SUMMARY:

Field Report from CTAs in 15 Villages,

May-August 2006, Plan Aceh
Rewritten and Summarized by: Djuneidi Saripurnawan / RDC Plan Aceh
Summary of translation by: Dyah Anikasari

Introducing
Community Transformation Agents (CTA) is the frontline Team that having direct
interaction with the local assisted community that are tsunami victims. They are also
Acehnese but most of them aren’t tsunami direct victims but they are interested and care
about the tsunami victims. Every CTA has responsibility to give attention and willing to
serve the community at the assisted villages. There are 15 CTAs that have lived in at 15
villages in 3 sub-districts of Aceh Besar district.

No CTA point person Sub-District Village of Work

1 Agusam Nurkhani Surya Lhok Nga Desa Lampaya
2 Cut Sri Hafrina Lhok Nga Desa Lamkruet
Desa Lambaro
3 Eka Putra Lhok Nga (Neujid)
4 Lindawati Lhok Nga Desa Mon Ikeun
5 Evi Susanti Mesjid Raya Desa Meunasah Mon
6 Ihya Ulumuddin Mesjid Raya Desa Ladong
7 Satria Darma Mesjid Raya Desa Lamnga
8 Miswar Mesjid Raya Desa Durung
Desa Meunasah
9 Norma Yunita Mesjid Raya Kulam
10 Tri Mulyo M. Mesjid Raya Desa Neuheun
11 Cut Ida Rahmadiana Peukan Bada Desa Lam Hasan
12 Cut Yennibar Peukan Bada Desa Lam Geu Eu
13 Kanova Indahnia Shalihati Peukan Bada Desa Lam Awe
14 Neli Nurmala Sari Dewi Peukan Bada Desa Lampisang
15 Nurhijjah Peukan Bada Desa Keuneue
Note: ‘Desa’ is ‘village’
The CTA lives-in to immerse and become a part of the community, in order to feel and
understand the real problems or potential impact on something to children. The
immersion is a part of Child Centered Community Development (CCCD) approach that
requires a frontline staff to live in the community.

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 A year after tsunami, the social condition has changed and seemed to be relatively
normal except for some certain areas that are still needed aids intervention. Given the
changing situation, it will need a new strategy and approach to be more effective and
efficient. So does Plan Aceh that has been doing such a changing strategy on program
planning for the next three years.

Situational Assessment
1. Many International NGOs (INGO) and UN organizations that have given cash
money to the tsunami victims for various purposes, such as small capital for
household economic recovery, start-up grants for home-based industries, etc. Even
there was cash money given with assumption that the tsunami victims didn’t have
any money to continue their life.
2. Food supply and water supply are still provided by INGOs and UN organizations to
IDP’s camps/barracks.
3. NGOs still have conducted surveys to perform aid programs.
4. Many information say that some tsunami victims/survivors didn’t occupy the new
houses that been provided, and some new provided houses have been rent by
construction workers from Medan (the nearest city, 12 hours by car from Banda
Aceh) and Java island (5 days by car from Banda Aceh).
5. The housing construction continues on going, even though some of them have
wrong beneficiaries or a household has got more than one house.
6. Limited number of qualified local human resources to get involve in the
construction process, limited skilled labors, inexperience labors and minimum
numbers of well-experienced people in professional expertise.
7. Low participation of the community.
8. Helsinski MoU between Government of Indonesia (GoI) and GAM (Aceh rebels) has
given a conducive and peace situation where the GAM members have got involve
and socialize with the community in their daily life. The peace situation has given a
different color to the dynamic and relationship amongst the communities at the
recovery time.

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CCCD approach
In the recovery time, the existence of CTA has become the first step to implement
CCCD that has involved local cadres, volunteers and local agents; to give capacity building
to them in order to transfer knowledge to become facilitators for developing their own
community. Child-to-Child (CTC) cadres that have been trained is the important part to
raise the child participation in the recovery time. Socialization and trainings on CCCD still
have been continued and conducted to the cadres and the community members so that
the development that focus on children will become stronger and familiar to the
community.
The patriarchy of local culture is still strong that has put women and children as
subordinate and men are dominant in directing of development of children and women. It
will need total immersion to the community in order to do the activities together with all
level of the community.

