Masrizal
Age: 27 years old
Location: Lamlumpu village, Aceh province, Indonesia
When the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami struck, Masrizal lost his entire family, his home and all of his possessions. His village of Lampulu, in Aceh Besar, was destroyed and many of its residents - his friends and neighbors - killed. In the face of such adversity, Masrizal, now age 27, found a desire to help others and enrich himself as well as the work ethic to do so. He says he often thinks of his mother, Asmawati, and tries to emulate her. He remembers her as a warm and lively woman who was at the center of community life.
Over a year ago, he received a home from an international organization close to where most of Lampulu's surviving residents have settled. He found a job at a local blood testing laboratory, where he works part time, and eventually hopes to start his own business. To aid in this pursuit, he has joined nearly 500 other young people to participate in a vocational training program provided by the American Red Cross and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). The training, which is part of the Psychosocial Support Program, aims to help tsunami-affected youth, like Masrizal, gain the skills they need to earn a sustainable income.
Participants can choose from a range of courses, including carpentry and computer skills. Masrizal has chosen a course in electrical repair, following the footsteps of his father. "The more skills and knowledge that I have, the better my life will be and the more I can contribute to my community," he says.
