The Aceh Project: Ten years of helping

Pat Meyer, TEF volunteer and UWCSEA parent, UWCSEA

Determined to make a difference in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in December 2004, the UWCSEA community offered immediate support, but also wished to make a positive, long-term impact. Physics teacher Wayne Fozzard wanted to do something to help the victims and through discussions with Anthony Skillicorn (then the Global Concerns coordinator) and others, the Tsunami Education Fund (TEF) was established. Its aim was to provide long-term financial support to children who had lost their parents in the tsunami. The plan was to fund each tsunami yatim piatu (tsunami orphan) through their high school education, rather than provide short-term or one-off payments. Modest payments would be made directly to a bank account in the child’s name; a sum not meant to make students (or new family) dependent upon the funds, but to motivate the students.

The region around Banda Aceh (1) near the epicentre of the earthquake and tsunami, had been in conflict for 30 nearly years; it had not been safe for foreigners to travel there. So in the first few weeks after the tsunami, Uchu Riza, an Indonesian UWCSEA parent, travelled to Medan and then to Banda Aceh to assess the situation. She took photographs, looked into safe accommodation, estimated prices for food, fuel and transport, and delivered basic supplies of clothes, shoes and food.

Three months after the tsunami, as talks on a peace agreement were underway, the first of many UWCSEA teams—this one composed of teachers and an alumnus—travelled to Banda Aceh. There they saw the extent of the disaster, but also that schools had resumed operation—some holding their classes in tents, while other schools doubled up to share undamaged buildings. Led by Susan Edwards and Dave Allen, this group also began planning ways to help with the long-term recovery.

Singapore-Phuket cyclists at the start of the journeyUWCSEA and Singapore Polytechnic teams line up for the Guinness Book of Records for the Longest Continuous Game of Basketball fundraising event. In March 2005, fundraising for the TEF started with a nine-day, 1,500km bike ride by UWCSEA teachers Wayne Fozzard, Douglas Wills, Phil Woolrich, Angelo Coskinas and Steve Webster and parent Graham Nyman, from Singapore to Phuket, Thailand (pictured at left). The successful bicycle marathon was followed by a record-breaking basketball marathon (2) by students from UWCSEA and Singapore Polytechnic, including two students from Banda Aceh. The basketball marathon raised funds for rebuilding sports courts, so that young people could return to their games and play in Banda Aceh.

The Aceh Project, which encompasses all of the work by UWCSEA in Banda Aceh, commemorates its tenth year in 2015. Many people have supported this work—teachers, students, staff, scholars and scholars’ families, a Global Concerns group, Project Week groups, alumni, parents, as well as community members from Banda Aceh. The GC group began by raising awareness and fundraising, then helping with record keeping, and (in later years) maintaining a Facebook page. The projects have been learning experiences for everyone involved—a chance to learn about relief efforts, to witness the recovery of a community from a natural disaster and a 30-year conflict, and an opportunity to get to know a community through sustained involvement in long-term service projects.

March 2005, relief efforts set up in tents tried to reconnect family membersFor a while, members of the UWCSEA community travelled to Banda Aceh every six to eight weeks. There was much to do to determine whether it would be possible to work there: Would it be safe? Could we find a local partner who shared our goals? How best to help tsunami yatim piatu? How would children who needed help be identified? How about identifying a school to rebuild? How could we make sure that the financial support went to the intended recipients?

Soon a partner was identified—a community leader in Banda Aceh with contacts throughout the area, who was interested in the long-term welfare of the region. Bapak Nazar (pictured in front of SMP4, fourth photo in column on right) and two of his children provided essential support: introductions, translations, knowledge of the area and of communities in need, advice, record keeping, report collection, and transportation. His son and daughter grew up, finished high school, and went to university, all the while keeping track of students and school reports in the TEF project database.

One of the UWCSEA students who helped lead student teams on visits to Banda Aceh, and later managed TEF financial accounts was Ikram Lailul (Class of 2008), “I feel most grateful to the many people who were involved in the project. They used their time and energy, to rebuild Aceh. Their spirit inspired me to work towards the community. It was this experience that motivated me to continuously want to make positive change, such as by doing a peace project in Aceh funded by the Davis Peace Project Organization.”

Rossa at her graduation from UWCSEA Dover, with her parentsRossa Darni (Class of 2009, pictured at left at her graduation with her parents, Susan Edwards and Uchu Riza), the first UWCSEA–Trafigura Foundation scholar from Banda Aceh, concurs, “I am so honoured to be able to see the project grow throughout the years. As one of the earliest Acehnese scholars involved in the TEF, I am so thankful to get to work with all of the people who have contributed to make it successful. This project was a result of excellent collaboration between students, teachers, and parents, and I believe it gave a little something for all of us. In this project, I gained a family, people who until today are still guiding me towards goodness. Nevertheless, the TEF inspired me to work for something that can directly make a difference in other’s lives.”

Initially, the teams visiting from Singapore focused on identifying a school for rebuilding and locating tsunami yatim piatu. By May 2005, seven students, all from SMP4, were registered as the first TEF recipients. SMP4, a middle school located in the downtown market area of Banda Aceh, had been destroyed. With generous financial support from Trafigura Foundation, Global Energies and UWCSEA fundraising activities, SMP4 was rebuilt and reopened for students in March 2006.

