Banda Aceh: 17 October 2005 – Last year, RYTHM Foundation saw first-hand the grave enormity of the December 2004 Asia Tsunami catastrophe while assisting in rehabilitation programmes. This year, the Foundation returned to one of the worst-hit regions to initiate a three-year scholarship programme to benefit hundreds of students who have been deprived the chance of education following the disaster.
Led by RYTHM Foundation Trustee Mr Bernhard Mayer, and QuestNet Indonesia Corporate Communications Manager Ms Wita Dahlan, financial aid was personally provided to the students of Banda Aceh and Lhokseumawe. After their initial visit soon after the Tsunami last year, this second visit was made in collaboration with Rotary International in Pforzhiem, Germany. Mr Mayer, while making the donation told the students, guardians, parents and school representatives, said: “We need to make sure that Aceh’s children do not lose their right to a formal education because of the catastrophe that devastated their land. In line with our main mission, we feel it is most appropriate that we do what we can to help lighten some of their problems.” More than 95 students from Preliminary, Junior and High Schools in Banda Aceh, Lhokseumawe and Medan received tuition fees for a one-year period. Most of the students are orphans and many lost their homes and families in the devastation wrecked by the Tsunami. Students from Lhokseumawe and Medan who received the aid were relocated from Banda Aceh since there were not enough schools in Banda Aceh that could accommodate them. An English teacher from MTSN Banda Aceh thanked RYTHM Foundation: “We are grateful for the donation from RYTHM Foundation. It will have a great impact on the students affected by the Tsunami and surely will become the catalyst required to revitalise our educational activity.” RYTHM Foundation plans to continue this scholarship for a period of at least three years.
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