Cynthia (left) and mother, residents of the Boladangko Village

In January this year, CEDAR commenced phase two of its relief and recovery work in central Sulawesi of Indonesia. Our partner PESAT has been working with six post-disaster communities and its people by providing assistance on livelihood, education, and psychosocial support.

Thank You from Indonesia (video in Chinese)

As a response to the previous visit of the affected area, CEDAR initiated a phase two work proposal with PESAT which aimed to benefit more than 770 families, including two of the piscatorial communities, Bamba and Talise. We observed that remains could be found along the sea from earlier damage, and a large residential area was razed to the ground and labeled as a dangerous zone as a result of the detrimental tsunami. Some people have started rebuilding their homes, while others remained in tents or relatives or neighbours’ shelters,waiting for the local authority to dispense compensation and land.

Our partner started communicating with fishermen in three piscatorial communities to learn about their basic needs and demands. As a result, fish aggregating devices, fishing boats, and fishing nets were equipped for them. When we visited, the fishermen were making good use of these newly made devices to resume activities for livelihood. Besides, training of food processing is introduced to women which encourage the sales of preserved fried fish (watch following video about the food processing machine).

Newly made fishing boats are used by local fishermen during fishing activities.

Fish aggregating device (left) attracts a large crowd of fish to makes fishing more efficient.

Anisa’s (first left) house was washed out by the tsunami, she was hit by it and her parents’ lives were both taken by the waves. In retrospect to the interview with Anisa last year, she was still deeply traumatized by the incident. As we visited her again this year, she said that she has motivation and hope to recover, and her brother will be back at fishing after receiving new fishing boat.

Our colleague Rebecca explaining the operation and advantages of the food processing machine. (Video in Chinese)

When in Palu, we were delighted to see most of the infrastructures and buildings being restored, and the airport was back in operation. However, two hours’ drive away from the city in the rural area, many houses could be seen in a relatively poor condition. In Boladangko, a community that we visited last time, we built a temporary classroom with sanitary facilities attached for children to return to school. Boladangko is one of the unfortunate areas in the earthquake, its land, houses, and people’s livelihood were significantly affected. To help villagers resume to their livelihoods, we provided them with pigs and organic fertilisers.

A temporary classroom in Boladangko for students and teachers of a kindergarten.

Teachers and students of the kindergarten.

Noria, a cocoa tree farmer, using the organic fertiliser that we provided.

The pastor of the Boladangko church received pigs and will distribute to other villagers.

Besides Boladangko, we also built temporary classrooms, distributed organic fertilisers and farming tools in a few other communities. In addition, the PESAT team help children to ease their post-traumatic emotions though games, songs, and value education in six communities. In three of these communities, football teams were set up for youths to meet and bond through sports training.

In phase two, we have also allocated funds to support the work of Integral Alliance (IA) members: the cash transfer programme of Food for the Hungry and the post-disaster restoration work of World Renew. Food for the Hungry’s cash transfer programme will enable flexibility for the affected families to use money received in rebuilding or refurbishing houses, in repurchasing livelihood tools, or in meeting other needs. On the other hand, World Renew will focus on the restoration of Sigi District, which was one of the most affected districts. Our work include training mason on house construction, building of latrines, hygiene promotion, livelihood training, and psychosocial support training.

Farmer Supardin (left) and his wife were worried about the loss of livelihood after the disaster. But their worries were gone as they receive cash assistance to restart their farming.

Sugiarti also benefited from the cash transfer programme. She used the money to restart her Indonesian snack business which brings in stable income for her and her family.

Primary school students of the Sigi District are learning about proper hygiene practices, such as washing hands and brushing teeth. After the activity, everyone received new towel, toothpaste, toothbrush, and a soap.

CEDAR has set up Emergency Relief and Disaster Preparedness Fund, so that we can reach and respond to disasters when it happens, and support disaster prevention work in communities to minimise disaster impact. If you would like to support by donating, please tick “Relief” from the list.

(Please opt for “Relief”)

[1] Please indicate “Relief” or “Emergency Relief and Disaster Preparedness Fund” when making a donation. CEDAR set up the “Emergency Relief and Disaster Preparedness Fund” in order to quickly respond to immediate needs of the affected when a disaster hits. The Fund will also support disaster mitigation work in developing countries that are under constant threat of disasters. If you have any questions regarding the Fund and our disaster response work, please do not hesitate to contact us.
[2] CEDAR is an approved charitable institution and trust of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please visit Inland Revenue Department website for details.
[3] Donations over HK$100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[4] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

*Integral Alliance is a global alliance of 23 Christian relief and development agencies, working together to present a more effective response to poverty worldwide. CEDAR Fund is one of the member agencies.