Facts Finding
1. Every outsider who comes to the certain community (village or ‘gampong’) tends
to be got suspicious. If the outsider (NGO staff, etc.) doesn’t give any benefit to
the community, they prefer the outsider to get out from their village. They said,
“The NGO only collected data and gave promises”.
2. The tsunami victims/survivors are become smarter to foresee the aids to become
benefits for themselves and for their groups. Any survey or assessment is a chance
for them to have a strategy to get individuals benefit for themselves. If the NGO
will give some boats and the fishing equipment, the village government officers
sometimes give the list of names of their families and relatives or their close friends
and they claim that they are fishermen. Or, everyone in the village will claim
themselves as fishermen if the NGO will give cash money. A CTA said, “I wonder
because there is a tsunami non-affected village that has received aids for every
household there, how come such a thing happened?”

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3. Many IDP’s occupants unwilling to leave their camps/barracks or temporary
shelters and to settle to the new houses because they have got so many supports
and benefits such as rice, monthly cash money from the government, cash money
from INGOs, clean water supply, household equipment, working equipment, etc.,
while the IDPs who have returned to the new houses haven’t received such kinds
of supports except for some life-skill trainings.
4. The continuing support on cash money has created a dependency to the
community and they tend to attend any meeting or training if only they will
receive some money for ‘transportation’. This is not Acehnese style but ‘the
money-oriented’ culture is the stimulant effect of UNs, NGOs & INGOs by giving a
cash money support in implementing the programs.
5. The ‘money-oriented’ pattern also has affected the children because of their
parents & adults in their community have told them to receive the money.
6. The money orientation is also the barrier factor of low participation of the
community, beside the limited skills and experiences.
”The community doesn’t care of the village activity. They don’t care of
maintenance of cleanness of the public facility. Low participation in
rehabilitation process that have been done by NGOs.” (Chaerul Riedzal,13
year-old boy, Durung village, student of junior high school of MtsN
Krueng Raya).

7. There is a strong suspicion that the foreigners (INGOs) are giving influence on the
Christianity to local people.
8. There is suspicion and assumption that the data collection by NGO (local) will be
used for the NGO’s self-benefit, not for the community. This opinion raised
because there isn’t any further follow up from the NGO. They said, “NGOs are only
collecting data and give promises, but done nothing…!” They only will respect the
NGOs that give their aids directly when they come. The community sometimes
doesn’t give a correct data to the NGOs.
”After collecting data of population at ’Pak Keuchik’ (head of the village),
the NGO said will give their support, but the fact they don’t do anything
here and we are waiting. Are they only collecting the data and then take
the aids for themselves?” (Safrina,17 year-old girl, Keuneu-eu village,
student of senior high school of SMA 1 Lhoknga).

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 ”Sometimes they (NGOs) only sell their names and use us (by giving the
beneficiaries names).” (Fredy Wijaya,17 year-old boy, Mon Ikeun village,
student of senior high school of SMUN 1 Lhoknga).

”Most of NGO staffs are too pride to get involve directly to the field that
caused the data is not accurate.” (Nana Ahzarina,18 year-old girl,
Keuneu-eu village, university student of Unsyiah – state university in
Banda Aceh).

Voice of Children
Herewith some responses from the children regarding to the advantages and
disadvantages of NGOs exixtence, what would they do if they were working at NGOs, and
what is the most benefit or most problem.
a. According to you, what is the advantages of NGO existence ?
”They have rebuilt the damaged houses. They have helped to support
basic food supply for our daily life.” (Saddam Husein,15 year-old,
Lamhasan, SMK 1 Banda Aceh).

”The NGOs are Allah (God) messengers to help the people who are
vistims of tsunami. They helped me to recover my life especially for my
education. I hope the NGOs will not make Acehnese to become lazy to
earn their living.” (Safrina,17 year-old girl, Keuneu-eu village, student of
senior high school of SMA 1 Lhoknga).

”The NGOs have supported the children to recover from the disaster, and
the NGOs can help the people who are really needed helps.” (Hidayani,16
year-old girl, Lamhasan village, student of senior high school of SMA 1
Peukan Bada).

