Sunda Strait's Tsunami: Happy in Child-Friendly Space

Nadia (12 yo) looks really happy and enjoys her activity in Child-Friendly Space that held in East Way Muli, South Lampung evacuation post. On that day, Nadia and 50 friends learn about new song called ‘4 Rights of Children’. Nadia also read some books and doing karaoke together. This is the first time for her to be able to read books after the tsunami.

“I read the books, singing and laughing together with my friends. We often meet each other, but today we can play together,” said Nadia.

Although she looks happy, Nadia still has a bad memory about the tsunami. Her house was destroyed by the tsunami and made casualties. She had lost her brother and grandmother when the tsunami from Sunda Strait hit her house.

On the night the tsunami came, she was sleeping and found her siblings went out of the room. She heard something sounds like the car. Unfortunately, that was the tsunami’s sound.

When the first big wave came, Nadia and her siblings were escaping with their mother. Long story short, Nadia and her family succeed to survive even though she was struck by big wood and hard to breathe and fall apart from her mother.  

“I feel breathless. I was asking for some help but I can’t speak loudly. Then my neighbor found me and pulled me up. On the fifth day, I met my mother and found my brother and grandma died,” Nadia said the story.

By doing an intervention in Child-Friendly Space, Wahana Visi Indonesia gives psychosocial support for affected children in South Lampung. The purposes of this intervention are to give attractive and positive activities so that the children can be more cheerful even though stay in evacuation post.

For now, Wahana Visi Indonesia has been opening Child-Friendly Spaces in 12 locations, in 9 District of Pandeglang, Banten and 3 District of South Lampung. About 345 children joined in this activity.

Written by: Gracia Thomas, Social Media Officer Wahana Visi Indonesia