|
Observing the practices of child care centres in diverse settings provides a foundation for reflecting on the activities of centres in Australia. Andi Pramono, manager of the Youth Off The Streets–Muhammadiyah child care centre in Aceh, Indonesia and an Indonesian-born, permanent Australian resident, provides a brief snapshot of the centre that arose out of the December 2004 tsunami.
The project
Following the December 2004 tsunami, Youth Off The Streets and Muhammadiyah established a child care centre to care for separated or unattached children in Aceh, Indonesia.
The centre, in operation since January 2005, accommodates approximately 45 children. Staff members include team leaders, cooks, a cleaner, drivers, a translator and security guards. All staff are local Acehnese.
 |
Facilities |
| The centre consists of tents, an open-sided mosque, a kitchen, an office, a medical room, and a quiet area designated for study. It is based on a disused Telkom (telecommunications company) site, about 10km from the city of Banda Aceh. |
| What's happening at the moment? |
| After almost one year at the Telkom site, we are moving ‘camp' to another site. It's exciting, because this move also signals the start of building permanent facilities—enabling the children, and staff, to live in a more secure and comfortable environment. |
| What happens on an average day at the centre? |
| The children wake up early for the first prayer of the day at 5.30am. Later in the morning they attend their respective schools, and on their return at around 2pm they have a well-deserved rest! By late afternoon the centre comes alive again. The girls have a passion for volleyball and often the boys join in, or they head off to the local soccer field for a game or two. The children have English lessons during the week, and a movie night on Saturday nights. |
At the movies
It is a fantastic to witness the children lying about the multi-purpose mosque on the movie night, eyes glued to the projected image, laughing along to an Indonesian-subtitled version of The Lion King. Their joy at this time is often heightened in the knowledge that the next day, Sunday, means they can return to their respective villages for a day. With most of the children having extended family members, they are able to visit their relatives on this special day. Often, due to financial difficulties (or other issues), these relatives are unable to provide extended care, but retaining this connection is crucial to the children's wellbeing.
Can you describe how the emotional, pastoral and psychological needs of the children, post-tsunami, are being met by the centre?
Every Wednesday and Saturday, counsellors from a local non-government organisation, Kanaivasu, come and help the children with their psychological needs. A few of the children who have experienced more acute psychological trauma receive support from ‘The Calming House', run by Medecins Sans Frontieres. Back at the centre, a Muhammadiyah religious leader provides religious education. Importantly, the layout and organisation of the centre is such that we try to create a family-like environment for the children. For example, in the children's eyes I am not the ‘manager', rather I am like a brother, or a father.
What has been your most memorable experience while working at the centre?
On the first day, when no-one knew who I was, the youngest boy (10 years old) approached me and grabbed my hand. He told me that he lost all of his family in the tsunami. I was stunned by his openness, and surprised that he trusted me with such a personal story. We have stayed very close friends up until now.
Finally, how has managing the centre affected you personally?
I am definitely not the same person today as I was when I first walked in the gates. Working here and being a part of the children's lives has changed me in a way I never could have imagined possible. I love waking up to them each day and I love coming home. I came here as a centre manager but I know I'll leave here as so much more. It has enriched my life.
Andi Pramono
Manager
Youth Off The Streets–Muhammadiyah Child Care Centre
Aceh, Indonesia
For more information on this unique project between Youth Off The Streets and Muhammadiyah, visit www.youthoffthestreets.com.au
Don't forget, Every Child is tax deductible for early childhood professionals
You can purchase a copy of this issue of Every Child Magazine online
If you liked this article, you can 'social bookmark' it with others who might be searching for good content on early childhood. This means you can share your favourite webpages with others, or just keep an online list of your bookmarks so you can access them on any computer.
Read more about social bookmarks
|
|
