Rainbow over Simeulue
Submitted by cordaid on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 07:09.
A story by Alauddin Latief On Saturday, February 9, 2007, we visited on of the schools in the District of Simeulue, Province of NAD. Entering the school yard, a couple of teachers stepped out of teacher’s room smiling to welcome us. “Good morning”, greeted the teachers while approaching us. They then walked us through the school.
That is the picture of SDN 15 Simeulue Timur, which receives assistance from Cordaid that is reconstructing new schools. The new school of SDN 15 is due to be completed by the end of March 2008. Siswa-siswi SD Negeri 15 Sedang melaksanakan aktifitas belajar di sekolah sementara“Wenn will I be moving to the new school, Sir?”, asked suddenly a student while approaching, but then called back by one of his teachers. Indeed on this day, we are planning to conduct Fun Day activity for the students of SDN 15. The event has been requested by teachers and the school master, who attended a monthly meeting three days earlier in terms of socializing the reconstruction progress of the new school building and compound. Several activities will be conducted within the frame work of Fun Day, among others a drawing competition with the theme “Healthy, Safe and Comfortable School” as well as other agility games competitions. Through the activities, students will be stimulated to learn. “I’m very happy to watch the children participating this Fun Day’s activities”, said Ms. Rosnawiah, one of the The students seemed to be deeply involved in the games, laughter and cheering shouts of joy simulated their spirit to win the competition. Siti Maisarah, also known as Imay, one of Cordaid Fun Day facilitator looked to be chummy to the students, assinsting them with the rules of the games and the competition. Imay is Simeulue born Cordaid’s facilitator who is very committed in assisting development of Simeulue, “Negeri Ate Fulawan”, where she also grew up. “I love Simeulue”, as she always said. During the journey back, I remember the school we visited. The experience reminded me to a book written by Andrea Hirata, an Indonesian writer, with the title “Rainbow Warrior”. The book describes the strong spirit of the school children of Rainbow Warrior to learn and study at their school. Even their school has only poor facilities, but that does not prevent their strong will to learn. I have a very big hope that the reconstruction of the school will be completed on time. I also hope that “Negeri Ate Fulawan” will be able to produce leaders of the nation that can improve the development of Indonesia in the future. (aldito)
 Drawing by Yulis Setiana |
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This is a temporary school built after the earthquake of two years ago. The building roofed only with sago palm leaves, sun light pierced through the slits between the leaves into the classroom, old and sun burnt donated tent’s materials are used for the wall, used timber plates were laid side by side for the floor to avoid puddle of rain water and mud. Students were present in the classrooms having school activities.
teachers who had been teaching for about 10 years in this school. She also thanked Cordaid – Simeulue Project for organizing the Fun Day and for reconstructing the new school for the student of SDN 15. She also hope that the new school can be functioning soon.