Stories

SurfAid volunteer Yusran and his four-year-old son Pandu Aska. Photo: Kirk Willcox

It’s just over two years since the Mentawai tsunami in October 2010 and it’s inspiring to see the resilience of the local people who have managed to pick themselves up and move forward.

The disaster killed more than 500 people and left thousands homeless. SurfAid embarked on a one-year recovery program to help them get back on their feet.

Communications director Kirk Willcox returned to the field recently with a filmmaker Sascha Ettinger Epstein. He writes:

One place we visited was Sioban, which is the main town in South Sipora serviced by a local ferry. We caught the ferry from Tua Pejat with our Mentawai Emergency Preparedness program manager Mario.

In Sioban, we met up E-Prep field officer Joni and a local SurfAid volunteer, Yusran Yunus. Yusran, 43, is a construction contractor and he also owns a warung (shop).

The 2010 tsunami didn’t affect Sioban but the devastation on the other side of Sipora, and down in the Pagais to the south, really put Yusran into action. First he did a five-day training course in psychological first aid and then he set about building a temporary village up in the hills – a safe place for the locals to live in case their village is wiped out by earthquake or tsunami.

The temporary village will hold 600 people and there are free range chickens, banana trees and water. And they were building a helipad.

“If the port is destroyed, emergency teams won’t be able to get supplies in,” Yusran said. “We saw that when the tsunami hit the Pagai Islands to the south they used helicopters to get in supplies and take out seriously injured people, so we’re getting prepared.”

Research shows that $1 spent in preparation for a disaster saves $10 in recovery. If a large earthquake hits, the local residents will first move to higher ground up clearly marked evacuation paths in case a tsunami follows. If their village is destroyed, they will move further up the hills to the temporary village.

Meanwhile SurfAid is continuing its E-Prep training in Sioban to set up and train disaster management teams. All the villagers involved in the program are volunteers – freely giving up their time so as to serve their community. And the word is spreading.

Preparing for the future

SurfAid volunteer Yusran and his four-year-old son Pandu Aska. Photo: Kirk Willcox

It’s just over two years since the Mentawai tsunami in October 2010 and it’s inspiring to see the resilience of the local people who have managed to pick themselves up and move forward.

The disaster killed more than 500 people and left thousands homeless. SurfAid embarked on a one-year recovery program to help them get back on their feet.

Communications director Kirk Willcox returned to the field recently with a filmmaker Sascha Ettinger Epstein. He writes:

One place we visited was Sioban, which is the main town in South Sipora serviced by a local ferry. We caught the ferry from Tua Pejat with our Mentawai Emergency Preparedness program manager Mario.

In Sioban, we met up E-Prep field officer Joni and a local SurfAid volunteer, Yusran Yunus. Yusran, 43, is a construction contractor and he also owns a warung (shop).

The 2010 tsunami didn’t affect Sioban but the devastation on the other side of Sipora, and down in the Pagais to the south, really put Yusran into action. First he did a five-day training course in psychological first aid and then he set about building a temporary village up in the hills – a safe place for the locals to live in case their village is wiped out by earthquake or tsunami.

The temporary village will hold 600 people and there are free range chickens, banana trees and water. And they were building a helipad. ...read more

Mrs Basaria is a role model and motivator for all activities conducted by SurfAid in the Sipora area of the Mentawai Islands.

Now 56 with four children, she lived in Gobik hamlet, Bosua village, in the North Sipora sub-district on the west coast. There were a number of casualties during the earthquake and tsunami on October 2010. Some of the community members moved to Bosua village and the rest moved to a new hamlet called Gobik Sibau, which is located about 700 metres from the previous hamlet and about a kilometre from the coast.

Twenty families moved to the new location, including Mrs Basaria. One of her daughters, Regina, a community health post volunteer, has also been actively involved in SurfAid activities.

When the Care Group was formed in July 2007, Mrs Basaria was active as one of the volunteers. The members of this Care Group come from four hamlets - East Bosua, South Bosua, Old Gobik, and New Gobik (which is now called Gobik Sibau hamlet). Mrs Basaria has always been actively involved in every SurfAid activity and has taught the lessons she learned to other families.

Mrs Basaria also joined the Maternal Health training conducted by SurfAid in April 2010. She is a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) in Gobik and quite active in handling deliveries in the hamlet. This has been very helpful because medical staff members are difficult to find in this location. The training was attended and opened by the head of the Mentawai Health Authority who came with his assistants. The trainers of the training were Dr Eki and Mrs Nur. The aim of the maternal health training was to help TBAs from all SurfAid-assisted areas be well trained in delivery so that the TBAs had sufficient knowledge in handling delivery and in using delivery equipment and tools in a healthy, clean way.

