"Ihhh there's a deer! Why die?", said a child during the Panda CLICK! photo exhibition on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 in Padang Tikar, Batu Ampar sub-district, Kubu district, West Kalimantan. That afternoon, the futsal court in Padang Tikar was crowded with residents who flocked to watch the CLICK! Panda Photo exhibition, which featured 50 selected photos, from around 23,000 photos originating from the community.

Panda CLICK! (Communication Learning towards Innovative Change and Knowledge) is a community strengthening program through photography, an initiative of WWF Indonesia West Kalimantan Program since 2006. This program is held as an assessment tool for mentoring in their work areas. By taking pictures, the community can understand and recognize the surrounding environment and life.

Batu Ampar sub-district was chosen for the Panda CLICK! program because it is a habitat for protected animals, namely the Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis Lavartus) and Pesut (Irawaddy Dolphin). The program has been implemented for one year, since May 2014. Positive response came from the local government and community. Of the 15 villages in this sub-district, 5 villages were selected where based on the survey results these villages are the largest areas for pesut habitat.

"The goal of this program is to provide opportunities for village communities to become reporters related to their lives and environment. That way the community realizes that the presence of this program is very important, to voice the values in their lives to the public," said Jimmy Syahirsyah, Panda Program Coordinator of CLICK! WWF Indonesia.

During the year-long program, 31 photographers were selected from the community representing various professions, age levels and henders so that all aspects of life can be captured properly. A fisherman tells his story through a photo while sorting fish in a trawler. A child was photographed studying with a lamp attached to his head. "These photos can be used as a cultural recording tool for the local community and information for a wider audience. We hope that through these photos, our village will be noticed with all the potential that exists and what is lacking needs to be added so that the welfare of the community will increase," said Jono, one of the photographers from Batu Ampar Subdistrict.

Albertus Tjiu, Program Manager of WWF West Kalimantan said that each of the photos not only illustrates the value of life and cultural aspects, but also displays the local wisdom of the community in conservation in this area. "The community can more clearly see and then illustrate the potential of conservation in their own lives. In the future, they are expected to be more aware of protecting and conserving this area," Albert added.

Support and appreciation also came from Batu Ampar Sub-District Head Supriady. "The City and village governments as well as the community really appreciate this program, which provides inspiration and knowledge to the community regarding the potential that exists in this area. This triggers our enthusiasm to be more vigorous in preserving the environment of this area," Supriady explained.