Five New Child-Friendly Schools to be Built in Aceh

Banda Aceh, 19 March 2005

Marking the location 19 March

In a short time, the dreams of children of Lamnga Elementary School and Bohatimah Kindergarten to return to their original schools in Lamnga village on the tsunami-ravaged coast of Aceh province will be realized.

And according to the Aceh Besar District Secretary Mr T.M. Dahlan, the unwritten messages from mothers killed in the tsunami asking for their children to be cared for will be answered.

Plan International, together with Aceh community members and local authorities are helping to realize these wishes by announcing today the sites of a new elementary school and a Plan early childhood care and development centre to be constructed in Lamnga village.

Lamnga Elementary School signage 19 March

The announcement was made by the District Secretary at a sign posting ceremony in Lamnga, also attended by the Masjid Raya Sub district Head Mr Subki, the Lamnga Village Chief Mr Afifudin, Lamnga Elementary School teachers, community figures, Plan International Aceh Program Manager Mr Amrullah and Plan staff and volunteers.

In his speech Mr Dahlan said that in the first and second months of the emergency phase, the efforts of humanitarian organizations in Aceh were generally focused on temporary aid distribution in the form of medicine, food and water.

"However, we now need longer-term sustainable assistance that supports the community. The reconstruction of these schools by Plan shows their great humanitarian interest in providing children with opportunities for a better future," said Mr. Dahlan.

"Plan’s reason for working in Aceh today is similar to the reason Plan was originally established in 1937 - to save a child orphaned during the Spanish Civil War on whose back was pinned a message from his parents asking someone to care for their child. The mothers and fathers of this village killed by the tsunami have sent unwritten messages for the future care of their children. Today, these messages have been answered by Plan," said the District Secretary.

"The local government will support and facilitate Plan’s initiatives here. We hope that Plan will not only help in Aceh for the immediate rebuilding of Aceh over the next one or two years but stay and work with our communities for 10 to 20 years."

Elementary schools and early childhood care and development centres will not only be built in Lamnga village, but also in Lamreh village. One elementary school will also be constructed in Mindurung village in the Masjid Raya Subdistrict.

School construction is expected to start in mid-April after a design process which will include public consultation with the communities, especially with students of the schools.

Schools will be built by experienced construction design consultants to be child friendly, incorporating children’s ideas and needs.

Mr Amrullah presenting Plan Aceh vest to District Secretary 19 March

Plan International Aceh Program Manager Mr Amrullah emphasized that the physical construction of child-friendly schools is only the first step in ensuring the schools can best help children reach their potential.

"Plan will also help improve teacher training and development so that they can better participate in developing relevant curriculum, create child-friendly environments and increase participation of parents and students in school activities." said Mr Amrullah.

Plan International is a humanitarian organization working with developing communities to realize their potential, using a child-centered approach. Plan works in over 60 countries regardless race, belief or creed and has no government or political affiliation.

The international organization has been working in many provinces of Indonesia since 1969. To date, in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar, Plan has helped distribute clean water and empower internally displaced persons and local communities in the areas of health and education. Plan intends to expand its work with communities in the areas of re-establishing livelihoods, housing and ensuring child protection in other areas affected by the tsunami.