PIDIE JAYA, ACEH —— The impact of the flash flood at MIN 4 Pidie Jaya was particularly severe. Thick mud submerged the classrooms, reaching as high as the ceiling. This situation forced the school to take a difficult decision: two classrooms had to be completely demolished. This step had to be taken to allow heavy machinery access to dredge up and remove the flood debris and the vast mounds of mud.
The roar of the ‘second Aceh tsunami’ that struck Pidie Jaya at the end of 2025 may have subsided. However, the memory of the thick mud, more than two metres high, which drowned out all hope, remains etched clearly in Maisarah’s mind. She is a Year 2B teacher at MIN 4 Pidie Jaya who now faithfully teaches from behind the walls of the school’s temporary classrooms.
Although her home was not severely affected by the flash floods at the time, Maisarah’s heart was broken when she saw the madrasah where she served completely paralysed. The school grounds, which had once been lush and tidy, were instantly transformed into a vast expanse of mud that damaged the building’s structure, submerged the desks and chairs, and cut off the electricity supply.
“At that time, the teaching and learning process lacked adequate facilities entirely. Many of our pupils also had to evacuate to distant locations, meaning they were unable to attend school. When classes resumed in January 2026, the children wore casual clothes as there were no school uniforms; they sat on the floor and used emergency tents,” recalled Mrs Maisarah.
In light of this alarming situation, Dompet Dhuafa moved swiftly to establish a humanitarian partnership with its charitable partner, HMNS. At that time, a semi-permanent Emergency School was set up to replace the classrooms that had been lost.
“Alhamdulillah, we are so grateful that this Emergency School, provided by Dompet Dhuafa and HMNS, has been set up to replace the damaged local facilities. “This facility means the pupils can now learn more effectively, even though conditions are not yet fully back to normal,” said Mrs Maisarah gratefully.
Inside that emergency classroom sat Mona, one of the Year 2B pupils under Mrs Maisarah’s care. Despite the school environment now being very different from the past, the children’s cheerfulness has not faded from their faces.
Mona, a pupil at MIN 4 Pidie Jaya who is very fond of Islamic Studies, admitted she was overjoyed to be back at school and reunited with her friends. For Mona, this Emergency School is a stepping stone towards achieving her big dream.
“I’m happy to be back at school. I want to be a doctor!” exclaimed Mona, briefly.
The establishment of the Emergency School at MIN 4 Pidie Jaya is clear evidence that swift action can help safeguard children’s psychological well-being in the aftermath of a disaster. Education must not be allowed to stop, for it is upon the shoulders of children like Mona that the future of this nation rests.
“We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Dompet Dhuafa and HMNS for their support in setting up this Emergency School. We are deeply grateful to have received this facility. We hope that, in the future, this place will continue to be of benefit so that we can carry out the teaching and learning process effectively,” concluded Mrs Maisarah. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Dhika
Editor: Dedi Fadlil