Mrs Basaria also plays an active role in Mother and Child Health activities including the planting of nutrition gardens. These activities enable the community members to know and understand the importance of consuming food that contains protein and fibre in addition to the staple food (carbohydrates). The community members rarely consume food with protein and fibre, although the Mentawai is very rich in seafood and has a vast area for food cultivation. Therefore SurfAid encourages the community members to obtain protein from plants and animals by conducting nutrition garden activities.

In these activities, Mrs Basaria also played an active role and motivated the training participants. The training was facilitated by her daughter Mrs Regina and assisted by SurfAid staff. These activities were held in Mrs Basaria’s house and she explained the concept and then following with practical work in making nutrition gardens, which was conducted in groups.

Posyandu caders (the monthly health clinic volunteers), mothers with babies/children, and pregnant women worked together to make the nutrition gardens. The plants in the gardens flourish and the community members can’t wait to harvest and enjoy the produce of the nutrition gardens so that the families, especially babies, children, and pregnant women, can obtain protein and fibre which are very useful for their brain development and growth.

It is highly expected that when SurfAid no longer assists Gobik hamlet and other areas, the groups that have been established will still be able to continue the goals to achieve hygienic and healthy communities. People like Mrs Basaria, who continuously motivate the community members, will still exist and increase in numbers. Although it is still difficult to observe a significant change in the behaviour of the community members, we hope that in the future, along with the increase in the motivation and interests of the community members, they can achieve better health outcomes.

By Nina

Ibu Basaria, A role model & motivator

Mrs Basaria is a role model and motivator for all activities conducted by SurfAid in the Sipora area of the Mentawai Islands.

Now 56 with four children, she lived in Gobik hamlet, Bosua village, in the North Sipora sub-district on the west coast. There were a number of casualties during the earthquake and tsunami on October 2010. Some of the community members moved to Bosua village and the rest moved to a new hamlet called Gobik Sibau, which is located about 700 metres from the previous hamlet and about a kilometre from the coast.

Twenty families moved to the new location, including Mrs Basaria. One of her daughters, Regina, a community health post volunteer, has also been actively involved in SurfAid activities.

When the Care Group was formed in July 2007, Mrs Basaria was active as one of the volunteers. The members of this Care Group come from four hamlets - East Bosua, South Bosua, Old Gobik, and New Gobik (which is now called Gobik Sibau hamlet). Mrs Basaria has always been actively involved in every SurfAid activity and has taught the lessons she learned to other families.

Mrs Basaria also joined the Maternal Health training conducted by SurfAid in April 2010. She is a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) in Gobik and quite active in handling deliveries in the hamlet. This has been very helpful because medical staff members are difficult to find in this location. The training was attended and opened by the head of the Mentawai Health Authority who came with his assistants. The trainers of the training were Dr Eki and Mrs Nur. The aim of the maternal health training was to help TBAs from all SurfAid-assisted areas be well trained in delivery so that the TBAs had sufficient knowledge in handling delivery and in using delivery equipment and tools in a healthy, clean way. ...read more

Ibu Palmira, 37, is the head of the Posyandu kaders (health clinic volunteers) in Beriulou village, South Sipora. Ibu Palmira has two children and she works in the fields.

Posyandu is the monthly village health clinic for pregnant mothers and children under five and Ibu Palmira is very active every month in serving her community with appropriate health messages.

SurfAid’s Mother and Child Health (MCH) program was implemented in Beriulou from August until November 2011 as part of SurfAid’s Mentawai tsunami recovery activities, with lead funding by AusAID and the New Zealand Aid Programme.

Ibu Palmira received nutrition training from SurfAid staff in August. All Beriulou kaders then agreed to implement follow-up activities including meetings, outreach and home visits to the community members.

On 25 September, a meeting was held in Beriulou Catholic Church for mothers with a child under five and pregnant women. Normally SurfAid staff would help and support kaders to organize this type of meeting, however Ibu Palmira visited the families to invite them to gather at the church and she facilitated the health session without needing help from the SurfAid MCH team.

Ibu Palmira had even prepared all the tools and materials needed for the meeting, which SurfAid had provided during the August training. Different types of seeds (beans, nuts etc) were also distributed to community members at the training to increase the protein intake for children under five and pregnant women, because it is difficult to get the protein in Beriulou village.

