Tsunami

Program Summary

Soon after the devastating December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, AFSC began working with local partners in Indonesia to offer an array of emergency services, including

• material aid and food distribution
• community organizing to revive people’s livelihoods
• support for children’s centers
• the provision of clean water and sanitation facilities
• housing reconstruction
• trauma healing
• community revitalization

The work was concentrated in northern and eastern Aceh, as well as some parts of west Aceh and northern Sumatra, all of which were affected by the tsunami. Those areas were also chosen because of three decades of violent conflict that has caused severe trauma among the civilian population. Taken together, the tsunami and ongoing conflict have fractured families and communities, aroused suspicions and distrust toward others, and created pain and hurt that will take years to reconcile.

As the emergency situation becomes less acute, AFSC Indonesia is increasing its peace building and development efforts. Now that they’re no longer pressed to take care of their immediate, basic needs, communities are thinking about their future and piecing together memories of past wrongs done to them during the conflict and reconstruction.

“Fishermen.” Photo: Matius Larson Krisetya

Community of Trust Program 
Together with its partners, AFSC Indonesia is developing two year peace building programs tailored to each partner’s constituent base or issue area (e.g., children, women’s issues, religious education, healthcare).

However, trust also means that AFSC and its partners must learn how to design peace-related programs together, a process which has already begun. The components of such a program design include proposal writing, contract and budget management, and program monitoring and reporting.

One of the activities in the capacity building program. Photo: Krisetya

Capacity Building Program
AFSC Indonesia and its partners have decided that, in 2007, they will strengthen their relationships through joint projects that help staff increase their skills in strategic planning, financial management, peace education, and trauma healing.

Furthermore, AFSC Indonesia will connect its partners with relevant learning opportunities outside of Aceh and the region. This will be invaluable to local Acehnese who have been isolated by decades of violence. And it will help AFSC’s partners improve their skills so they will be better able to carry out their missions.

Learning how to build a network among partners. Photo: Krisetya

Community Networking and Learning Program
AFSC’s Indonesian NGO partners rarely have the resources to travel outside of where they work and meet like-minded organizations. This makes it difficult for them to share ideas and concerns, seek new solutions to common problems, and develop relationships with other groups.

To address this problem, AFSC has asked its partners to let us know what groups they want to meet with. We will help make the connections possible so they can strengthen their network of friends and colleagues in the region.

Youth from Papua in a cultural art performance during a training for trainers at a Peace Camp. Photo: Krisetya

Youth for Peace Program
The youth population in Asia and many developing countries is growing dramatically. Yet there are few social, educational, and economic services designed to meet their needs, which results in increased unemployment and underemployment.

In response, AFSC is helping coordinate Peace Camps that bring together young people from many conflict-prone areas of Indonesia so they can learn about peace making and develop relationships with people they would normally never have a chance to meet. This facilitates dialogue across ethnic, political, and religious lines, and lays the foundation for open communication and peace making in the lives of young adults who will go on to influence others where they live.

AFSC’s partner in this work is the Center for Security and Peace Studies of the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.