Ambon kids learn to ease trauma<\/p>\n
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post\/Ambon<\/p>\n
It happened during the Idul Fitri holiday six years ago when
\nThamrin Wally was on his way home with his mother. As they
\narrived at the Mardika Terminal, suddenly chaos broke out in the
\nvicinity. People fled in panic, and buildings were on fire.
\nThamrin was confused as he had lost his mother in the chaos.
\nThamrin, then seven years old, thought that his mother had
\nmistakenly grabbed the hand of another boy in the terminal
\nvicinity.<\/p>\n
Thamrin was confused and did not know where to go.
\nFortunately, a university student whose house was near Thamrin's
\nin the Waringin area recognized Thamrin and escorted him home.<\/p>\n
Along the street, Thamrin and his neighbor ran as quickly as
\npossible while keeping a look out for snipers. He saw men and
\nwomen dead, some mutilated. His house had been burned down. He
\ndid not know where to go but again he was fortunate that his
\nneighbor, whose house had also been burned down, brought him to
\nthe Al Fatah Mosque.<\/p>\n
When Thamrin arrived at the biggest mosque in Ambon, hundreds
\nof people had already taken refuge there and Thamrin was relieved
\nto be reunited with his family.<\/p>\n
This was the first time that Thamrin had seen such violence.
\nDays later, scenes of extreme violence became commonplace as
\nsectarian riots -- ostensibly between Muslims and Christians --
\nbroke out all over the city.<\/p>\n
The bloody violence turned Thamrin into an introvert, and he
\nwas very distrustful of people. "He often sat alone," said a
\ndisplaced persons coordinator Fatimah Sangaji, who is also
\nThamrin's neighbor.<\/p>\n
Thamrin's story is representative of Ambon children in
\ngeneral. During the sectarian violence that took place between
\n1999 and 2002 and which killed thousands of people, Ambonese
\nchildren lived amid the sound of bullets whizzing and bombs
\nexploding. The children lived in fear.<\/p>\n
"From their gestures we could easily see that they had been
\ntraumatized by the situation," said Baihajar Tualeka, coordinator
\nof the Institute for Women's and Children's Empowerment (LAPPAN).<\/p>\n
LAPPAN, whose office is located near the displaced persons
\ncamp at the Waiahong Amusement Park, has been actively counseling
\n436 children in the refugee camp since 2000. Its 18 volunteers
\nalso actively counseled children in other camps in Waiheru,
\nWaringin and Tulehue in the city.<\/p>\n
Besides LAPPAN, which counsels Muslim children, the Ekaleo
\nFoundation is active in counseling Christian children.<\/p>\n
Children from both sides have often met in order to promote
\npluralism and trust among them, according to Vecky Peilouw, the
\ndirector of Ekaleo foundation. Ekaleo, which receives funding
\nfrom a Netherlands organization, counseled some 500 children from
\nthe Leihitu area.<\/p>\n
Both organizations worked to build children's self-confidence
\nand help ease them out of their trauma. "At first, they were
\ntraumatized with the violence. They expressed this when making
\npaintings that were colored with violence symbols such as guns,
\nriots or burned houses," said Vecky.<\/p>\n
However, this trend has changed since 2002. Since that year,
\nthey had begun to paint flowers, and their articles and poetry
\ntell stories of peace and friendship, said Vecky.<\/p>\n
"It's a good development, but it takes time to ease out the
\ntrauma completely," said Vecky, adding that spats of violence in
\nrecent years had often brought back dark memories for the
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
The two organizations were trying to implant positive values
\nin Ambon children and through these values, they learned that the
\nessence of people's lives is to interact and help each other.
\nThese values will be promoted during National Children's Day that
\nis commemorated today.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ambon-kids-learn-to-ease-trauma-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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