NIAS REPORT - ELM NURSERY STARTED

Report by Jenni Middleton and Patti Rock - (Arrived at Padang on July 17)

While waiting for our field mission, it was decided to work on a nursery. The clearing of an area at Jane and Rick’s property (the ELM office) had already commenced. After burning and tidying up the area, potting bags, soil and potting mix were purchased., and the filling of bags commenced.

A variety of suitable plants that will provide food and income for the people of Aceh were selected:-

• Petai (bean) seeds were collected, soaked for two days and planted
• Coklat (chocolate} seedlings were transplanted
• “Cherry” tree cuttings were taken and small seedlings also transplanted
• Avocado seeds planted

All of the above have taken very well with a 95% success rate.
Future plantings of bamboo and other fruit and vegetables are planned.
This is an ongoing project which will benefit many families.

We travelled to Nias (ELM base at Gomo District) where we gave away the aid we had to a small isolated village. People are all very friendly and happy, however, traumatized and very poor. Many families sleeping in tents and earthquake damaged buildings untouched - as though the quake was yesterday….

Aid distributed included - cooking utensils, torches, toys, toiletries, clothing, bedding, tarpaulins, coloured pencils, crayons and books.

With the donated monies we had it was recommended by the leader of the community Dr Aranifasa Laia that it would be more beneficial to sponsor a student through University - registration fees, accommodation and living expenses - than to purchase Aid for a few.

Yakin Kasih Telaumbanua was selected. He is one of four children who have lost their parents. He will be studying Teaching at Ikip Gunung Sitoli University and on completion will return to his village to support his family.

The donated monies covered his registration and university fees and approximately six months accommodation and living expenses. Extra sponsorship will be required to cover his five year course which we will follow up on our return.

By cleaning up the site around the volunteers camp we encouraged the children to dispose of rubbish correctly. This was a successful way of teaching general hygiene which they were keen to be part of.

On our return trip we stopped at the Lahusa School where we donated pens, pencils, rubbers, sharpeners, crayons, colored pencils and exercise books.