World Relief - Indonesia

Located where four tectonic plates meet, Indonesia is prone to natural disaster like earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. Indonesia has 230 million people spread out across 17,000 islands—making it the largest Muslim country in the world. Aceh was the region hardest hit by the tsunami in 2004. At the time it was closed to the outside world, particularly to Christians. When the tsunami hit, hundreds of organizations hurried to respond at the request of the government, including World Relief. Indonesian Christians came from around the country to rebuild—eager to serve their Indonesian countrymen. When earthquakes affected Nias Island in Sumatra and Jogjakarta in Java over the next year and a half, World Relief quickly responded—beginning with emergency aid and transitioning to rehabilitation of homes and livelihoods. Today, after rebuilding 1,463 homes and 770 bathroom facilities, working to restore 2,317 livelihoods, reclaiming agricultural land and rehabilitating 2 schools and 2 gravel roads—World Relief is transitioning into long-term health and economic development programs.

The Church at Work

Indonesia, while predominantly Muslim, has a strong church presence. Though persecuted throughout history and into modern day, the church has persevered and continued to grow. When possible, World Relief works with local churches to impact their communities and we worked closely with 6 other Christian organizations.

Community participation drove the rebuilding process as local representatives chose beneficiaries, designed new homes and actually joined in the building themselves. WR helped these communities learn to prepare for disasters in their homes and villages. In 2007, World Relief sponsored three trainings on disaster management and preparedness for over 50 local leaders and government workers.

In Papua, the region hardest hit by AIDS, 48 percent of the population has never heard of the disease. The remaining half of the population believe many myths about the disease, its causes and how to prevent the spread. World Relief is using the internally developed Choose Life curriculum to reach youth with messages about AIDS, abstinence and protecting themselves against disease. In the next year, more than 200 leaders—pastors, Bible school teachers and principals, public school teachers, and community and village leaders will be trained.

Nias, an island that is predominantly Christian, is often overlooked. After the earthquake, World Relief was one of a few organizations actively engaged in rehabilitation programs. Today, two agricultural programs—growing cacao and mahogany trees—are underway. A maternal and child health program teaches health and sanitation to 4,426 households through 40 care groups and 136 women volunteers. Future plans include expanding these programs to impact more women and children.

Sanitation and water are important, particularly after a disaster destroys infrastructure. In Bereneut, a village of 86 families, many were drinking water that was full of toxins. Today, an innovative program is teaching more than 30 children to test water to ensure it is healthy and safe for the family to drink. Thirty women were trained in health and hygiene lessons, which they will teach their neighbors.