Indonesian students brave life-threatening raft journeys to reach school

For students at SDN Budiharja in West Bandung, Indonesia, the daily commute to school is a perilous adventure. They risk their lives crossing the Saguling Reservoir on a dilapidated bamboo raft, a journey necessitated by the vast distance of the land route.

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If I started riding the raft when I was in 4th grade, almost every day because it's just faster from home to school.

Young students, some as young as 12, navigate the waters of the Saguling Reservoir on a makeshift bamboo raft. This precarious mode of transport is their only option to reach SDN Budiharja, located in Kampung Gombong. The raft, operated by a local man, is secured by a rope stretched across the reservoir, allowing it to be pulled to the other side.

Imam Permana, a 12-year-old student, shared that he has been using the raft since the fourth grade. "It's faster from home to school," he explained. The students depart their homes in Kampung Sadang by 6:00 AM to reach the reservoir's edge by 6:30 AM, just in time for school. The 248-meter water crossing is significantly shorter than the 2.28-kilometer land route.

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If you go around it's quite far because I've done it since 1st grade. But now I use the raft first because it's faster. Not scared because I'm used to it.

Santi Nur Setiani, a parent, expressed gratitude for the traditional transport that allows her children to attend school. However, she harbors a constant fear for their safety, especially given the reservoir's depth and the children's occasional playful behavior during the journey. "I'm worried they might slip," she said. "I wish there was a bridge connecting our village to the school."

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Yes, I'm worried about them slipping. When it rains, they sometimes play around, joking with their friends when riding the raft. I wish there was a bridge.