MaximsNewsNetwork: INDONESIA: TSUNAMI 5 YEARS: EDUCATION (UNICEF)

MaximsNewsNetwork: 23 2009 - UNICEF: Indonesia - Five years after the tsunami, UNICEF and local partners are getting children back into the classroom, first in temporary schools and now into three hundred and forty six earthquake resistant, permanent buildings.

In their last year of elementary school, class-mates Hafidz and Taufik know they are among a lucky few.

In their first year here, the tsunami claimed the lives of most of the other 300 pupils.

SOUNDBITE (Indonesian) Taufik, student:
I was with my friends when we saw this black water coming up from the river. I got to the mosque where my mother found me and took me to the mountains.

Like all surviving children in Banda Aceh, they were able to resume their lessons quickly because of the overwhelming international response that allowed organizations like UNICEF and its local partners to get children back into class.

First it was temporary schools and now into 346 earthquake resistant, permanent buildings.

SOUNDBITE (Indonesian) Hafidz, student:
Studying in the temporary school wasnt nice. But my classroom now is fully equipped with things like stationary, books and so on.

Hafidzs school was the first to be rebuilt. And common to all the schools, has been the introduction of improved teaching methods, as well as building better physical structures.

Upgraded latrine and washing facilities at this school have enabled it to win regional and national awards for hygiene.

SOUNDBITE (Indonesian) Murniati, Principal, Ketapang Elementary School: Weve always tried to educate the children on their personal hygiene, which has now improved greatly since the tsunami.

And in the construction of school number 200, the realization of a long-standing plan to merge three schools into one, with benefits for all.

SOUNDBITE (Indonesian) Karmala, school principal:
Weve been able to standardize subjects and create equality between children from very different backgrounds.

The neighbourhood around the school where Hafidz lives with his family still bears the reminders of the devastating floods that swept through here.

Hafidz is thankful to be alive.

SOUNDBITE (Indonesian) Hafidz, student:
I am very thankful that Allah would give me the chance to live, while so many of my friends were killed. ................................................................................­................................................................................­.......... ( UNICEF TELEVISION: UNICEF, THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDRENS FUND ) ................................................................................­................................................................................­................................................................................­................................................................................­......................................................................... MaximsNewsNetwork:
News Network for the United Nations and the International Community.
See: http://www.MaximsNews.com.
"GIVING POWER & RESONANCE TO THE VOICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY" ................................................................................­.....................................

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Indonesia
• Tsunami
• five years 5
• education
• schools
• UNICEF
• United Nations Childrens Fund
• MaximsNewsNetwork
• MaximsNews Network
• earthquake
• buildings
• structures
• teaching
• hygiene
• equality
• friends killed
• families
• UNICEF Television