”They helped the children from trauma because of tsunami and they
helped the poorest people of the community.” (Sarah Nadia Febrina,12
year-old girl, Lampaya village, student of junior high school of SLTPN 1
Lhoknga).

”They helped to reduce the life burden of the community. They gave
some positive activities to the children and teenagers.” (Azhari,16 year-
old boy, Lampisang village, student of senior high school of SMA Peukan
Bada).

”They brought the overseas funds and aids.” (Muksal Mina,13 year-old
boy, Lampisang village, student of junior high school of MTsN).

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 ”They could speed up the recovery and rehabilitation of tsunami affected
regions.” (Lisa Rahmadani,16 year-old girl, Neuheun village, student of
senior high school of SMUN 4 Banda Aceh).

”We got scholarship and basic food supplies.” (Achlia,16 year-old girl,
Lamgeueu village, student of SMA 1 Peukan Bada).

”Increasing the motivation to go to school for the children. (Nur

Hakimah,12 year-old girl, Meunasah Kulam village, student of junior high
school of MTs.Krueng Raya).

”I can go to school again because the NGO has rebuilt my school.”

(Khairul Rizal Fahmi,14 year-old boy, Beurandeh village, student of junior
high school of MTsN Krueng Raya).

”Reducing the life burden of tsunami victims and reducing

unemployment.” (Khisnati,18 year-old girl, Lampaya village, student of
college of Akper Politeknik).

b. Accoding to you, what is the disadvantages of NGO existence ?

”I think the NGOs that have intervent to my village are fine.” (Suwardi
N.,18 year-old boy, Lamhasan village, student of senior high school of
SMU I Ataturk Peukan Bada).

”The community are become very spoilled. They don’t need to work
because the NGOs give the supports.” (Dahlia Ananda,15 year-old girl,
Keuneu-eu village, student of senior high school of MAN Model Banda
Aceh).

”The community become lazy in working because they hope the support
from NGOs.” (Sittati Zainiah,14 year-old girl, Keuneu-eu village, student
of junior high school of MTsN Meraxa).

”The people are lazier now because of so many aids. Before tsunami,
there were many women washed the clothes to earn some money but
now, many of them doesn’t work anymore.” (Hidayani,16 year-old girl,
Lamhasan village, student of SMA 1 Peukan Bada).

”There is a dependency of the community to the NGOs. The community

become lazy.” (Fatimawati,15 year-old girl, Ladong village, student of
SMPN 2 Neuheun).

”None.”(Sri Yunita Lestari,12 year-old girl, Neuheun village, student of

SMPN 2 Neuheun).

”It affected the religion. So many lecturers have worked to NGOs that
given disadvantages to the students.” (Khisnati,18 year-old girl, Lampaya
village, student of college of Akper Politeknik).

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 ”There is a certain mission that have been done by NGOs, such as
apostasy. The community become lazy and always hope an aid.”(Muksal
Mina,13 year-old boy, Lampisang village, student of junior high school of
MTsN).

”Many people have been taught of Christianity.” (M.Subri,12 year-old

boy, Lamreh village, student of junior high school of MTsN Krueng Raya).

”Because of the NGOs and outsiders/foreigners that have affected the

teenagers in my age to haven’t dressed Muslim costume anymore.”
(Rahmatina S.,17 year-old girl, Lamgeueu village, student of senior high
school of SMAN 1 Peukan Bada).

”They (foreigners/outsiders) have got dressed unpolite and have brought

Christianity lesson.” (Nur Hakimah,12 year-old girl, Meunasah Kulam
village, student of junior high school of MTs Krueng Raya-kelas 1).

”The NGOs have made the community quarrel each other amongts them
if some of them didn’t receive the aids.” (Hidayani,16 year-old girl,
Lamhasan village, student of SMA 1 Peukan Bada).

”When the NGOs unfair in giving their supports then the community will
quarrel each other.” (Nizria Ulfa,15 year-old, Lampisang village, student
of senior high school of MAN 2 Lamtemen).

”There was an NGO that kinapped a child from Meunasah Kulam village,
named Saumi (girl).” (Cut Kemalahayati,13 year-old gilr, Meunasah Kulam
village, student of junior high school of MTs Krueng Raya).

