| Johor Orphanage Brings Hope For Tsunami Children |
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Orphans of Rumah Anak Yatim Johor paying their respect to Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman (left) during his visit at the orphanage. Pix: Zid Omar
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By Suhainie Mohd Khalid
BANDA ACEH, March 13 (Bernama) -- To occupants of Rumah Anak Yatim Johor (RAYJ) at No 1, Jalan Tok Chiek in Anjun Tjeumpet here, the song "Aceh Johor Bangkit Bersama" brings back painful memories of the Dec 26, 2004 tsunami catastrophe.
It all happened without warning -- in a matter of minutes. Families were separated and swept away into the angry sea, some drowned in floods and others buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Triggered by a 9.0 Richter-scale earthquake in the Indian Ocean floor, raging giant waves and mud floods lashed the shores of 12 countries.
There are no exact figures on the death toll but relief agencies placed it at over 200,000, with Aceh in Sumatra, Indonesia taking the brunt of the tragedy.
"The lyrics of the song really brings back sad memories. It is about the children's traumatic experience...surviving the tsunami.
"The children are alone and homeless, the Johor orphanage brings hope," said Sulaiman Hassan, a warden at the RAYJ, who the orphans affectionately call "Cikgu".
HOME OF THE "HOMELESS"
Funded by the Johor government, construction of the orphanage began Feb 28 last year on a plot of land contributed by local resident Zulfitri Ishak Hassan, measuring some one hectare.
The double-storey building was completed six months later and received its first batch of 23 residents October last year. The orphans came from all over Aceh Province including Lhoknga, Calang, Sigli and Lhokseumawe.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman officially opened the orphanage last Feb 12.
"This is where they play and live. The orphans learn to pray, recite the Quran and are taught other religious obligations," Sulaiman said, taking glances at the cream-coloured building.
From 5am, the orphans began their daily routine by performing the Subuh prayers and reciting the Quran before a van takes them to school.
In the afternoon, the children who are aged between eight and 12 years, revise their lessons and do their school work.
"They are taught to be independent, wash and fold their own clothes," said the 74-year-old Sulaiman who hails from Kempas, Johor.
Sulaiman, who had experience working at orphanages in Johor and Negeri Sembilan said: "Soon, they will start using computers donated by the Johor government.
"Only the library appears to be sparse of books and we hope there are others who would like to make their contributions," he said.
TSUNAMI TRAUMA
The orphanage is the 10th built by the Johor government but the first outside the state. Nine others are across the Melaka Strait, in Johor.
RAYJ needs some RM150,000 a month for the orphans food, clothing and school expenses.
RAYJ was the brainchild of Johor Orphanages Board of Governors member, Senator Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who was in Banda Acheh with the PEACE Malaysia volunteers assisting tsunami survivors.
Sulaiman said the children are motivated to start a new life despite some still having phobia about staying at the orphanage.
"Who does not feel sad when left alone? ...afraid to be taken to an orphanage. There were some who struggled and refused to stay initially. But Thank God, Aceh welfare authorities also helps out," he said, adding that most of the children still have nightmares over the tsunami disaster.
Sulaiman has five assistants at the orphanage -- Nor Azizah, Wirda, Suliati, Laili and Nuri.
For Nor Azizah Hassan, of Desa Lamteh, Ulee Kareng, Kota Madia here said taking care of the orphans is her task as a Muslim woman.
"It is not easy to take care of the orphans, right from morning until late night. The trauma is still there," said the 38-year-old who used to work at an orphanage in Johor Baharu for five years.
BETTER LIFE
Nor Azizah usually receives help from the older orphans.
"I have always advised Mukhlis, eldest of them, to assist the younger orphans especially in school work," she said, nudging towards Mohd Mukhlis.
The 12-year-old boy, who is from a well to do family, lost his mother and an elder brother to the tsunami.
"I am happy to stay here. The teachers are friendly. They teach us to perform the five daily prayers and other religious duties. But I am still scared of the tsunami," he said.
Mukhlis recalls that he was preparing to go to school when the disaster struck.
"I escaped on a bicycle and I had to cycle until the stadium here to flee the waves and floods.
"Now I am alone, apart from my eldest brother who is working elsewhere," he said.
-- BERNAMA
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