Yogyakarta, 23/11/10
KARINAKAS accepted a volunteer who coordinate a post for Merapi survivors in Bantul. She is a teacher of Semuten Elementary School in Jatimulyo, her name is Wiwid. She came with the data of survivors who stay in her village, and asked for the donation for those survivors.
Last Monday (8/11), the children started to go to school. The survivor children from Cangkringan and around it join the school activities in Dlingo sub district, Bantul. Mrs. Wiwid voluntary found unused uniforms from her colleague for the survivor children so that they can temporary go to school until they go back home.
As a volunteer, Wiwid spent sometimes to have a chat with the survivors to kill the boredom. After teaching, she visited the survivors and brougt some food from her mother’s shop. Even though only a simple side dish, they felt very happy, “I become having strong inner bond with them. I usually see the survivors daydreaming while eating, they have blank eyes. I don’t know what they are thinking about. So I usually asked them to share to reduce their problems” said she. The Merapi drama gives some sad stories. Wiwid told about a 16 years old boy who survived, but her mother has died near the refrigerator because of the hot cloud. Before he evacuated, he covered her mother’s body with a jacket, a few days later he got the copy of his mother ID card which has been buried en masse. There is also a pregnant woman, asking for her husband who did not identified where he was. As a listener, Wiwit confused how to help them, how to find her husband. “If food and place to stay we still can help, because the villagers openly accept them especially for those who have children. Many survivors sick because of unpredictable weather, not enough food and place to stay. “she said with glisten eyes.
As a volunteer with limited ability, Wiwid only listen to their story. “They must have activities, so that they are not ill. Some of male survivors who stayed in our village are empowered around the village, those who are above 40 are asked to help making the sills. The women survivors were asked to join rencek (collect twigs) to be sold in Dlingo market, they are also join in cultivating the field. Those activities become psychological therapy so that they are not sick”. Wiwid said, the coordinator of Pandean Village post.
At that time, Wiwid, who was accompanied by the local leader of Pancuran Hamlet, Terong, Dlingo, Bantul, who pick up the mat and logistic to the truck, said “ our resident hand in hand to help the survivor to buy tank water from the spring in Dlingo. We are really happy to help. It becomes our future saving.”
