Mrs Basaria is a role model and motivator for all activities conducted by SurfAid in the Sipora area of the Mentawai Islands. 

Now 56 with four children, she lived in Gobik hamlet, Bosua village, in the North Sipora sub-district on the west coast. There were a number of casualties during the earthquake and tsunami on October 2010. Some of the community members moved to Bosua village and the rest moved to a new hamlet called Gobik Sibau, which is located about 700 metres from the previous hamlet and about a kilometre from the coast.

Twenty families moved to the new location, including Mrs Basaria. One of her daughters, Regina, a community health post volunteer, has also been actively involved in SurfAid activities. 

When the Care Group was formed in July 2007, Mrs Basaria was active as one of the volunteers. The members of this Care Group come from four hamlets - East Bosua, South Bosua, Old Gobik, and New Gobik (which is now called Gobik Sibau hamlet). Mrs Basaria has always been actively involved in every SurfAid activity and has taught the lessons she learned to other families.



Mrs Basaria also joined the Maternal Health training conducted by SurfAid in April 2010. She is a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) in Gobik and quite active in handling deliveries in the hamlet. This has been very helpful because medical staff members are difficult to find in this location. The training was attended and opened by the head of the Mentawai Health Authority who came with his assistants. The trainers of the training were Dr Eki and Mrs Nur. The aim of the maternal health training was to help TBAs from all SurfAid-assisted areas be well trained in delivery so that the TBAs had sufficient knowledge in handling delivery and in using delivery equipment and tools in a healthy, clean way.   ...read more

Ibu Palmira, 37, is the head of the Posyandu kaders (health clinic volunteers) in Beriulou village, South Sipora.  Ibu Palmira has two children and she works in the fields. 

Posyandu is the monthly village health clinic for pregnant mothers and children under five and Ibu Palmira is very active every month in serving her community with appropriate health messages. 

SurfAid’s Mother and Child Health (MCH) program was implemented in Beriulou from August until November 2011 as part of SurfAid’s Mentawai tsunami recovery activities, with lead funding by AusAID and the New Zealand Aid Programme.

Ibu Palmira received nutrition training from SurfAid staff in August. All Beriulou kaders then agreed to implement follow-up activities including meetings, outreach and home visits to the community members. ...read more

There have been several activities within the Hygiene Promotion Program as part of SurfAid’s Mentawai tsunami recovery activities, of which AusAID is the lead funder.

One was a campaign for hand-washing with soap using flowing water in an elementary school that involved Grades IV and V students. Aulan Fikro Islami, 12, who lives in Sagitsi Timur hamlet, was one of the Grade V students of Nemnem Leleu School.

Aulan’s father Hesto HS, 40, works as a government unit head (kaur) in the village. His mother is Nirmawati, who is the head of PPKBD (Pembantu Pelaksana Keluarga Berencana Desa ‘village family planning assistance’) and also the head of PWI (Persatuan Wanita Indonesia ‘Indonesian women’s union’) in the village. ...read more

Setia (left) and SurfAid staff member Wati



Setia Tatubekat, a 14-year-old from the community of Bosua, on Sipora Island, is SurfAid’s youngest yet most outspoken, determined, and enthusiastic field volunteer.  She is a shining example of how empowering and encouraging teenagers to become active in their community creates a support system that builds upon motivation and resilience.

When talking to Setia you are immediately bedazzled by her gleaming smile. She is a very polite mature girl who applies herself wholeheartedly. The community of Bosua and SurfAid could not have asked for a better representative to help assist families to move forward.

When I asked Setia how she felt about the presence of SurfAid in her community her eyes lit up. “From the moment I first participated in SurfAid activities I have learnt so much. I now have the confidence to believe in myself and be happy. I feel I can surpass any challenge,” she said.  ...read more

Following the destruction of the October 2010 tsunami, many families are finding it difficult to find the motivation to rebuild their lives and communities. Many were left to contemplate how they would survive the ordeal. This story is about how one woman and her family are managing to survive the destruction of the tsunami by taking advantage of the opportunities and activities SurfAid International is providing ...  ...read more

Mothers engage in sack races while the fathers facilitate and support the game. Involving parents in events like this strengthens the relationship with their children, and experiencing laughter, smiling, and having fun further decreases the stress and trauma, and strengthens confidence. Who would have thought this community was affected by a massive tsunami only five months ago?   Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid ...read more

Consultant Stacey Howe, who heads up our Psychosocial Support project, says that trying to spend time evaluating each project site on a daily basis can be challenging. "However there's always a smile on my face when I get to hang out with children as wonderful as the group in Gobik," Stacey says. "The sound of their laughter warms my heart - especially when they're making fun of my Mentawai language skills." Photo: Bram/SurfAid ...read more

After learning how to brush their teeth, the children of Berilou village received a toothbrush and toothpaste each. The boy receiving his pack here even promised to brush his teeth 10 times a day. Photo: Stacey Howe/SurfAid ...read more

SurfAid’s Shelter Project team standing on the site of a new home. From left: Johnny, Matt, Tina, Jati, Nina, Lamhot and Ilman. Photo: SurfAid ...read more

Village: Berilou

Children playing during the introductory week of our activities. Presenting the community with an idea of what type of activities will be implemented. Community members have the opportunity to provide suggestions to alter activities creating ownership over the program.

Photo: Dije/SurfAid  ...read more