Yanda's Healing Words

Yanda holds up the storybook containing his tsunami survival tale. Photo: Elpido Soplantila/Mercy Corps

Tibang, Indonesia -Yanda is a 9-year-old boy from the small village of Jeulingke in Indonesia's tsunami-battered Banda Aceh province. When the earthquake and tsunami happened on Decemeber 26, 2004, Yanda was not staying with his parents and sisters. He was staying with a foster family in the coastal village of Cadek Permai, which he often did because his own family didn't have the means to provide for his wellbeing. This kind of arrangement, which is difficult but helpful for both the child and his or her parents, is common in this part of Indonesia.

When the tsunami waves hit Cadek Permai, Yanda was separated for two whole days from his foster family, including his foster father, mother and sisters. He had no idea where they were, or if they had even lived.

When some semblance of order returned to the village, Yanda learned that the tsunami took Umi, his foster mother, away. According to him, it was the saddest and most difficult day of his young life.

After almost two years, Yanda is beginning to smile again after struggling with the traumatic impact of the tsunami. Mercy Corps has been there to support him through it all.

A temporary home

Yanda was waiting on a wooden terrace when I came for the interview. He smiled and greeted me inside the tiny room where he now lives with his parents, one big sister and a little sister. Every day, he and the family live their lives and do their daily work in this small room, which is located in a government barracks in Tibang.

Yanda likes his new temporary home, but he misses his previous surroundings. He wishes he was back in his original village in his old house, rather than living in a small room with four other people.

Yanda was wearing a blue t-shirt, one of his favorites - a gift from Umi. According to his mother, Yanda likes to wear this t-shirt often; it reminds him of Umi. When I asked him about his beloved foster mother, he said that every time he misses her he goes to see the grave where Umi was buried with hundreds of other people who passed away during the tsunami.

Yanda sits in his tiny family house with his father, Irwanto. Photo: Elpido Soplantila/Mercy Corps

A chance to tell his story

Yanda is a smart and creative student who enjoys math and science. In May 2005, Yanda heard that Mercy Corps was conducting a story writing competition for children who survived the tsunami.

When Mercy Corps announced this competition publicly, more than 450 children from tsunami-affected areas in Aceh province submitted their stories. By a thorough and difficult selection process, Mercy Corps selected the 20 best stories and compiled them into a children's storybook.

"The idea to conduct this competition came up as an effort to encourage Acehnese tsunami affected children's spirit and creativity to express their voice to the world through stories that they write," said Mercy Corps Indonesia Country Director Craig Redmond. "This is also a way to encourage Acehnese children to heal their trauma by sharing their experiences."

With full support from his parents and sisters, Yanda wrote and shared his experience during the tsunami. He described in vivid detail how he was scared when the water came from the ocean and swallowed him inside the incredible wave. He thought he could not make it and wouldn't survive. Even though he lost his Umi, he thanks God for his blessings.

"I was so blessed because Allah let me survive, but I am also sad because the tsunami has taken my Umi away," Yanda wrote.

A storybook twist

Sadness turned into happiness when he learned that his story was selected as one of the best. More than that, he was very happy when he received the book that contained his story alongside those of nineteen other young tsunami survivors.

"I was more than happy because my story can be read by others. I have shown my book to my teachers and friends and they like it. I became popular among my friends," he said proudly with a big grin on his face.

There was more to winning the contest than happily being published, however: Yanda also received a $100 prize.

Yanda and his family were overwhelmed in joy when he received the prize. His parents were touched when Yanda asked them to take the prize to buy new clothes for the whole family during the celebration of the traditional Eid festival.

"This book is published not to remind us of the sadness and difficult times in the early days after tsunami struck but to show the world how great the children are especially how they struggle bravely in facing their big and unexpected loss," Redmond explained. "Mercy Corps program in Aceh is aimed to restore the people's life including children's life, back into normalcy with no fear and trauma."

This is not only Yanda's wish, but also the wish and hope of all people in Aceh - especially its children.