Finally, we break ground for Roosevelt Island House, with government officials looking on…
In the Wake of the Great Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, with 250,000 Washed Away
December 26, 2004, the Tsunami hit, leaving behind devastation in its wake…
And destroying many homes and businesses – and up to a possible 250,000 lives…
Many Acehenese survived in the mountains …
…while the wave left the area that was once heavily populated barren and desolate.
| At the direction of Orphans International Worldwide, our Indonesian director came to Aceh to see how OIW could help the Acehenese children. He saw the death and destruction first hand, and conveyed it’s enormity to our board of directors. | Dengan arahan “Orphans International Worldwide,” Ramdani Sirait tiba di Aceh dan mencari tahu apa yang bisa dilakukan OIW untuk anak-anak Aceh.…dan dia menyaksikan langsung kematian dan kehancuran, dan menyampaikan kedahsyatan itu kepada para pengurus OIW. |
People were left to live in primitive refugee camps after the quake.
But their hopes of a new beginning were stronger than their grief, so they began recuperating what little was left.
Our director discovered the bridge to the Village of Lubuk Sukon outside Banda Aceh…
And down a quiet street, a new life was awaiting to begin for 240 kids – our goal over the next two years.
The house and health clinic needed much repair before the children could move in.
…and the process began that led to our first home of OI Sumatera today…
MISSING PICTURE
And with supplies trucked in from over the mountains m Medan, coordinated by our international director.
Di awalnya, semua kebutuhan harus di beli di Medan, dikirim dengan truk ke Aceh yang dikoordinir oleh Dani Sirait.
While staff from Haiti, Peru and America planted mango trees…
The neighborhood children came to see what we were doing…
Meanwhile, I continued the work begun by our international director, meeting with local officials…
And our wonderful, Achenese-style Multifunction Room opens.
Yuri Guanilo and Jacques Africot, heads of our projects in Peru and Haiti, hang curtains in preparation…
Sumatera Coordinator Eddi Saputra, Bali Director Agus Helly and handyman Bang Nuri set up home…
We believe a French medical agency may work with us to run our Public Health Clinic.
View from behind our public health clinic: rice fields surrounded by mountains.
Many children were left without a home or family, and had to survive the first few days on their own. Thanks to Orphans International, many were given a new start. Eddi, our staff coordinator, picks up one of our children from a refugee camp
The children, such as Wahyu, were happy to leave the camps…
As two of our children prepare to leave the refugee camp for our home, a look of fear and relief…
Bahrizal dan Rahmyanapun bersiap untuk juga pindah…
Wearing the backpacks we have already given them, they carry everything they own with them…
As we prepare the complex for our Grand Opening, local students pass by on the way to school…
The stage is set for the Opening of our Campus for Tsunami Orphans in Greater Aceh, Sumatera.
Yuri Guanilo (Peru), Eddi Saputra (Aceh) and Jacques Africot (Haiti) are sure to get good seats!…
While speakers sit in the front row, ready to share thoughts on the importance of helping children.
And traditional Acehenese dancers perform a welcome dance to the delight of the crowd…
The beautiful costumes awe the crowd.
While I share our Orphans International philosophy with those gathered.
Finally we are ready for government officials to cut the red ribbon to Grodzins & Rotary Houses…
Police and Indonesian Army brass attend the Opening, as well as local and religious leaders…
Then Jim and our international diector hand out awards of appreciation for their cooperation to local leaders…
Especially to Pak Djoni, leader of the local village foundation with whom we cooperate.
Finally, we break ground for Roosevelt Island House, with government officials looking on…
But the children seem to be much more excited by the prospect of another home – or at least playing in the dirt!
The local women cooked enough Acehenese traditional food for the village, it seemed…
While the current health clinic staff enjoyed the events of the day while sitting in the shade.
After Grodzins House opens, it’s time to have some fun – let’s wrestle on our new beds!
The very next day, a surprise from Auxiliaris Foundation of Puerto Rico, new playground equipment!
Followed by Afternoon Prayers, observed by Haitian Director Jacques Africot.
And arts and crafts to wind down a long day of excitement.
The staff, of course, stay in the OI Staff House down the street from our campus…
…which is where we have established our temporary office, where the children can play with the computer.
Post Script: Our funding ran out in the fourth year of the program but the children had not yet been united with their extended families; we needed a little longer for the families to recover and come forward. So I cashed out my 401-k and kept the children’s village alive for an additional year – just long enough so that every child found a home with a long-lost aunt, uncle or even older sibling.
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