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My name is Richard and I work in the communication team of SOS Children's Villages International. When I first posted Ari's story (his name was changed to protect his privacy), my heart went out to this young boy from Palu, Indonesia. His story has stayed with me ever since.
Ari, then 10 years old, was buried alive when his family's house collapsed in the Sulawesi earthquake in 2018. Both of his parents died. Ari spent more than a day buried under debris before his aunt heard his cries. Neighbors freed the boy, but his leg was severely injured and had to be amputated.
Ari and his aunt, now his legal guardian, received support from SOS Children's Villages in Indonesia to help them through the immediate aftermath. But I knew much more would be needed to help Ari get out of that wheelchair, walk on his own to school and play with his friends.
Shortly after losing his leg, Ari received a prosthesis from the Indonesia Doctors Association. However, two years later, the prosthesis is too small for him and Ari complains of pain.
My goal is to raise funds so Ari and his aunt can fly for treatment in Jakarta, Indonesia where specialists will fit him with a new prosthesis which will hopefully give him more mobility and be pain-free.
I am in contact with Mahdalena Lena, an educator and social worker from SOS Children's Villages Banda Aceh in Indonesia who has kept in contact with Ari and his aunt, Indah Kusti Ningsih. Mahdalena provided me with a medical estimate breakdown of the amount needed to help Ari:
€1,700 - new prosthesis and medical care
€600 - flights and accommodations (Ari and his aunt)
€200 - PCR tests and incidentals.
I have arranged with Mahdalena of SOS Children's Villages Indonesia to support the transfer of funds and to ensure that your donation goes to help Ari.
My hope is that with all of our support, Ari will regain some of what he lost: the ability to walk easily, maybe even to run again! Nothing can replace the love of his parents, but I am sure knowing the love of strangers worldwide rallied to help him will give him the strength and confidence to be his best.
Thanks for supporting Ari.
Richard
Note: This fundraiser is a private initiative, independent of SOS Children's Villages.
Ari, then 10 years old, was buried alive when his family's house collapsed in the Sulawesi earthquake in 2018. Both of his parents died. Ari spent more than a day buried under debris before his aunt heard his cries. Neighbors freed the boy, but his leg was severely injured and had to be amputated.
Ari and his aunt, now his legal guardian, received support from SOS Children's Villages in Indonesia to help them through the immediate aftermath. But I knew much more would be needed to help Ari get out of that wheelchair, walk on his own to school and play with his friends.
Shortly after losing his leg, Ari received a prosthesis from the Indonesia Doctors Association. However, two years later, the prosthesis is too small for him and Ari complains of pain.
My goal is to raise funds so Ari and his aunt can fly for treatment in Jakarta, Indonesia where specialists will fit him with a new prosthesis which will hopefully give him more mobility and be pain-free.
I am in contact with Mahdalena Lena, an educator and social worker from SOS Children's Villages Banda Aceh in Indonesia who has kept in contact with Ari and his aunt, Indah Kusti Ningsih. Mahdalena provided me with a medical estimate breakdown of the amount needed to help Ari:
€1,700 - new prosthesis and medical care
€600 - flights and accommodations (Ari and his aunt)
€200 - PCR tests and incidentals.
I have arranged with Mahdalena of SOS Children's Villages Indonesia to support the transfer of funds and to ensure that your donation goes to help Ari.
My hope is that with all of our support, Ari will regain some of what he lost: the ability to walk easily, maybe even to run again! Nothing can replace the love of his parents, but I am sure knowing the love of strangers worldwide rallied to help him will give him the strength and confidence to be his best.
Thanks for supporting Ari.
Richard
Note: This fundraiser is a private initiative, independent of SOS Children's Villages.