Pedawa Traditional Village, one of the old Bali Aga villages in Buleleng Regency, Bali, is struggling to maintain its culture and wisdom amidst the tide of change. Bali Aga or Bali Mula is a Balinese sub-tribe believed to be the original inhabitants of Bali. However, technological developments and social changes have made the younger generation of Bali feel increasingly distant from traditional values. In addition, the rampant practice of clove plantation monoculture threatens the balance of the environmental ecosystem. 

To answer this challenge, Pedawa Traditional Village established a School (Pasraman*) Manik Empul Customary School—a traditional school that serves as a cross-generational learning space. Here, traditional knowledge is revived and the community's ecological awareness is built.

*Pasraman is an educational institution specifically for Hinduism.

The launch of the Manik Empul Traditional Pasraman was carried out on October 22, 2024, attended by approximately 150 people from the relevant government from the sub-district level to neighboring villages, schools, and the media. In addition to the launch activity, on the same day, facilitator training was also carried out for 15 prospective resource persons/facilitators/teachers, especially to align perceptions regarding teaching methods. Because, almost all resource persons already know and understand the teaching materials, even though there is no learning module yet.

After the launch, the curriculum development team of indigenous elders, youth, and indigenous women worked together to develop a curriculum based on local values ​​for teaching materials in indigenous schools. The resulting learning module design includes: Lelintih found the bracelet – a system of traditional ceremonies that is passed down from generation to generation, shallow – holy places and their history, and types of water for traditional processions – uses and processes of making holy water. Currently, the learning module is still in the finalization stage and will be printed after receiving approval from the Pedawa Traditional Village community.

To ensure that the pasraman continues to operate and support the village's economic independence, the Pedawa Traditional Village also plans to establish a Village-Owned Enterprise (BUPDA). The annual funds allocated for the traditional village are only IDR 10 million—not enough to support the operation and development of the traditional school. Discussions between the village officials and the pasraman team discussed the business opportunities for an ecological tourism village in Pedawa to support funding for the traditional school. In October 2024, it was decided that the pasraman would be developed into a "Bali Aga Learning Center", not only about traditional education, but also as a source of income for the sustainability of the traditional school.

In addition to focusing on traditional education, Pedawa Traditional Village also carries out environmental conservation to reduce one of the impacts of monoculture in Pedawa Village, namely the decreasing population of sugar palm trees. Sugar palm trees used to be abundant, but are now increasingly eroded by land conversion into clove plantations. Sugar palm trees have long been an important part of the Pedawa Village ecosystem. Sugar palms have long played a role as old trees that guard water sources and have been one of the mainstays of the community's economy for generations. If the erosion of the sugar palm population is allowed to continue, the negative impacts will certainly spread, from the loss of economic potential to the water crisis.

In fact, the sustainability of water sources is closely related to the sustainability of the customs and culture of the Pedawa Community. They have a set of local knowledge and wisdom about the use and existence of water, known as the term wood, –sacred water source or spring for traditional and religious ceremonies. Holy water in the view of the Pedawa community is not only obtained from water that is sanctified by religious leaders or stakeholders customs, but also water that comes directly from nature, such as water from springs, river water, and dew water.

Therefore, to maintain the sustainability and balance of nature, as many as 300 sugar palm trees and 150 supporting plants were then planted around 18 water sources in Pedawa Village. This effort is not only aimed at restoring the economic potential based on sugar palm which has been part of the lives of the Pedawa community for generations but also maintaining the sustainability of water sources, both for household needs and holy water for traditional and religious ceremonies.

Pasraman Adat Manik Empul is not only a center for traditional education, but also a main pillar in building ecological awareness in the community. By combining traditional education and conservation with aren planting, Desa Adat Pedawa seeks to ensure a sustainable future. Not only for nature, but also so that future generations will continue to have a sustainable source of livelihood.