Student group has close ties to tsunami victims, aids in recovery

Published Thursday, January 6, 2005.

Every day this week, members of the Indonesian Student Association of Ohio University stood in the rain at College Gate to collect donations and answer questions about last week's tsunami, where the death toll is estimated to be 156,000. This is one of several upcoming relief efforts in Athens this month. In addition to donation opportunities at College Gate this week, three benefit dinners will take place throughout the month, including a Community Fundraising Dinner today at 5 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church on College Street. The ISA has personal ties to the disaster in Asia. The north Sumatran province of Aceh in Indonesia was one of the hardest-hit areas, where an estimated 80,000 people were killed.

According to ISA adviser Don Flournoy, one member was in Aceh when the tsunami hit, though there is no indication the student is in danger. Nurani Dunia, an Indonesian humanitarian organization co-founded in 1999 by OU professor Elizabeth Collins, has distribution capabilities in Aceh, and will be the pipeline for Athens contributions to the disaster sites. "(Nurani Dunia is operated by) young people and the organization is as clean as they come and well-respected in Indonesia," Collins said.

According to ISA member Adrian Budiman, 100 percent of the money collected for Nurani Dunia will go directly to disaster relief. "All funds we collect, every single penny, (will go) without a middle person," Budiman said. "People here would like to see a tangible outlet where they know their money is going to do the most good, and that's what we're trying to provide for the local community." The College Gate campaigns were successful in the first two days, according to ISA treasurer Ratri Istania. Local faculty members contributed to a check for $3,000 that was sent to Aceh, and before the campaign began on yesterday, students donated an estimated $500. According to Collins, one American dollar can feed five Indonesian families. Student contributions from Monday and Tuesday alone could provide one meal to nearly 3,000 families.

Beyond tonight's dinner and the College Gate campaigns, two more fundraising opportunities occur later this month. At 6 p.m. on Jan. 16, the ISA is hosting a dinner for the Athens Tsunami Disaster Relief Project in the Baker Ballroom, featuring a silent auction with Indonesian handicrafts.

An Indonesian Benefit Dinner, sponsored by United Campus Ministries, will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 29, on the lower level of 18 N. College St. Half the proceeds will go toward relief efforts in Asia; the other half will benefit UCM. According to ISA adviser Flournoy, these monetary contributions will be the easiest and most efficient way to help the devastated area. "Money is probably the primary way (to provide aid); food and clothing and other tangible aid is piling up at airports -the problem is how to get these assets to locations," Flournoy said. For information on disaster efforts and other donation opportunities, visit www.saveindonesia.org.

Source: http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/Articles/News/2005/01/06/160/