This information is for the residential programme taking place from 13 to 19 January 2027
Welcome to the Lakoat.Kujawas community, a small collective driven by active residents in the Mollo mountains of West Timor. We were founded in 2016 as a movement to return to and rebuild our village. We integrate a community library, creative writing classes, archiving and documentation of local knowledge, a food lab, a cultural school and an arts residency.
Over the past two years, we have pioneered a learning programme called Tanuan Sufa Kauf—a ‘live-in’ model for 15 people from diverse professional backgrounds and locations—to spend 5–7 days with the Lakoat.Kujawas community in the village of Taiftob to learn what Lakoat has been doing over the past 10 years: how to build a community literacy movement; how to research and archive local knowledge alongside community members; how to set up creative writing classes, research and publish archives with groups of children and young people, how to establish a food lab and a food movement, including a gastronomic tour model, how to develop a model of critical and contextual education, how to initiate models of arts and environmental residencies, and many other fascinating topics, all wrapped up in a series of discussions, excursions, village tours and explorations, workshops and reflections.
Who can take part?
Anyone who wishes to learn from and alongside the community about collective action and community self-reliance. Students and researchers, NGO and community activists, travellers and food enthusiasts, artists and activists, tourists and the general public.
When?
Tanuan Sufa Kauf will take place in the village of Taiftob, Kapan, North Mollo, TTS, NTT, from 13 to 19 January 2027. The event opens on Wednesday 13 January at 15:00 WITA and concludes on Tuesday 19 January at 15:00 WITA.
Participants will receive a Lakoat T-shirt and a copy of the book Pah Pinan (Indonesia version), as well as the opportunity to network with fellow participants. Of course, assistance and guidance will be provided for sightseeing and exploring Mollo and the surrounding areas, such as visits to Fatumnasi, Nausus, Sebau, Oehala, and so on.
How do I register?
Please complete the following Google Form to join the waiting list (click here). The organising committee will then contact you to complete the registration process, which costs Rp. 150,000. For further enquiries, please contact us via WhatsApp on 081338037075.
Is the registration fee separate from the investment fee?
The registration fee is included in the investment fee.
When is the registration deadline?
We will close registration once we have reached the maximum quota of 15 people. We have opened a waiting list up to one month before the event. A deposit is required. Full payment can be made one month before the event date. If you cancel your booking, your money will be refunded. Based on previous experience, please ensure you have confirmed your leave and work commitments thoroughly to avoid any last-minute cancellations, which would inevitably cause us inconvenience as we would have to contact other prospective participants to fill the quota. Furthermore, it is not certain that a replacement will be found.
Is a deposit required?
Yes! A minimum of 50% is required upon registration. The final payment deadline is 23 December 2026 (3 weeks before the event date).
Is there a refund policy?
Yes. Cancellations made 3 days before the event are eligible for a 100% refund (less a registration fee of Rp150,000).
Cancellations made 2 days to 1 day before the event may be subject to certain deductions if we have already purchased raw materials, consumables, etc.
Cancellations on the day of the event will be subject to a 50% deduction.
Where are we located?
Lakoat.Kujawas is in Kapan, Mollo Utara sub-district, 130 km from Kupang, the capital of NTT. We are on the island of Timor, which is part of the same landmass as Kupang, Atambua and Timor-Leste (P.S. Don’t forget to bring your passport if you wish to cross over to Timor-Leste after the activities in Mollo). The journey from Kupang to Mollo takes approximately 4 hours by road, either on a regular public minibus or a chartered minibus.
Where will we stay during the event?
Participants will be accommodated in local residents’ homes around Lakoat.Kujawas. The price includes accommodation, food and drink, workshop fees, and local transport.
Is it possible to stay somewhere other than in a local resident’s home? (For example, for privacy reasons).
Yes, it is. Near Lakoat there is accommodation similar to a villa; each unit can accommodate two people, and there are around five units. They are 750 metres from the event venue and can be reached on foot. The cost is 350K per room per night, based on shared accommodation. If you are interested, please note that there will be an additional cost for this accommodation. We can assist with booking the villas in question. If you choose to stay in a villa, an additional charge will apply, as the cost of staying in a local resident’s home is lower than that of staying in a villa.
Where is the nearest airport?
The nearest airport is El Tari in Kupang (KOE for flight code). The seaport is in Tenau, Kupang. There is a Surabaya–Kupang ferry route (via Ende/Waingapu/Labuan Bajo). Click https://tiket.dlu.co.id/ for ferry timetable information.
Are there any recommendations for a reliable transport service to Mollo?
We work with local minibus drivers from the village of Taiftob who usually operate the Kupang–Mollo–Kupang return route daily. The price per passenger is 100K (standard fare, meaning you’ll be sharing the journey with other passengers; there may be delays whilst the driver picks up or drops off other passengers). A private hire fare is 750K or more (negotiable with the driver). Vehicle types include the Avanza and Innova. Here’s a recommended driver: Om Ansel Salomuwa, 081337895981.
One more thing: don’t forget to bring a jacket and a raincoat or umbrella, as it usually rains in January. Don’t forget to bring any necessary medication, an umbrella and a raincoat or waterproof jacket.
Is it possible to donate books to Lakoat?
You can bring children’s books to donate to our library. These include fiction books, children’s storybooks, children’s magazines and comics. Notebooks, school bags and stationery are also welcome.
What about the nearest health centre?
The Puskesmas (primary healthcare centre) is 500 metres from the location. A chemist’s with a GP’s surgery is 300 metres from the location. The District General Hospital and Siloam Primary Clinic are in the district capital, Soe, 30 minutes from the location.
Is our food halal? What if someone has an allergy?
Everything we serve is halal. If anyone has an allergy or needs to avoid certain ingredients, please contact us. If you’re lucky enough to visit whilst there’s a village festival, you’ll be invited to join in the festivities.
If we’d like to extend our stay and explore Timor, is that possible?
Of course, you’re welcome to do so. We can help recommend some nearby tourist spots, such as the village of Fatumnasi, Mutis National Park, Oehala Waterfall, or further afield, such as the traditional village of Boti, Kolbano Beach, etc.
If you’d like to cross over to Timor-Leste, that’s also possible. Don’t forget to bring your passport; the Kupang–Dili bus route passes through Soe. Tickets cost 350,000 rupiah or 35 USD.
