Practicing Public Service

Posted by DEAN SKIP RUTHERFORD – Rina Meutia of Banda Aceh, Indonesia, is a Clinton School student. Rina is a wonderful person who brightens up the room every time she enters it. Rina is also a Tsunami survivor. On the day of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, Rina and her family fled the “wall of water” by running to the second floor of a mosque which was about three blocks away. The water rose to Rina’s chest before it started receding, but she and her family thankfully survived. However, approximately 30,000 people in her city did not. The tragedy was and remains enormous.
 
Today, Rina, her family and those in her neighborhood are helping support 16 orphaned boys, ages 11 to 18, who lost everyone and everything. These boys are living on the second floor of the same mosque where Rina and her family escaped. Rina keeps us updated about how they are doing. The neighborhood, though devastated, has rallied for them. 
 
Recently, Rina told me if we could get each of the 16 orphans a t-shirt with an American flag and a watch, it would be special. At one of our recent public programs, we “passed the hat” and raised more than half the money needed. We’ll continue this effort and it won’t be long before we send a surprise package to Banda Aceh.
 
I want to thank all of those who have and who will contribute. The next time President Clinton visits the Tsunami relief sites, I will encourage him to stop by this Banda Aceh mosque.