More
than 18 months after the tsunami devastated the Indonesian province
of Aceh, the survivors are starting life anew, adopting a more
philosophical outlook and a determination to move forward in
order to cope with the traumatic experience.
“Life is how you take it. We must learn to accept things
as they come or we will forever be prisoners of our tragic experience
and feel more sorry for ourselves,” says Darnita whose
well kept, carpeted, transitional house is equipped with appliances,
goblets, fancy plates, bright flowers and family photos smiling
down from the wall – all indicating her positive outlook
on life.
Darnita, 38, lost her home during the tsunami. Since then, she
and her family, like many others, have lived in tents for more
than 18 months.
Now, Darnita enjoys the comfort of a transitional shelter with
her husband and three children as they wait for their permanent
house to be built.
Their steel-framed and wood-clad transitional shelter is provided
by the International Federation – in partnership with
the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and 32 National Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies and other humanitarian organizations
– and serves as a stop-gap between tents and permanent
housing.
“Big house or small house, it doesn’t matter. Home
is where you have peace of mind, enjoy simple joys with your
family, sleep tight at night and wake up to face the new day
ahead,” says Darnita, who used to live in a three-bedroom
house before the tsunami.
“I make the best of what I have,” Darnita adds,
saying that even the tent in which her family lived was adorned
with flowers and novelty items. “I try to make things
look good and beautiful, so I will feel good too. We are thankful
and satisfied with our new home now. We feel safe and I feel
good.”
A graduate whose hobbies include interior design and singing,
Darnita prefers buying and selling and deals in a variety of
goods ranging from home appliances to clothes, which supplements
her husband’s income as a driver and helps keep their
children in school.
“The education of our children is our priority. I am glad
they are all doing well in school,” says Darnita as she
pulls an envelope from the cabinet and shows us her children’s
medals, which she managed to retrieve from the ruins of her
old house.
“My 11-year-old daughter wants to be a doctor; my first
son, 9, a pilot; and my youngest, 6, a soldier.” Darnita
points to the picture of her children, adding that she and her
husband have vowed they will make their children’s dreams
come true.
“Even the tsunami cannot stop us from fulfilling these
dreams,” Darnita asserts as she shows us a young soldier’s
uniform that her son loves to wear whenever he acts out the
role of a soldier with his friends.
Darnita is also a community leader who considers her neighbours
as part of the family. She discloses her plans to help the villagers,
particularly the women, to learn new skills that will help them
regain their confidence and earn a living.
With the support of the Indonesian Red Cross and the Australian
Red Cross, which spearheaded the building of the 203 transitional
shelters in Banda Aceh stadium where her family is currently
living, Darnita says they will organize training in sewing,
embroidery, handicrafts, flower arranging, as well as how to
manage a small-scale business.
The women will also be taught basic health care, environmental
sanitation, gardening and interior decoration “to make
this community a better place to live in”.
They will also teach the children to sing, perform traditional
dances, draw and read poetry just like her own children.
“We want to build happy families in our new homes. Happy
families make a happy community,” Darnita emphasizes.
Darnita admits that it is not easy to organize people, but confidently
says that she has her own way of doing it: “Watch this.”
Darnita turns on her karaoke machine, inserts a music disk,
takes the microphone and belts out a popular local love song.
Before she can finish her second song, people start gathering
around her. Before long, they are joining in and sing to their
hearts’ content.
As the neighbours take their turn with the microphone, Darnita
smiles and says, “Start it right, and the rest will be
easy.”
To prove her point, Darnita asks a group of women to gather
at one corner of the house and she shows them a flower arrangement
she made. After receiving instructions on the finer points,
each woman tries her hand with enthusiasm. “Wow, I can
do it. It’s easier than I thought,” exclaims one
woman.
Darnita glances at us and winks: “See what I mean?”
Darnita is not one of a kind in Aceh. There are many other survivors
like her, who are determined to rebuild their lives, their families
and their community.
Having completed 10,000 transitional shelters in more than 200
villages in Aceh and Nias Island, and with 10,000 more in various
stages of completion, the Red Cross Red Crescent is stepping
up its community outreach programme to reinforce the initiative
of outstanding beneficiaries like Darnita.
The community outreach programme, which is led by the Indonesian
Red Cross and funded by the Irish Red Cross with the participation
of other National Societies working in the tsunami-affected
areas, includes radio chat shows, community bulletin boards
and newsletters. It aims to provide a forum to improve the flow
of information between beneficiaries and the Red Cross Red Crescent,
so the Red Cross Red Crescent can continue in its mission to
save and improve lives.
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Darnita
makes sure her house looks beautiful, regardless of its
size. (p14464)
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Six-year-old
Ade Syaujol, who wants to be a soldier when he grows up,
demonstrates his singing talent to the delight of his
audience. (p14468)
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Villagers
who lost their livelihood to the tsunami engage in small-scale
businesses such as buying and selling clothes, in order
to meet their daily needs. (p14466)
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Swinging
under the tree in front of their transitional shelter
is something children look forward to every afternoon
after school. (p14467)
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More
than 18 months after the tsunami, the International Federation
has completed 10,000 transitional shelters, including
the 203 shelters spearheaded by the Indonesian Red Cross
and the Australian Red Cross in Banda Aceh stadium. A
total of 10,000 more transitional shelters are in the
process of completion in other villages in Aceh and Nias
Island. (p14465)
The transitional shelter team in Aceh led by construction
delegate Corinne Treherne (middle) are pleased to know
that beneficiaries are happy with their new homes after
living in tents for the 18 months since the disaster struck.
(p14470)
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