Although the SurfAid team was very tired after giving the training, they were very proud to see that Ibu Palmira was able to implement several activities by herself. Ibu Palmira is a remarkable woman who seriously wants to try to change the health and nutrition status of her community. Ibu Palmira is just an ordinary person but is able to do something extraordinary.

With the work of Ibu Palmira, pregnant community members are able to better understand how to take care and maintain their pregnancy until delivery, followed by giving colostrum right after the delivery and exclusive breastfeeding for six months, all very important health messages.

Messages about eating nutritious foods according to food groups and regular visits to the Posyandu or midwife during pregnancy, and attending Posyandu until the child is five, will eventually create a healthy child and family.

Ibu Palmira Serves Her Community

Ibu Palmira, 37, is the head of the Posyandu kaders (health clinic volunteers) in Beriulou village, South Sipora. Ibu Palmira has two children and she works in the fields.

Posyandu is the monthly village health clinic for pregnant mothers and children under five and Ibu Palmira is very active every month in serving her community with appropriate health messages.

SurfAid’s Mother and Child Health (MCH) program was implemented in Beriulou from August until November 2011 as part of SurfAid’s Mentawai tsunami recovery activities, with lead funding by AusAID and the New Zealand Aid Programme.

Ibu Palmira received nutrition training from SurfAid staff in August. All Beriulou kaders then agreed to implement follow-up activities including meetings, outreach and home visits to the community members. ...read more

There have been several activities within the Hygiene Promotion Program as part of SurfAid’s Mentawai tsunami recovery activities, of which AusAID is the lead funder.

One was a campaign for hand-washing with soap using flowing water in an elementary school that involved Grades IV and V students. Aulan Fikro Islami, 12, who lives in Sagitsi Timur hamlet, was one of the Grade V students of Nemnem Leleu School.

Aulan’s father Hesto HS, 40, works as a government unit head (kaur) in the village. His mother is Nirmawati, who is the head of PPKBD (Pembantu Pelaksana Keluarga Berencana Desa ‘village family planning assistance’) and also the head of PWI (Persatuan Wanita Indonesia ‘Indonesian women’s union’) in the village.

A SurfAid team that also consisted Nemnem Leleu schoolteachers conducted the campaign for hand-washing with soap (HWWS) using running water. Aulan was elected as the head of the group and his task was to be a model and to monitor his members in practicing at their homes.

SurfAid staff at Nemnem Leleu School

Aulan, who was elected group head, with SurfAid's handwashing song

After he returned home from school, Aulan told his father what he had learned about HWWS using running water. He also asked his father to make a hand-washing facility. A week later, his father had made it using a large plastic container and a pipe that has enabled the family members to wash their hands easily. They have been able to practice HWWS using running water in a practical and simple way.

According to Aulan’s mother Nirmawati, the hand-washing facility that her husband made has been used by all family members for hand-washing with soap before meals, after meals, wudlu (wash before praying) and after other activities. Hopefully it can change the family behaviour and that hand-washing with soap can become a daily routine.

Nirmawati uses the new handwashing facility

Hygiene Promotion Reaches Into Mentawai Schools and Homes

There have been several activities within the Hygiene Promotion Program as part of SurfAid’s Mentawai tsunami recovery activities, of which AusAID is the lead funder.

One was a campaign for hand-washing with soap using flowing water in an elementary school that involved Grades IV and V students. Aulan Fikro Islami, 12, who lives in Sagitsi Timur hamlet, was one of the Grade V students of Nemnem Leleu School.

Aulan’s father Hesto HS, 40, works as a government unit head (kaur) in the village. His mother is Nirmawati, who is the head of PPKBD (Pembantu Pelaksana Keluarga Berencana Desa ‘village family planning assistance’) and also the head of PWI (Persatuan Wanita Indonesia ‘Indonesian women’s union’) in the village. ...read more

Setia (left) and SurfAid staff member Wati

Setia Tatubekat, a 14-year-old from the community of Bosua, on Sipora Island, is SurfAid’s youngest yet most outspoken, determined, and enthusiastic field volunteer. She is a shining example of how empowering and encouraging teenagers to become active in their community creates a support system that builds upon motivation and resilience.

When talking to Setia you are immediately bedazzled by her gleaming smile. She is a very polite mature girl who applies herself wholeheartedly. The community of Bosua and SurfAid could not have asked for a better representative to help assist families to move forward.