”The unfair aids amongts the community has caused jealousy and quarrel
amongts the neighborhood.” (Irfan Syukri,14 year-old boy, Lamreh
village, student of junior high school of MtsN Krueng Raya).

c. If you were an NGO staff, work at NGO, what would you do?
”I will help the community without expecting any payback, and I will try
to redevelop Aceh.” (Safrina,17 year-old girl, Keuneu-eu village, student
of senior high school of SMA 1 Lhoknga).

”I want to rehabilitate my village.”(Saddam Husein,15 year-old boy,

Lamhasan village, student of senior high school of SMK 1 Banda Aceh)

”I want to work as the community requested.” (Sittati Zainiah,14 year-old

girl, Keuneu-eu village, student of junior high school of MTsN Meraxa).

”I will only do the projects or programs that are really needed by the
community of the village.” (Lisa Rahmadani,16 year-old girl, Neuheun
village, student of senior high school of SMUN 4 Banda Aceh).

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 ”If I were NGO staff, I would approach the community with positive
attitude. When we get close with the community, we will get their trust
so every effort will be smooth and get a positive support from the
community.” (Nanda Mariska,15 year-old girl, Keuneu-eu village, student
of senior high school of SMAN 3 BNA).

”I would like to have a full participation to the community so that the

community will not feel strange of NGO existence.” (Nana Ahzarina,18
year-old girl, Keuneu-eu village, university student of Unsyiah).

”I would like to rebuild a village in every effort so the community will get
support in fair way.” (Marzuki,17 year-old boy, Lampisang village, student
of senior high school of SMA 1 Peukan Bada).

”I would like to teach the younger children.” (Azhari,16 year-old boy,

Lampisang village, student of high school of SMA Peukan Bada).

”I would like to give basic need (food) supplies and make a football yard
at my village.” (Rizal Fahmi,13 year-old boy, Meunasah Keude village,
student of junior high school of MTsN Krueng Raya).

”Memberikan bantuan yang banyak, dan memberikan bola kepada

teman2.”(Sari Yulis,13, Ds.Meunasah Keude, MTs Krueng Raya).

”I would like to have the chance to help the community so the community
would give us a good chance and positive response.”(Ida Lailyani,18 year-
old girl, Lamkruet village, student of midwife academy/Akademi
Kebidanan).

d. What kind of activity/project/program that according to you is the most

advantage for you and your neighborhood?

”The various competitions, working together, agriculture project, and life-

skill training.” (Safrina,17 year-old girl, Keuneu-eu village, student of
senior high school of SMA 1 Lhoknga).

”Child center (’Balee anak’).”(Wan Surya,14 year-old boy, Lamgeueu

village, student of junior high school, MTsN 1).

”Education and agriculture program, because the community here is less

serious about the education and agriculture is the way their earn their
living.” (Dahlia Ananda,15 year-old girl, Keuneu-eu village, student of
senior high school of MAN Model Banda Aceh).

”The supported library to open our global window.” (Nindi Mariski,14

year-old girl, Keuneu-eu village, junior high, SMPN 7 Banda Aceh).

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 ”Working together in unity (Gotong royong) so that the village become
clean. Reading Al Qur’an after sunset praying so that we learn and
understand our religion.” (Bahrizal,13 year-old boy, Ladong village, junior
high, SMPN 2 Neuheun).

”Working together in unity (gotong royong) to clean up the drainage for

our own healthy.”(Muhammad Iqbal,16 year-old boy, Lampisang village,
junior high, SMP 3 Lamgaboh Lhoknga).

”The road rehabilitation and infrastructure program because the facility

will be utilise by everyone to acess the transportation.” (Ita Purnama
Dewi,16 year-old girl, Lamtengoh village, senior high school, SMAN 1
Peukan Bada)

”Reconstruction of houses so we will have the house again.” (Rahmatina

S.,17 year-old girl, Lamgeueu village, senior high, SMAN 1 Peukan Bada).

”Training and small capital support to the jobless people.” (Ika, 14 year-
old girl, Lamgeueu village, junior high, MTsN 1).

”Learning computer and hold some competitions, so I can get a price as

the winner.” (Sari Yulis,13 year-old girl, Meunasah Keude village, junior
high, MTsN Krueng Raya).

