Jakarta (Media Indonesia: 29/06/06) The powerful earthquake that struck Yogyakarta and Central Java recently has caused trauma for children survivors. Many parties including NGOs like the Sampoerna Foundation (SF) that that focus on education are moved and appealed to address the problem. Wednesday June 22, the weather in Yogyakarta is bright. A group of youngsters welcome Media Indonesia as we arrived in front of the Ambarukmo Hotel Yogyakarta which still seems solid even though a little bit grimy.

"Here I introduce the Sampoerna Foundation scholarships recipients in Yogyakarta," said Hendri B Satrio, SF Media Relation staff who has accompanied me from Jakarta. Some of them are still in high school; others are under-graduate and graduate students.  Even though they are from different level of study, they have some similarities: they are cademically gifted yet financially disadvantaged

“This is their post,” Hendri said pointing at a corner at the Hotel lobby. There are several boxes of mineral water and instant noodles that will be handed for donation and a computer to keep the data of the stock.
“We are here to try to contact other SF members with whom we have lost our contact,” explained Septina Nuralia (21) President of Yogya Sampoerna Foundation Scholars Club (JSFC), an organization gathering SF scholarships recipients.

As a president of JSFC, Septina is concerned about the spirit of hundreds of her fellows. The earthquake has destroyed their homes and books. Some of their family members, relatives might be injured or passed away. This could cause a trauma. “The disaster might affect their academic performance, while SF’s scholarships depend on their grades," she said.

Despite the sadness, as the quake has affected many of them, they seem glad. Eko Suwarti (19) one of SF’s scholarships recipient who participate actively in many activities, for instance, does not look sad. Parts of Suwarti’s home in Ngadipuro village in Bantul regency have been flattened by the earthquake. Her beloved grandmother, living in a nearby village has been killed. The most devastating moment for Suwarti is when she found out that her boyfriend was killed in the earthquake.

“At the beginning I lost my spirit to study. All my hopes seemed fading away. The face of Mas Toto (Suwarti’s boyfriend) who always supported men in the past four years always appeared in my mind. However, I could not keep on mourning. I have to continue for the sake of my future, for all Mas Toto’s sacrifices and for the willing to please my parents," said Suwarti.

For Suwarti, it is necessary for her to recover quickly. Her father, Suprono (49), is a labor and her mother does not have any job. It is impossible for her to ask her parents to pay for her study. She is now in the second semester at the Geography Department at the Engineering Faculty at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

“My GAP in the first semester was 3, 55. But I don’t know in this semester. I am a bit afraid, the scholarships require a GAP not lower than 3, 00 and we have to graduate in 4 years of study. I have to continue to work hard even though I have to study inside a tent with candle," Suwarti said softly. High spirit was also seen in other students while we are traveling to several schools in Yogyakarta and Klaten.

When Media Indonesia visited Petir I Elementary School, in Srimortani village in Piyungan, Yogyakarta, we see Elementary School students concentrating listening to their teachers. They were 234 students who have to study under emergency tent. Each tent is shared by two classes, each class facing the opposite directions.
When Media Indonesia visited the Prambanan I Junior High School in Central Java, there was a similar view: school tents and collapsed building.