When I asked Setia how she felt about the presence of SurfAid in her community her eyes lit up. “From the moment I first participated in SurfAid activities I have learnt so much. I now have the confidence to believe in myself and be happy. I feel I can surpass any challenge,” she said.

Like many female Mentawai teenagers, Setia has the responsibility to take care of her younger siblings, prepare food for her family, work in the fields, and go to school. Despite her busy schedule she insists on making time for SurfAid, herself and her community.

SurfAid's Psychosocial Support team is achieving great results in the field since the October tsunami

“I now feel comfortable to express how I feel, to talk about the loneliness, sadness, and difficulties that I have faced since the disaster of the tsunami,” Setia said. “Because of what SurfAid’s Psychosocial Support (PSS) team has done for me I feel that I can be comfortable in any disaster situation,” she said.

After last year’s tsunami, AusAID became the lead funder of our PSS program and with the help and knowledge that the program has provided, teenagers like Setia have the confidence to help other children in their communities who are still experiencing signs and symptoms of stress and trauma. Teenagers like Setia have the ability to tap into the local networks, heal the damage and facilitate the process of rehabilitation because their community can identify with them. Trust, respect and collaboration are immediately achieved.

Promoting confidence-building through education allows teenagers like Setia to utilise their skills and contribute by helping their friends and families. “With all the information, experience and abilities I have gained from the PSS team, I will share and help those who are still having difficulties to overcome the effects of the disaster. I hope I can become that motivational person that helps to influence other people.”

- Stacey Howe

Rebuilding Resilience in Bosua

Setia (left) and SurfAid staff member Wati

Setia Tatubekat, a 14-year-old from the community of Bosua, on Sipora Island, is SurfAid’s youngest yet most outspoken, determined, and enthusiastic field volunteer. She is a shining example of how empowering and encouraging teenagers to become active in their community creates a support system that builds upon motivation and resilience.

When talking to Setia you are immediately bedazzled by her gleaming smile. She is a very polite mature girl who applies herself wholeheartedly. The community of Bosua and SurfAid could not have asked for a better representative to help assist families to move forward.

When I asked Setia how she felt about the presence of SurfAid in her community her eyes lit up. “From the moment I first participated in SurfAid activities I have learnt so much. I now have the confidence to believe in myself and be happy. I feel I can surpass any challenge,” she said. ...read more

Following the destruction of the October 2010 tsunami, many families are finding it difficult to find the motivation to rebuild their lives and communities. Many were left to contemplate how they would survive the ordeal. This story is about how one woman and her family are managing to survive the destruction of the tsunami by taking advantage of the opportunities and activities SurfAid International is providing ...

Before the tsunami struck, Ibu Esri, a mother of two, and her husband worked hard to provide food for their family. Each day, Esri would go to the fields to find bananas, taro and firewood. She would often be gone for hours and would have no qualms about leaving her two children in the care of her mother. In Mentawai culture, a mother is responsible to nurture and protect her family, and having such responsibility is generally executed with pride and grace.

But that all changed on the night of Monday 25 October, when the tsunami struck their village of Berilou, destroying 69 of the 175 houses.

While Esri and her husband did not lose their house in the tsunami, they were affected in other ways. Since the disaster they have not been able to go fishing or tend the fields because they are too scared to leave their children, Theresea and David - and they worry that another tsunami will come. Concern about finding ways to support the family has intensified the couple’s symptoms of stress. With a lack of adequate, nutritious food being available, this family is among many that are trying their hardest to overcome this setback.

Like many mothers, Esri is reluctant to leave her children’s side. Wherever she goes her children are always with her.

“My children are too afraid to play outside with their friends; they’d rather stay at home with me even if they have nothing to do. It is difficult to entertain them because I have work to do,” Esri said.

The aftermath of the tsunami is continuing to disrupt the culture and traditions in many other Mentawai homes. Communities are confused, scared and still shocked. Trying to make decisions and survive has been a very challenging process.

Since the implementation of SurfAid’s Psychosocial Support (PSS) program in Berilou village, children are now participating in fun and educational activities. “The SurfAid team has made a big impact on me, my family, and the community,” Esri said. Over the past month, Esri’s participation in the PSS activities has led her to become one of SurfAid’s first volunteers in Berilou. “We have never had any international organisations in our village before,” she said.

Ibu Esri now attends every activity and is a key figure in leading community meetings. Her enthusiasm and dedication is a great example for SurfAid and the community. Next month, Ibu Esri will have the opportunity to attend early childhood education training to strengthen her knowledge of psychosocial support and build her confidence to act as support for her community and family.