”Cleaning up the village, so that the environment become healthy &

clean, to prevent any diarrhea and cholera.” (Cut Kemalahayati,13 year-
old girl, Meunasah Kulam village, juinor high, MTs Krueng Raya).

”Study groups.” (M.Syubban,14 year-old boy, Lamkruet village, junior

high, SMP Lhoknga).

”Playgroup activity because it can improve the quality of someone since

the early of childhood care.” (Ida Lailyani,18 year-old girl, Lamkruet
village, midwife academy student/Akademi Kebidanan).

”Free healthcare and medicine for tsunami victims, and providing

education for the poor children.” (Qusnila,14 year-old girl, Lampaya
village, junior high, SLTP Fajar Hidayah).

e. What is the activity/project/program that the most useless or creating

problem for you and your neighborhood?

”I think, there isn’t any program that useless. Alhamdullillah (thanks to

God) all the program are usefull for us.” (Dahlia Ananda,15 year-old girl,
Keuneu-eu village, senior high, MAN Model Banda Aceh).

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 ”None. Every activity in my village is usefull.” (Safrina,17 year-old girl,
Keuneu-eu village, senior high, SMA 1 Lhoknga).

”in my opinion, the most useless activity is the kind of activity that is not
educate people. The unclear purpose and irresponsible activity by the
implementer, e.g. the unfair housing program.” (Nanda Mariska,15 year-
old girl, Keuneu-eu village, senior high, SMAN 3 BNA).

”Cash grants for small capital support.” (Khairul,17 year-old boy,

Neuheun village, senior high, SMK 2 Banda Aceh).

”...dividing the support unequally that has caused the quarrell amongts
the community.” (Liswatun Husna,15 year-old girl, Lampisang village,
senior high, MAN 2).

”I don’t know.” (Safrina,13 year-old girl, Neuheun village, junior high,

SMPN 2 Neuheun).

”hang around activity.”(Hanis,17 year-old boy, Lampisang village, senior

high, MAN Lampisang).

”The unfair targeting the beneficiaries that has caused the quarrell
amongst the community.” (Nizria Ulfa,15 year-old girl, Lampisang, senior
high, MAN 2 Lamtemen).

”The activity that is only wasted the time. Useless meeting, a kind of
meeting that doesn’t make us understand. The kind of meeting by NGO
at ’Meunasah’ (community center).” (Ita Purnama Dewi,16 year-old girl,
Lamtengoh village, senior high, SMAN 1 Peukan Bada)

”Unplanned activity, such as the sewing machine has been given to the
person who doesn’t know to sew.” (Meutia Diana,14 year-old girl,
Lamgeueu village, dropped out)

”fighting, quarelling, throwing the rubbish everywhere, and not keep the
environment clean.” (Ismi Rauzatul Amna,14 year-old girl, Meunasah
Keudee village, junior high, MTsN Krueng Raya).

Lesson Learn and Recommendation

1. Baseline assessment at the post disaster time would be better if being conducted
at the same certain time that involves the government as the main responsible
party. This is to prevent any repeating assessment by NGOs, INGOs, or UN
organisations.

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2. The next assessment should not be conducted as “hit and run” but should use the
immersion or live-in with the community that affected by tsunami, so that we will
know exactly the needed, the number, and how to implement in the best way, and
the community active involvement to the program to become effective and
efficient.
3. The basic support supplies fulfilment during the emergency phase or response –
would be better not by giving cash money because they actually didn’t need the
cash at that time.
4. The cash money support should be given in very careful way; is that the only
effective way to support the objective? The inappropriate cash money had caused
the inflation, made the people lazy and dependent. They need to get a job to
continue their living. This type of support will need a good coordination from all
the parties that get involve, especially to achieve the mutual understanding on the
impact of the intervention.
5. The orientation of emergency response should be changed into the increasing life-
skill and the knowledge of the disaster victims, to create the employment
environment and to speed up the support on small scale productive
businesses/home industries.
6. The community should get involve directly to the recovery process since the
beginning of the programs, so the rehabilitation and improvement will be in line
with the dynamics of the local community and reduce any negative excess. By
involving the community directly, will provide the learning process and
transformation from the donor agencies to the beneficiaries to ensure the
sustainability of the program to the local people.

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