Hi my name is Berry Natalegawa. This fundraising is to help a community in Mount Nago, Agam, as too in Padang panjang, West Sumatra. As many have heard of the recent flood disaster and the devastating aftermath, I am here to raise £1500 (Rp 33,113,208)* to help 200 families consisting of 580 people in Agam, another further 300 families in Padang panjang.( Numbers of people here unconfirmed). Help is to be directed towards the isolated area so far unreached.

A little information about me. I am Indonesian, a building consultant residing in UK. A husband , and Dad to our 3 Children. My wife’s family is from West Sumatra, thankfully safe but all, to various extend are inevitably affected.

Why is this fundraising important?

As ever, helping those in need is of significance. People who have lost love ones, their homes, their livelihoods. Traumatised and being isolated, many are facing difficult challenges after surviving the event. Many are exposed to the harsh weather with no proper shelter or food.

As Indonesian I feel the connection, though we all rightfully feel this way. My wife extended family is also from the region.

Many are trying to help, in various ways. From praying to sharing in social media’s in hope to get attention and awareness spreading. Then you have people like us here starting their donations or collections of clothes etc, getting donations to help.

Latest figures from the BNPB (National Agency for Disasters Management)For Sumatera

West Sumatra

165 fatalities

112 injured

153 missing

North Sumatra

614 injured

293 fatalities

153 missing

Aceh

1800 injured

173 fatalities

114 missing

Ultimately there are challenges on the ground. Confusions and lost communications. Both for the victims and to some extent the helpers. Our hope is that the local authorities can swiftly assist and provide the much needed support.

For many, I believe It’s critical to have local knowledge and network to optimise help. That help from donations get through to those in need. Rescue help/Volunteers would engage with locals to ask what it is they need, what it is they require.

This Fundraising

Though thousands of miles away, I have the opportunity to extend help, to this end I can’t just sit by and watch.

Through an organisation I co-founded back in Sept 2014, RSJP, which is RUMAH (House) SEMUT (Ants) JALAN (Walk) PEDULI (Awareness/Care) We have humbly in the past made efforts and extended help to disasters victims in numbers we can manage. Post trauma healing for the children especially, community empowerment and psychosocial support /psychosocial counselling.

The following is a short bio of RSJP:

RSJP community organisation.

Sep 2014 - Present

Disaster and Humanitarian Relief

RSJP was found and officially formed in 2014. Based in Tangerang south Jakarta, Its mission is to give support to local children in need. Set up as an institution/foundation it focuses on social, education and humanitarian issues. As non profit organization, colaborating with other local NGOs. Promoting

'Gerakan membaca', reading movement, for the local children, RSJP have gone further in social works and humanitarian reliefs. Post disaster recovery, post trauma healing, community empowerment. RSJP was recently officially invited to collaborate with SPBI (Squad Penanggulangan Bencana Indonesia).

Squad disasters countermeasures Indonesia.

If I may, to further explain.I co-founded RSJP after my path crossed with the other founder Ibu Reza.

Back in 2009 I started ‘Life’s Walk’ raising awareness and poverty alleviation. Over a period of 6 years(2010-2016) I had done 6 events, lone walks, over 41 days walking 2155km. The same spirit in steadfastness and empathy I am here for at gofundme for this fundraising. I hope you can extend your generosity, however small to this cause. Thank you.

How funds will be used:

Below are extensive lists seen to be required but RSJP can only,due to limited funds inevitably, buy items in order of importance, availability and necessity. Collaboration with other team will allow sharing of required items.

A/ After discussions, it’s set that 4(four) volunteers from RSJP are to go to location at Mount Nago Agam and Padang panjang.

Those travelling are seasoned and have had experience in recent past . Tsunami at Palu Sulawesi, Merapi eruption, Panorogo Landslide to name a few. They will synergise with RSJP network there on location. In fact the co-founder of RSJP is among the 4 travelling to locations.

Travel cost by bus to Sumatra & return

Ro750,000/oneway/one person (x4) x2

Total Rp6,000,000. (Circa £272,26)*

B/ Funds go to the purchase and provisions of Sembako in principle. (Sembako is Sembilan bahan pokok, ie 9 essentials) Rice, eggs, sugar, cooking oil, onions, meat, milk, gas/oil to cook and Salt.

Inevitably, with this condition, prices, out of supply and demand are affected.

5kg of rice is usually Rp85,000 (circa £4.00)

To assist 500 families each with 5kg of rice, at £4.00 would equate to £2000. More than the target fundraising. Hence RSJP team will collaborate strictly with other team on site in each supplying what’s required clearly and responsibly.

Our volunteers and their local team will get to the nearest unaffected market to get supplies, helping local economy and keeping transparency with purchasing directly. Also ensuring items are bought and given/used by/for targeted recipients at the location in Mount Nago Agam and Padang panjang. We even have had offers on pickup cars to help transport voluntarily.

RSJP in the past collaborated with other NGOs in renting pickup/vans for the cause. This maybe the case over the targeted 8 days on sites.

C/Other much needed essentials (random order)

1. Water supply. Short term would be bottled water. Longer term would be profusion for new installations for water tanks also for toilets and shower area)

2. Praying equipment,

3. Medicine, maskers.

4. Pampers,Baby formula, vitamins,

5. Blankets,

6. Ground cover, carpets to sleep on.

7. Washing equipment

8. Clothes for adults/children.

D/ Transport locally.

Van/pickup rental daily £34 (2 teams sharing)

8daysequates to 8x£34 . £272.00

E/Last but certainly not least, a much needed

Dapur Umum, Public kitchen is to be set up. This will assist in giving morning, noon and evening meals for the community. RSJP will collaborate on this and those others above to make ends meet.

Funds to be used.

As noted above, there’s so many lists of essentials that’s required. The cost is huge and it will take months/years for normality to return with the aid from the government in both the infrastructure and general living conditions.

The list are there as a data of basic needs. RSJP will be part of the on going help coming in and RSJP account all the spending towards this help for the community in Mnt Nago, Agam and Padang panjang.

1. Target. £1500.(Ro33,113,208)*

2. Transport bu bus for 4.

2days 2nights each way (x2)

1350km. (x2)

£272,26 (Rp 6,000,000)*

3. Essentials

B,C,D,E £1227,74(Rp 27,128,661)*

*Note: Amount subject to exchange rate from Sterling to Rupiah. The figure above acquired from online rate in transferring said amount today/at time of writing which included the fee of transfer.

All expenditures will be noted / recorded and accounted for.

I apologise sincerely for going at length at this and perhaps not elaborating on some aspects needed. I will update accordingly as news come in and share it here.

in the meantime I thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart. For the attention, support and kindness any of you are extending. I recalled my students (when I was teaching karate for 14 yrs) donating 50p of her pocket money towards a fundraising. Bless her heart.

To that end , again I thank you all for bearing with me.

Any amount will make a difference.

£5 is great, £10 is awesome any more is Epic!

As I mentioned, I see the opportunity to help with people I know, with the same intentions and vision I find I have. The chain of connection between all those donating and those in need is short/almost direct,

You-Gofundme-me-RSJP-Nago/Padangpjng.

When do they go?

Time is of essence. We hope to raise this as soon as possible. HOPEFULLY LESS THAN A WEEK.Money is raised, they are on board the bus for the 2days/night journey.

Thank you sincerely again, may The Almighty bless you all , repay you all many folds in return, what help you extend. I’ll update here at Gofundme.com

Take care everyone.

Berry. N