Eight students from Aoyama Gakuin University (Japan) who are following the field research at UGM were impressed by the handling of the disaster in the Gondang village in Kepuharjo Cangkringan, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta. They were very impressed with the Merapi post-disaster handling on various aspects.
This was recognized by of Akiko and Fumi, two students of Aoyama Gakuin University, while visiting Gondang I temporary shelter. Both claimed to learn valuable lessons related to the handling of post-disaster in the shelter. "After looking around, I was impressed with the temporarily relocation, the place is spacious and comfortable and there is a playground for children. It makes me curious to know more about how people live here," said Fumi, Wednesday (29/2) in the shelter.
Fumi assessed that Gondang I shelter is great because in addition to the presence of many facilities, people in Gondang I shelter are empowered economically. Not to mention there are activities for the social rehabilitation, psychological assistance and others. "This place is very nice and suitable for them," added Fumi.
Different with conditions of the disaster in Indonesia, Aiko added that for disasters in Japan, the government has set up programs for disaster management, thus when disaster strikes, the Japanese government has set up some permanent location for the refugees temporary shelter. "People already know that when a disaster happens, they would go to these permanent places. People have been trained for disasters, so they themselves initiate disaster management programs, no longer dependent on the government," said Aiko.
Dalimin, vice chairman of the Kaliadem Welfare Sharia Cooperative considered that it is right that the eight students from Aoyama Gakuin University had chosen Gondang I shelter as the location for field research on Merapi disaster. It is because the condition there is much better than Gondang II and Gondang III.
In addition to many facilities such as meeting rooms, playing field, kindergartens and others, many community development programs are carried out in this location. Such programs include the development of rabbits, goats and cattle husbandry programs as well as mushroom business, bakpia cake production and strawberry plantations. "The students certainly know how the economy continues through a cooperative that we have developed which uses profit-sharing system," he explained.