative, we invited people across the world to describe prosperity in their own words. We listened to people who expressed that prosperity is collective. Prosperity was described on a community level, where everyone can take part in it.
“That’s what we always hold onto. It’s about us looking out for one another, or as we say, ‘Ntuvu nepatuvu’—meaning we live to support one another,” said one Indonesian man. “That’s why we’ve been able to survive until today.”
In Bolapapu, neighbors look out for one another. “If a flash flood happens...our livelihood, our housing—will all be affected,” said Marwan. “That's why many friends remain active in [the disaster preparedness group]. Because, like it or not, this is our village. We ourselves are the ones who can minimize the risk, no one else.”
Read more stories like Marwan’s
Across six countries and four continents, more than 1,100 people shared what prosperity means in their own words. Their words shape how we work alongside communities to help people move beyond survival and pursue a full life.
