Dateline ACT

Indonesia 0206

Love, hope and determination guide women to a better future after the tsunami

By Vivi Roselim, ACT International

West Aceh, Indonesia, March 15, 2006--On March 8, which was commemorated around the world as International Women’s Day, a group of women sat on a mat outside a tent, talking and joking. Laughter punctuated their conversation. Amid the enormous challenges they have faced from their losses in the December 26, 2004, tsunami, the women are rediscovering friendship, love and the closeness of relationships among each other and in the many new marriages that are taking place.

As the women sat and talked, their hands were busy preparing “Ranup Lampuan,” a traditional offering made from various kinds of leaves - banana, betel nut and lime - and shoots of the areca nut tree and buds from banana trees.

Everybody seemed to be doing what they did best, their hands moving quickly and prudently transforming pieces of the material into lovely decorations.

This occasion was just one of many that has brought this group of women together. The loss of more than 500 people in their village to the tsunami, an unspeakable and traumatic event in their lives, has brought them closer together than ever before.

That afternoon’s gathering, however, was a special one. “This evening, my nephew, Lukman, will ask his girlfriend to marry him. What we are making is to be presented to the girl’s family,” said Irayani, 34, a resident of Tanjung Harapan camp (Cape of Hope camp) in Meurebo, West Aceh for people who lost their homes in the tsunami. She is pleased at her nephew’s happiness and added that Lukman, 25, will be at least the 12th person to get married since they have lived in the camp.

Love, once nearly forgotten in their broken hearts from losing loved ones, is now gleefully spoken about among these women.

Yunasri, 46, another one of the women, lost her husband and three children in the tsunami. Yet she found comfort and affection in being around her neighbors. “I live alone in this camp, and all I have is my friends here. I have them to share my love with,” she said, with smiles and pats on the shoulder coming from the other women. Some of the women have lived in Ujong Beurasok camp for nine months and have been receiving assistance from Church World Service (CWS) Indonesia since the emergency phase immediately following the tsunami. CWS is a member of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International.

Despite the challenges of living in the camp, with the uncertainty of settlement reallocations from the government, they are striving to survive. But amid all the sadness, affections grow, whether between people who have shared the same fate, or in relationships that are more than just ordinary friendships.

When asked what love means to them, the women answered, “Love is something that you can’t describe. It is something that you can only feel.”

“We are happy for our friends who have found new husbands or wives, as no one should be alone through this difficult situation, but for those who have not, we are still blessed as we still have each other,” said Latifah, 61, the oldest in the group who lost her husband in the tsunami.

Love, hope and determination

Royani, 31, who is also a resident in Tanjung Harapan camp and has just re-married, could not hide her happiness to have found someone. “We have just been married for two months. It was rather quick – we knew each other for less than a month and got married, but we are happy,” she said with a broad smile. She met her new husband, Basri, 45, a tailor, when she took her son’s pants to be repaired at his shop.

Royani, who lost her first husband in the tsunami, said she never expected to feel this happy again. When asked to define love, she answered, “We cannot explain love - all I know is love grows from togetherness.”

Her new husband is a big support to Royani and her 12-year-old son, Misriyanto. “It is a moral and also financial support for us, and the most important thing is he treats my son as his own - it is more than enough,” said Royani, who added that Basri’s children are grown and have their own families.

Starting all over again from scratch has not been easy for the couple. Royani is currently working as a part-time maid and making artificial bait to be sold in the market (assisted by CWS), and Basri continues as a tailor, but they are looking at starting their own tailor business for their new family.

Surviving the tsunami also means struggling toward the future. Despite all the overshadowing sorrow and grief, these women have shown love, hope and determination.

The women are not only experiencing care and support from each other and their families, but know that it comes from outside their circle as well. “We also would like to express our gratitude for everyone who has been helping us, showing us that you care,” said Royani.

Vivi Roselim is an information officer for Church World Service Indonesia, a member of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International.