20 Years On: UWCSEA’s Response to the Tsunami
Communications Team, UWCSEA
26 December 2024
As we approach the 20th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, it’s impossible not to reflect on the incredible response of the UWCSEA community in the wake of such a catastrophic event. Sunday, 26 December marks a somber milestone, but it also serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of our community. When the tsunami struck, the UWCSEA family, still on holiday, came together swiftly upon returning, determined to make a meaningful contribution to the devastated region.
In the days following the disaster, all individual Global Concern (GC) events were paused for the month of January, as the UWCSEA community pooled its resources and efforts to define our collective response. It wasn’t long before our focus shifted to Banda Aceh, where the impact of the tsunami was particularly devastating, but also paradoxically brought an unexpected period of peace and stability to a region that had long been scarred by civil conflict.
As a UWCSEA community, we were committed to supporting Banda Aceh’s recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Responding in Banda Aceh presented significant challenges due to the region’s 30-year civil conflict. However, paradoxically, the tragedy of the tsunami brought a period of peace and stability to the area. Within a relatively short time, we were able to establish a three-year scholarship programme aimed at selecting young Acehnese to become peacebuilders.
One of the first recipients, Rosa Darni, is now pursuing her PhD at Cambridge University, with a focus on education. Rosa’s journey is further intertwined with the UWC movement – she married a two-year Indonesian National Committee scholar, also from Banda Aceh.
The Riza family – led by Uchu Riza and her two children, Kerry ‘04 and Kinez – played a pivotal role in guiding us toward meaningful projects in Banda Aceh, helping to shape our impactful initiatives in the region.
Rebuilding SMP 4
One of UWCSEA’s first major initiatives in response to the 2004 tsunami was the reconstruction of Junior High School SMP 4 in Banda Aceh. Once devastated, SMP 4 has now become a sought-after school, embodying a vision of not just rebuilding, but ‘building back better.’ Generous contributions from the UWCSEA community have enabled the creation of modern facilities, including new classrooms, laboratories, an assembly hall, and plans for a multifunctional sports court and amphitheatre.
While the community continues to face challenges, including the emotional and financial struggles of orphaned children, UWCSEA’s long-term commitment has brought renewed hope and progress to a region still healing from its immense losses.
Launching the Tsunami Education Fund (TEF)
We also launched the Tsunami Education Fund (TEF), a project focused on identifying orphaned children who had lost their parents in the tsunami and ensuring they received the education they needed to thrive. This 15-year initiative involved tracking students, providing monthly stipends, and even travelling to Banda Aceh to meet and verify students’ progress.
Alumni parent Pat Meyer played a pivotal role in this effort, working tirelessly alongside Jumiah Tornroth to keep the project on track. Additionally, we collaborated with students from Singapore Management University (SMU), who designed a computer programme to support our data collection and tracking.
Fundraising Events That United a Community
The seed funds for the Tsunami Education Fund were raised through an unforgettable series of events. One of the most notable was a marathon bike ride in March 2005, which was spearheaded by ex-staff member Wayne Fozzard. The ride, which began at UWCSEA and ended in Phuket, involved staff such as Phil Woolrich, Angelo Coskinas, Steve Webster, Doug Wills, and one dedicated parent. Their efforts and the support crew made this epic journey possible, raising funds for TEF and ensuring the programme’s sustainability.
Another monumental fundraising event was the 52-Hour Basketball Marathon, masterminded by John McAuliffe and Ulli Niedermeyer (ex-staff and alumni parent). The aim was to break the world record for the longest continuous basketball game, and the UWCSEA community rallied together to support the event
Students, parents, and staff cheered on the players at all hours of the day and night, creating a sense of unity and purpose that exemplified the collective spirit of UWCSEA. The marathon even included two survivors of the tsunami, one of whom played for Singapore Polytechnic’s team, and the other with UWCSEA.
The Legacy of a United Effort
As a result of these efforts, Project Week students from UWCSEA were able to visit Banda Aceh and volunteer at SMP 4, while our then-Head of College, Julian Whitely, made a visit to the region to see firsthand the impact of our initiatives.
The response of the UWCSEA community to the tsunami was not just a testament to our collective strength and resolve, but also an embodiment of the core UWC values. It is a story of resilience, collaboration, and hope, and one that continues to inspire our community to this day.
As we reflect on these events 20 years on, it’s clear that the legacy of UWCSEA’s response to the tsunami lives on through the people whose lives we touched, the initiatives we set in motion, and the ongoing commitment to education and peacebuilding that continues in Banda Aceh.
Let’s take a moment to remember those who were affected, those who worked tirelessly in the aftermath, and those whose lives were changed by the efforts of the UWCSEA community. This commemorative piece serves as a reminder that, while the tsunami was a tragedy, it also brought forth a wave of hope and positive change, something UWCSEA will never forget.
For further reading, please refer to the articles linked below:
PAN March 2005
United World Publication May 2005
August 2005 Trip to Banda Aceh
SMP 4 Banda Aceh
