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International Womens Day: Women tsunami survivors speak of love and hope for a better future
Women preparing Ranup Lampuan, a traditional offering made from various kinds of leaves and tree shoots.
Photo: CWS/Indonesia
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Surviving the tsunami also means struggling for the future, despite all the over shadowing sorrow and grief, a group of women have shown love, hope and determination. On this years International Womens Day, three very strong women share their life after the tsunami.
A bless amidst the sorrow and the grief
A group of women, sitting on a mat outside a tent, talking and joking around. Cheerful laughter punctuated their conversation. Their hands were busy preparing "Ranup Lampuan" a traditional offering made from various kinds of leaves; banana, betel nut and lime, also shoots of areca nut tree and bud of a banana tree.
Everybody seemed to be doing what they were doing best, their hands moved quickly and prudent transforming pieces of the materials into lovely decoration.
Such occasion, is just one of many others that brings this group of women together. Coming from the village where they lost over 500 people in their community and has experienced such an unspeakable and traumatized event has brought them even closer than ever.
The gathering in that afternoon, however was a special one, "This evening, my nephew, Lukman will ask his girlfriend to marry him, what we are making is to be presented to the girl's family," said Irayani, 34, a resident in Tanjung Harapan camp (Cape of Hope camp) in Meurebo, West Aceh who is really pleased to witness his happiness and adding that Lukman, 25, will be at least the 12th person who got married since they live in that camp.
Love, once was close to be forgotten from the broken hearts of losing loved ones, is now gleefully spoken out.
Yunasri, one of the women, a 46 year old who lost her husband and three children found comfort and affection being around her neighbors, "I live alone in this camp, and all I have is my friends here, I have them to share my love with," said Yunasri followed with smiles and pats on the shoulder from all other ladies, who have lived here in this Ujong Beurasok camp for nine months and has been receiving assistance from CWS since the emergency phase.
Despite difficult situation living in the camp, with uncertain future of settlement reallocation from the government, they are striving to survive, through all the sadness, affection grows, whether that is affection between people who are sharing the same fate and also relationships that are more than just regular friendship.
When asked what love means to them, common answers were, "Love is something that you can't describe, it is something that you can only feel."
"We are happy for our friends who have found new husbands or wives as no one should be alone through this difficult situation, but for those who don’t we are still blessed as we still have each other," said Latifah, 61, the oldest in the group who lost her husband in the tsunami.
Love, hope and determination
Royani, 31, who is also a resident in Tanjung Harapan camp and has just re-married, could not hide her happiness to have found someone, "We have just been married for two months, it was rather quick, known each other for less than a month and got married, but we are happy," uttered Royani with broad smile, who first met her new husband Basri, 45, a tailor when she was taking his son's pants to be fixed in his working place.
Royani, who lost her previous husband in the tsunami, claimed to have never expected she could feel this happy again, when asked how to define love, she answered, "We can not explain love, all I know love grows from togetherness."
Having Basri has been a big support to Royani and her 12 year old son, Misriyanto, "It is a moral and also financial support for us, and the most important thing is he treats my son as his own, it is more than enough," said Royani and explained further that Basri's children have grown up and have their own family.
Starting from scratch has not been easy for the couple, but Royani, currently working as a part time maid and making artificial baits to be sold in the market (assisted by CWS) with Basri, working in a tailor shop, are now looking at a new hope to start their own tailor business for their new family.
Surviving the tsunami also means struggling for the future, despite all the over shadowing sorrow and grief, these women have shown love, hope and determination.
"We also would like to express our gratitude for everyone who has been helping us, showing us that you care," expressed Royani.
Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;
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