Archived Media Release
6 September 2006
Acehnese Orphans Visit Australia to Showcase Acehnese Culture
Having survived the 26 December 2004 earthquake and tsunami, a group of 20 young people from Aceh will arrive in Australia on September 7 for a nine-day visit. They will perform traditional Acehnese dances at Australian schools and universities, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and be reunited with volunteers from Australia who travelled to Aceh in the week after the trunami. The young people will also meet Prime Minister John Howard.
“This trip is a celebration of the significant relationship between Muhammadiyah and Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets, an Australian charity organization,” said Australia’s Ambassador Mr Bill Farmer. After the devastation of the 2004 tsunami, the two organisations signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding, forming a partnership to provide accommodation, care and education for orphaned survivors.
The collaboration between Youth Off The Streets and Muhammadiyah has seen the creation of a permanent Children’s Care Centre that has cared for over 60 children since early February 2005. Funded by donations to the Youth Off The Streets tsunami appeal, the Centre ensures the children’s social, emotional, educational, cultural and religious needs are being met.
The Australian Government’s international aid agency, AusAID, and the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs are major sponsors of the visit. The Australian Government has committed 1.7 trillion Rupiah (A$250 million) to helping Indonesia recover from the tsunami, in the areas of health, schools, infrastructure, livelihood, housing and governance.
“Now these children have a future they can look forward to, they are excited to share some of their achievements with the Australian community,” said Mr Farmer.
Further information:
Fiona Hoggart (Cultural Affairs) tel. 0811 936 302