Zharif offers more than just help to Acehnese

A'an Suryana and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh

Malaysian Mohammad Zharif had been looking forward to a month- long holiday on Batam island but on the day he arrived, Dec. 26, a simple phone call caused him to pursue other activities. His father rang him while he was at the house of his schoolmate, Rilin Sodichin, asking him to stay away from the beach as a tsunami had hit Aceh, killing many people.

Watching the news alerted them to the scale of the disaster, and Zharif and Rilin contacted as many people as possible through e-mail, seeking donations as well as volunteers.

Elinita, also a Malaysian, was one of the first to respond. She flew to Batam and together they traveled to Banda Aceh six days after the calamity with a single aim: To help survivors work through their grief.

Zharif presented himself at various refugee camps offering his counseling services.

"It's amazing how strong these people are. They can share their stories of losing their loved ones with apparently no emotion at all," said the 24-year-old, who recently graduated from Damansara Utama College in Kuala Lumpur, where he studied psychology.

He was deeply touched by the story of a migrant who had lived in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh for over 10 years and was married to an Acehnese.

The becak driver lost his wife and their three-year-old child in the disaster, plus two of his three pedicabs.

"I asked him things beyond the tragedy, such as what he would like to do, how he could recover. He hoped to find the bodies of his wife and child and give them a proper burial, and intended on staying in Aceh to see it get back on the rails -- economically and socially."

Zharif realized that the Acehnese had already endured years of trauma and they would need as many years of counseling to begin to heal. "Even a cracking sound, sudden movement or darkness freaked them out. I will organize my superiors, lecturers and colleagues to help out these people. It's still very much a learning process for me as I have no experience in dealing with this type of trauma. My friends will seek donations and sponsors," he said.

However, Zharif is experienced as a social worker, albeit in other countries and conditions. While searching for a permanent job, he worked for the Malaysian AIDS Council, organized a campaign and counseled people living with AIDS.

At the tender age of 13 he first embarked on social work when he joined the Malaysian Red Crescent Union.

"I like to help people," said the oldest son of a well-to-do family in Kuala Lumpur, where his father is a property developer and his mother, head of accounting at a logistics company.

Born with no arms, Zharif sets an example for others as a motivated individual who does not see his disability as a setback.

He is still able to write and greet people -- his foot has replaced the function of his lost hands -- but he cannot take his cell phone out of his pocket or notes from his wallet. For this, he has been reliant on his family, friends and others.

"They help me when I buy something from the supermarket," he said, as an example.

As his visa will expire on Jan. 26, Zharif will soon return to his country, but is planning to come back with more help.

"I believe that these people need to be taught how to help themselves to get through this, not to be dependent on psychologists or medicine. They have to look deep into themselves for motivation. We can show them how, but in the end, it is up to them.

"I hope we can again secure access into Aceh and cut through the bureaucracy to help them, as soon as possible ... We will do whatever is possible," he remarked.