Teams continued to visit schools in the region to identify and register students; by June 2006, 159 students were receiving funds through TEF. Monthly payments were made to each child’s bank account. TEF supported students from kindergarten to high school, and, initially, the amount was just enough to cover transportation costs to school. Funding continued through high school, as long as students submitted their school reports and remained in school. Some students used the money for books, transportation or tuition; others used it for food for themselves and their elderly guardian; and a fortunate few had guardians who were able to provide for all their needs, enabling the student to save for their future.

Through our visits to the region, we came to understand that while financial help was appreciated, the encouragement and psychological support from the regular visits and contact were just as important. The TEF students saw themselves as part of a group; they knew that people in Banda Aceh and Singapore cared about their progress and would be visiting again.

Rahmat Ashari (Class of 2016), a UWCSEA–Trafigura Foundation scholar from Banda Aceh explains, “Instead of looking at it from an economic perspective, I have learnt that the values acted in the works of TEF are truly essential. It is not only about transferring money, it is also about building up the relationship between TEF, the TEF’s students, and TEF’s helpers in Aceh. I learnt that going from asking “How much money have we donated?” to “How have we impacted our recipients’ life?” is a great jump. In this context, UWCSEA, through TEF, has absolutely brought me beyond turning ideas into action to expanding the social connection through actions.”

On our early visits we saw many foreign organisations and NGOs involved in the rebuilding effort. But after three years, most were gone. Although the individuals involved in the Aceh Project have changed, the TEF project continues till today.

The Aceh Project has been successful in large part because it is a relatively small project with strong local links. Through regular visits, we have gotten to know the community and been able to closely follow its progress. Because UWCSEA students, staff and teachers make the visits, we have a clear understanding of the situation on the ground, and we have not had problems with “fabricated” students or missing funds.

Susan Edwards and Pat Meyer on a record collection visit, January 2009Still, there were frustrating challenges. There were differences in educational cultures and priorities. Keeping up to date with the students and receiving their school reports on time was a huge challenge. Many students and their guardians were unfamiliar with bank operations; distances from the students’ homes to the bank or record collection point were formidable, older guardians were illiterate. Yet, people came together to find solutions. Teachers, headmasters, security guards alerted us to tsunami yatim piatu. In one middle school, a biology teacher collected all the TEF reports and submitted them. In another remote community, the guardians of the elementary-age TEF students formed a network, and a grandfather collected and submitted all the reports. The headmaster and deputy from another distant elementary school brought their TEF students and reports to the open house by motorbikes. Singaporean university students developed an online programme to allow people in Singapore and Banda Aceh to share TEF student records and information. Teams from UWCSEA held long discussions with Bapak Nazar and school leaders, conducted teacher training, invited all TEF students to open house sessions, and visited tens of schools to track down students and their reports.

We visited TEF students at over 80 elementary, middle or high schools in the region. Over 700 students have received support. Currently we’re funding 70 students in middle or high school, and will continue funding until they all complete high school. We are heartened to meet TEF high school graduates looking ahead to the future with confidence. Some students will continue further training in hospitality or nursing while others are studying at UNSYIAH, the branch of the national university in Banda Aceh.

Kirkha Kaharsyah (Class of 2014), a UWCSEA–Trafigura Foundation Acehenese scholar observes, “What I have learnt from TEF is that the smallest changes that we made, it could make a big impact. I have seen students who received the scholarship become quite successful on pursuing their education after high school. They received invitations and scholarships from some universities. I know that the scholarship provided by TEF is not the most prestigious scholarship, but the students made the best out of it which makes me think that UWC values are reflected not just in UWCSEA students, but also in the people who are helped by every existing global concern that we have.”

Rossa adds, “The TEF project has shown me that you are never too young to bring positive change to a society. I learned how education can really make a difference in people’s lives. Working with the Acehnese children throughout the years motivated me to study and work harder so I can find more ways in the future to give back to my people and develop my hometown. Listening to the children’s life-stories and future goals taught me that there is never a reason to give up. Despite of everything they have been through, they never stopped smiling.”

Read articles that appeared in United World magazine (the magazine of the UWC movement):

Fact-finding in Aceh, May 2005

Returning to Aceh: after the cameras have gone, February 2008

The photos below illustrate the rebuilding of SMP4, a Middle School project enabled by UWCSEA's Aceh Project. The first photo was taken two days before the earthquake and tsunami 2004, the last in 2014.

1 At the tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, is the city of Banda Aceh and the neighbouring district, Aceh Besar. Together they occupy an area just over four times the size of Singapore. This area was closest to the epicentre of the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami. In this region alone nearly 23,000 students and 1,300 teachers lost their lives. Over 300 schools were damaged or destroyed. (From Education Master Plan, Post Earthquake and Tsunami in NAD and Nias, 13 April 2005, Ministry of National Education RI).
2 Guinness Book of World Records for the Longest Continuous Game of Basketball