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“Safe School, Safe Community” is one of the goals that Church World Service strives to achieve through its Disaster Risk Reduction Program in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. The goal was set to be the theme for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction or IDDR 2009 that is annually commemorated every second Wednesday of October.

Salmiati was holding Alif, her baby boy, in her arms, peering inside a tent full of children. “He is very curious about what is happening in the tent and he kept asking me to take him here,” said Salmiati.

The tent was big enough to hold 30 children and their mothers, who took part in fun and educational activities or FEAT, an activity that Church World Service has set up to create children friendly space. FEAT aims at addressing the trauma that children experienced following the recent 7.9 R.S. earthquake in West Sumatra.

In post disaster setting children and babies in particular became the most vulnerable ones among the affected community because their need for hygiene care are often neglected. Church World Service conducted an assessment to address this matter in Padang Pariaman district, West Sumatra.

The villagers of Sikapak village in South Pariaman sub-district has relied on water pump to obtain clean water. However the 7.9 R.S. has damaged the water pump and contaminated most of the wells. CWS will coordinate with Plan International to address this matter.

A sound and clean well is an important source of clean water in rural areas. Church World Service continues to assist the community in Padang Pariaman district to clean their contaminated wells. So far CWS has cleaned 73 wells in Sungai Limau sub-district, Padang Pariaman district, West Sumatra.