And with the help of SurfAid’s shelter team, the whole village is now being rebuilt on higher ground two kilometres inland - safe from a tsunami.

- Stacey Howe

Picking up lives after the tsunami

Following the destruction of the October 2010 tsunami, many families are finding it difficult to find the motivation to rebuild their lives and communities. Many were left to contemplate how they would survive the ordeal. This story is about how one woman and her family are managing to survive the destruction of the tsunami by taking advantage of the opportunities and activities SurfAid International is providing ... ...read more

Mothers engage in sack races while the fathers facilitate and support the game. Involving parents in events like this strengthens the relationship with their children, and experiencing laughter, smiling, and having fun further decreases the stress and trauma, and strengthens confidence. Who would have thought this community was affected by a massive tsunami only five months ago? Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

As part of our Psychosocial Support program we hold special events. In Berilou, the mothers participated in a variety of games including this one about who can fill a bucket of water the quickest by filling the Bintang bottle with your hands. This game created endless laughter in the community and enabled everyone to come together and support one another. In order to create a lasting impact on stress and trauma, traditional coping strategies that are familiar to the community must be identified and strengthened. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

SurfAid’s Psychosocial Support staff can clearly see how months of play therapy and structured activities have benefitted the community. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

After completing their colouring competition, the young children of Berilou wanted to show everyone how much fun they were having. Just a few months ago, many of these children were too afraid to leave their parent’s side, stand up in front of their peers and pray, or assist the team. But now there are plenty of smiling, cheeky faces. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

On the first day of the special event in Berilou, Psychosocial Support team members performed a show for the children, which included all the songs and dances the children learnt with the team. Mothers with young children flocked to the stage and joined in with the singing and dancing. The team felt like superstars - which they are! Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

Inet delivers health messages of hygiene that keeping nails short helps prevent illness and infections. Each child in the program receives a nail clipper to take home and once a week the Psychosocial Support team checks their nails. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

It is important for caregivers to have an understanding of the psychological symptoms of stress and trauma - for one, to prevent them taking out their anger and frustration on their children. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

SurfAid Holds A Special Event in Berilou

Mothers engage in sack races while the fathers facilitate and support the game. Involving parents in events like this strengthens the relationship with their children, and experiencing laughter, smiling, and having fun further decreases the stress and trauma, and strengthens confidence. Who would have thought this community was affected by a massive tsunami only five months ago? Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid ...read more

Consultant Stacey Howe, who heads up our Psychosocial Support project, says that trying to spend time evaluating each project site on a daily basis can be challenging. "However there's always a smile on my face when I get to hang out with children as wonderful as the group in Gobik," Stacey says. "The sound of their laughter warms my heart - especially when they're making fun of my Mentawai language skills." Photo: Bram/SurfAid

During the tsunami, Mira lost her mother and younger brother, with only herself and her father surviving. When we first worked with Mira she was a very shy and timid little girl, just like the rest of her friends in Gobik. She seldom spoke Bahasa Indonesia and, even though she participated in activities, her confidence and esteem were very low. Over the months, Mira has blossomed into an outspoken, confident, extremely intelligent little girl who has established a close relationship with Inet and Nari who work with our Psychosocial Program. Mira still has nightmares about the tsunami taking her mother and brother away but here she has a big smile as she helps Nari monitor and evaluate the younger children. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

Bosua children display their support for SurfAid's psychosocial support program brochures and their hard work of folding. Not too long ago, these children were affected by a tsunami that not only changed their village, but took away their friends. It is wonderful to see they now have smiles that reach from one ear to the other. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

The children of Bosua have identified the SurfAid Psychosocial Support team base camp as their safe space. At every opportunity the children play with, or help, the PSS staff. Here they assist with folding 1000 brochures. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

SurfAid is providing brochures that use a combination of cartoons and information to increase the community's awareness of post traumatic stress after the tsunami. This young boy in Bosua village was showing us his enthusiasm as he offered to help fold 1000 brochures. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

Smiles after a disaster

Consultant Stacey Howe, who heads up our Psychosocial Support project, says that trying to spend time evaluating each project site on a daily basis can be challenging. "However there's always a smile on my face when I get to hang out with children as wonderful as the group in Gobik," Stacey says. "The sound of their laughter warms my heart - especially when they're making fun of my Mentawai language skills." Photo: Bram/SurfAid ...read more

