My experiences volunteering in Bicak and Ngunut

My name is Yulita Andriyani, and I am known simply as Ita. I am in my final year of Senior High School, I am a student at SMA 1 in Ngrambe, East Java.

I would like to share with you my experiences volunteering in Bicak and Ngunut during my school holidays.

Earlier this year, before the earthquake, I never suspected that I would be spending my school holidays away from my home. After all, I have always spent my school holidays at home in the village of Sekaralas.

When the earthquake hit the Jogjakarta and Klaten areas, I could only feel a small tremor in Sekaralas. When my friend Wulan and I were being introduced to the community, we were finally able to really appreciate the strength of the earthquake. We saw first hand that it destroyed just about every home and all the school buildings.
I am very saddened to see first hand the destruction, and I am most thankful that in Sekaralas we experienced the earthquake as a mere tremor.

I have made many friends here, especially Ambar and Dwi who worked with us to collect data on what each household needed most, whether it is medicines, tents, blankets, food or milk for the infants. I felt the impact of this activity very deeply, the sadness almost overwhelming. So many people lost homes and those that are most precious to them, their kith and kin.

I have also learnt many things volunteering in this place. I have learnt to notice things like community spirit and the environment in which we live. I pray that God gives people here inner strength and sagacity so that rebuilding can occur without further delay.

I also hope that our Government can provide meaningful assistance to those most in need. And to everyone else out there reading this, I urge you to extend your hand in what ever capacity you can to help my new friends.

Warm greetings
Ita (17 years old)

Namaku Yulita Andriyani. Aku kelas III di SMAN I Ngrambe, Ngawi, Jawa Timur. Aku ingin berbagi pengalaman dengan kalian semuanya semasa liburan sekolahku. Liburan tahun ini aku tidak menyangka kalau aku akan pergi meninggalkan rumah, karena dari semua liburan yang aku dapatkan, semuanya kuhabiskan di rumah saja (Desa Sekaralas). Saat gempa di Yogyakarta dan Klaten, aku hanya bisa merasakan getaran gempa bumi itu di sini.

Saat aku berkeliling dengan temanku di Klaten, tepatnya di Dusun Ngunut dan Bicak, aku bisa melihat betapa dasyat gempa bumi itu hingga merobohkan hampir semua bangunan yang ada dan sarana sekolah. Aku sangat bersyukur sekali, di desaku hanya terasa getarannya saja. Di dua dusun tempat kami tinggal 1 minggu ini, sangat menyedihkan kondisinya. Banyak keluarga yang kehilangan rumah mereka dan hanya mendirikan tenda-tenda darurat di lahan yang aman.

Di sini aku mendapatkan banyak teman; diantaranya adalah Ambar dan Dwi. Mereka banyak membantuku dalam mencari data tentang penduduk yang sangat perlu bantuan yang berupa obat-obatan, tenda darurat, selimut, makanan dan susu untuk para balita. Di tempat ini aku bsia merasakan kesedihan yang amat dalam karena orang-orang kehilangan rumah, harta benda dan mungkin sanak keluarga mereka.

Di sini, di dusun ini, aku belajar banyak tentang semua hal. Tentang masyarakat di sekitarku dan lingkungan mereka semua. Aku hanya bisa berdoa kepada Tuhan Yang Maha Esa supaya mereka semua yang mendapatkan musibah gempa bumi diberi ketabahan dan juga ikhlas. Semoga pemerintah Indonesia memberikan bantuan kepada yang mendapat musibah. Dan untuk yang membaca pengalamanku ini, ulurkanlah tangan kalian untuk membantu orang-orang yang berada dalam kesusahan dan kesedihan ini.

Salam
Ita