Cianjur, Japakarta, Indonesia, 12 December 2022 -- Two weeks after the 5.8 strong Earthquake struck West Java on November 21 (epicenter in Ciantur, 70 km from Jakarta), the Don Bosco Wisma post-novitiate community (Rector Fr Vicnentius Prastowo) sent two Salesian Brothers for a 5-day volunteer experience to Cugenang, Cianjur district. Brother Simplicius Kora aka ‘Simpli’ and Brother ‘Berto’ joined an Atma Jaya (Catholic) University Volunteer Team, one as logistic team member and other as psychology support team member, between Dec 4-8, 2022 staying at St Peter’s Catholic parish, Cianjur.
Many volunteers of different religions came from various places with their respective teams. "I am very grateful for this extraordinary opportunity, because the volunteers who attended were young people who came from different religions and places," said Brother Berto. The presence of young people as earthquake volunteers in Cianjur added to the enthusiasm of the two Brothers to serve the people affected by the earthquake.
On the first days both Salesian Brothers assisted the logistics team that was short of personnel and distributed relief goods to several locations to the local population in need of assistance. Due to the bad roads condition after the earthquake, it was tiring experience for the whole day. And the other days were similar, Br Berto was involved in the reception and distribution of relief good, while Br Simpli joined the ‘healing’ psychological team dealing with the post-earthquake trauma of children and their parents. In these healing sessions participated some 40-50 young people with their parents, mostly mothers. They welcomed the volunteers with enthusiasm and contributed to fruitful sessions. Our volunteer brought them hope and joy.
After returning home, both Brothers share their experience: “We are very grateful to God for this first opportunity. Even though the roads in Cianjur were broken we really enjoyed this volunteering time. It helps us to be more emphatic with the natural disaster victims. We were enriched by the enthusiasm of the families we try to help. They needed an atmosphere of joy. Even after our return home to Jakarta, we continue to pray for them, so thay can calm down and accept their bitter reality, since many of them lost their houses and all personal belongings as we witnessed.”
The West Java, Ciantur Earthquake of November 21, 2022 left at least 334 people dead, more than 7729 injured and more than 30.000 people were displaced with many homes completely destroyed, large landslides damaged even access roads. On the other hand a domestic and international solidarity of governments, NGOs and many people of good will who reached immediately Ciantur was a beautiful sign of one human family.