After learning how to brush their teeth, the children of Berilou village received a toothbrush and toothpaste each. The boy receiving his pack here even promised to brush his teeth 10 times a day. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

SurfAid has trained teachers from Bosua, Berilou, and Masokut in psychosocial support. The concept behind the training is to strengthen the capacity of teachers so they can act as a support network for the community and children if a disaster strikes. Immediately after the week of training, a teacher from Masokut redesigned the curriculum so he could integrate psychosocial information and activities. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

Matt King, our Shelter Program consultant, visited Berilou to help with the Psychosocial Support Program activities. The children were ecstatic to see him and some even felt special when he was greeting them. Establishing a connection with other SurfAid rehabilitation projects after a disaster allows communities to understand the importance of resilience, working together and moving forward. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

It is important for children and caregivers to maintain basic hygiene by practising simple activities such as brushing teeth. Often the stress and trauma experienced after a natural disaster cause families to forget the simple things. Providing a fun way to remember messages and build confidence helps families try to maintain a balanced mental and physical state. Berilou village, Mentawai Islands. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

The concept behind this Psychosocial Support (PSS) session is to educate children on the environment surrounding them and build their confidence so that they feel safe in their environment. PSS activities often incorporate music, art, drama and games to promote confidence building and restore the child's and caregiver's mental and emotional wellbeing. Berilou village, Mentawai Islands. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid

A big promise

After learning how to brush their teeth, the children of Berilou village received a toothbrush and toothpaste each. The boy receiving his pack here even promised to brush his teeth 10 times a day. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid ...read more

SurfAid’s Shelter Project team standing on the site of a new home. From left: Johnny, Matt, Tina, Jati, Nina, Lamhot and Ilman. Photo: SurfAid

SurfAid engineer Lamhot Purba works with community members to ensure solid and durable construction techniques. The Mentawai people are amazing craftsmen with timber. With technical assistance from SurfAid to improve strength and durability, the homes will be appropriate to their needs. Photo: Matt King/SurfAid

A Mentawai boy carries salvaged concrete blocks to help make the foundations for the new family home. “His smile is a reflection of the community spirit in Beriulou," says SurfAid Shelter Project consultant Matt King. "It is amazing to experience the energy, activity and creativity in rebuilding their lives.” Photo: Matt King/SurfAid

Community members work together to prepare the site for a new home. Groups of five families work together to build each others home's. This creates an enjoyable and vibrant work environment. Photo: Matt King/SurfAid

Community members transfer cement sacks to the storage shed. The signature of the head of each family is required to receive the materials - this way we can be sure each family receives the correct amount. Photo: Matt King/SurfAid

Community members unload the cement for foundations. Each canoe trip carried 25 of the 700 sacks on the cargo boat outside. Photo: Matt King/SurfAid

Our chartered cargo boat arrives in the Mentawai Islands with 700 sacks (35 tonnes of cement) - two sacks for each family to build foundations. The boat anchors 500m offshore, outside the shallow coral reefs, where it is met by a local wooden canoe to transfer the load to shore. Photo: Matt King/SurfAid

The Quiksilver SurfAid Community Health Training Centre serves as a model for appropriate and sustainable construction in the Mentawai Islands, utilizing construction techniques and tools relevant to the local conditions. Many of the principles demonstrated here will be incorporated into the rebuilding of new homes.

The concrete bridge linking the Masokut and Beriulou communities was destroyed in the tsunami, with massive concrete blocks washed up the river. SurfAid staff cross logs to access the new location for Masokut.

Working hand-in-hand with the community

SurfAid’s Shelter Project team standing on the site of a new home. From left: Johnny, Matt, Tina, Jati, Nina, Lamhot and Ilman. Photo: SurfAid ...read more

Preparing for the future

Preparing for the future

Ibu Basaria, A role model & motivator

Ibu Basaria, A role model & motivator

Ibu Palmira Serves Her Community

Ibu Palmira Serves Her Community

Hygiene Promotion Reaches Into Mentawai Schools and Homes

Hygiene Promotion Reaches Into Mentawai Schools and Homes

Rebuilding Resilience in Bosua

Rebuilding Resilience in Bosua

Picking up lives after the tsunami

Picking up lives after the tsunami

SurfAid Holds A Special Event in Berilou

SurfAid Holds A Special Event in Berilou

Smiles after a disaster

Smiles after a disaster

A big promise

A big promise

Working hand-in-hand with the community

Working hand-in-hand with the community

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