Written by Yohanes Baskoro, Albert Deby S. and Victor Dimas B. Putra (Karina-KAS’ volunteers for Caritas Joint Response in Padang).

The massive earthquake that hit West Sumatera in September 30, 2009, has moved many people’s hearts to help the survivors. Through various efforts, many diocesan Caritas volunteers found their way to get to Padang to join the rest of Caritas Joint Response team who had been in Padang since the first week after the disaster.

Good will and readiness to assist the affected people became their main motivation. Below are the voices of a few volunteers interviewed in the midst of their works which represent around hundreds of other volunteers who share the same spirits of solidarity, love and hope in Padang.

Sriaty Sovia (PMKRI Pekanbaru) “I joined the Caritas volunteers a few days after the quake. It’s very tiring and challenging because CJR is mandated to cover remote and abandoned areas. Not many women who are interested to join as volunteers. Perhaps they don’t want to ruin their makeup. I enjoy this work. Traveling to different places is fun. Glad to see the survivors directly.”

Johannest Pandu (Karitas Purwokerto) “The Director of Caritas Purokwerto (Karito) phoned me to join CJR volunteers just the night before we left to Padang. Karito send 5 people to help CJR Emergency Response programme for two weeks. We had a briefing with the director at the train station. The victims and survivors of Padang quake are also my brother and sister. It’s my call. I don’t have enough money. I’m just a student. What I can give to the quake survivors is only my hands and my thought.”

Antonius Agus a.k.a Chemonk (Palaga Community, Pulo Gebang Parish, Jakarta) “It’s not the first time I joined the emergency team. Mas Suko asked people from Pulo Gebang because we are always dealing with emergency situations, especially during the flood in Jakarta. Pulo Gebang sent three people to Padang. We are equipped with all the gear, sleeping bags, first aid kids, and blessed from the parish priest. Hahahahaha… Now I work with the Logistic team in the CJR warehouse. We manage all emergency aids. When we get bored, we play cards.”

Bang Ray (Caritas Sibolga) “Volunteers should be in a good condition. We must avoid getting sick. We should work with good will and strong determination. We are the hands of good people who donate and send their logistic to the quake survivors. We are taking care of quake survivors. But when we are getting sick, who will be taking care of us?”

Victor Dimas (Karina-KAS) “I’m very honored to be part of Caritas volunteers. Karina-KAS phoned me a week before I deployed to Padang. I’d been through the Jogja earthquake in 2006 as a volunteer too. The situation is almost the same with the Jogja earthquake. With two people from Karina-KAS, we helped with data or stories for communication and the information system. But, I am willing to work at any levels. I don’t mind to work in the warehouse, to do assessment or logistic distribution. I just want to help the quake survivors.”

Dwi (Archdiocese of Tanjung Karang) “I’m here with 5 people from Tanjung Karang. It’s my first time joining the emergency response programme. Not much that I can offer to the CJR programme. But, I believe I can use my good will to accomplish all assessment and monitoring tasks. I’m a quiet person. But, it’s always fun talking with other people. Now I can feel the way people can survive from this disaster. It’s only their hope that can save them, the hope of rebuilding a better life.”