Visiting Aceh After The Flood
Some of our students had the opportunity to join a Flood Relief Outreach Programme in conjunction with the Malaysian Consulate and Mercy Malaysia. They visited Aceh Tamiang which was affected by Tropical Cyclone Senyar. They helped distribute humanitarian aid to more than 1,000 families. They also brought some joy to the children of the families by bringing toys and ice cream. We are thankful to the Malaysian Consulate for providing this valuable experience to our students. We asked each student to reflect on their experience.
Daniel, MYP 5 (Grade 10) student:
During my visit to Aceh, I realized how bad the condition of the place was: houses were destroyed, cars were covered in mud, trucks were stacked on top of each other, etc. It broke my heart to see how almost every house had mud everywhere. I thought everyone would be distraught or in extreme sadness. However, when distributing the toys and ice cream to the kids, they were all extremely excited and gave us a warm welcome. They immediately swarmed the boxes and coolers filled with ice cream and toys, showing how much they wanted or needed this moment. I realized how grateful I have to be because I am lucky that I was not affected by the floods.
Additionally, I saw how humanity still prevailed through harsh moments like this flood; it was both beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I’m very thankful for the opportunities to even participate in the volunteering event, and I will continue to cherish my moments where I’m able to wake up with air in my lungs.
Zuri, MYP 5 (Grade 10) student:
When I visited the disaster area in Aceh, the first thing I noticed was how much the flood had disrupted everyday life. Many homes were damaged, the ground was still wet and muddy, and families were trying their best to clean up and save what was left. Seeing people work so hard to rebuild their lives made me realize how tough the situation truly was. But when we started giving out toys and food, especially to the younger children, the surrounding mood changed. For a short moment, the children forgot about the chaos. They laughed, smiled, and held onto the toys like they were something precious. It showed me that even during difficult times, small acts of care can bring real comfort and lift someone’s spirit. This experience also changed the way I understand empathy. I realized that empathy isn’t only about understanding someone’s pain – it’s also about doing something to help, even if it’s simple. Being there made see that young people can play a role in supporting others, whether by giving time, sharing kindness, or just being present. My visit to Aceh reminded me to be grateful for the safety and stability in my own life, and it taught me how important it is to show compassion to communities that are still trying to recover.
Dania, MYP 5 (Grade 10) student:
During my visit to the disaster site in Aceh,I saw how deeply the flood had affected the community. Many houses were filled with mud, belongings were destroyed , and families were still trying to recover whatever they could . Even though the situation looked overwhelming , the moment we began distributing toys and food, especially to the children ,the atmosphere shifted. Their smiles, excitement , and gratitude showed how much they needed comfort ,hope , and a sense of normalcy. This experience helped me understand empathy more deeply — that sometimes even small gestures can make a meaningful difference. It also showed me that young people have the power to support others, whether through kindness, time, or simply being willing to help. Visiting Aceh made me more aware of the importance of compassion, and it reminded me how fortunate I am to live safely while others are still rebuilding their lives.
Genevieve, MYP 3 (Grade 8) student:
When I visited Aceh, what affected me most was the way the community was working to recover. I saw families cleaning their homes and trying to save whatever belongings they could. When we gave the children toys and food, their reactions brought a brief moment of happiness into a very difficult time. It felt meaningful to see how a simple gesture could lift their spirits. This experience helped me understand empathy as the willingness to offer comfort and support, even when the situation cannot be fully fixed. It also showed me that young people can make a positive impact by being caring, present, and ready to help.
Ryan, MYP 3 (Grade 8) student:
On Wednesday, the 10th of December, I visited Aceh Tamiang just weeks after the major flood, as a part of an event organized by the Malaysian Consulate in Medan. The moment we entered the disaster site, the damage was unreal; houses were damaged, schools were completely submerged, even cars had mud inside. When we started giving out the toys, the reactions on the children’s faces really struck me hard. They went through a lot, and seeing them smile just left a dent in my heart. That reaction that the kids made, really told me that, making even a small contribution/difference can help shift someone’s mood. The places we visited were in worse condition than what I had seen on social media.. Mud was starting to dry, making the whole cleaning process more difficult, important documents were wet, power was gone, I truly felt pitiful. Being there also made me realize how fast people’s lives can change in a matter of seconds.
My dad, Ian Lau, also talked to some villagers. They said “When it was 6pm, the water was just ankle depth, but at 9pm, it was already at waist height.” Even though houses looked completely ruined, people continued to try and get mud out of their houses. This made me appreciate things that we would usually take for granted like safety, and comfort. Since we went to the disaster site two weeks after the tragedy hit, there wasn’t really any water standing, but the ground was still covered in thick, watery mud. Some villagers were using buckets to get rid of it, while others tried washing things they could still save.
Overall, visiting Aceh Tamiang really opened my eyes to how unpredictable life can be. The whole event was still stuck in my head after we left. Just seeing buildings collapse, landslides, already made me feel pity for the community.
Anggia, MYP 5 (Grade 10) student:
During my visit to Aceh Tamiang, I realised how deeply affected the communities were by the flood. I saw that many buildings, including houses, schools and vehicles were destroyed, and there was mud everywhere. I also noticed that many families were struggling with necessities. Many lacked steady access to food, and they weren’t able to feel comforted. Although the atmosphere there felt heavy and overwhelming, the communities there didn’t look as sorrowful as we expected. When we were handing out the toys and ice cream to the kids there, they all crowded around the boxes and looked extremely happy and excited. This experience made me realise how fortunate I am that Medan isn’t as affected by the flood compared to Aceh. It also made me learn more about having empathy towards others and how even small gestures can create a meaningful difference to them. I also realised that young people have a powerful role in helping others. We may not have all the resources in the world, but we have energy, compassion, and the ability to create meaningful change through simple acts of kindness. My time in Aceh showed me that even the smallest efforts can leave a lasting impact.
Dana, MYP 4 (Grade 9) student:
The most emotionally impactful or challenging moment in this experience for me was coming home. Because during the day, we drove past areas devastated by the flood. As in, trucks being stacked on top of each other, roofs collapsed, and children standing by the road with plastic bags and containers, asking for donations. When we reached our first destination, there was a group of children standing there, to whom we gave toys and Ice-cream. The children were all excited and overjoyed to receive such things. However, when I returned home late that night, I was lying in my bed, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty. I felt guilty that I was able to lie in my room after seeing the devastation going on, but at the same time, I felt grateful. It’s shocking how, even despite the conditions, the children were still able to play, and it made me feel some sort of relief and responsibility towards them.
