IN THE MORNING of Dec. 26, 2004, a magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck beneath the Indian Ocean near Aceh province, which generated a massive tsunami. The United States Geological Survey estimated the tsunami released the energy of 23,000 atomic bombs. It killed more than 230,000 people in more than a dozen countries. Indonesia was hit hardest: about 160,000 people were reported dead or missing and over half a million left homeless.
The aftermath caused heartbreak for many, including Anita Ratnasari Tanjung, founder and chairwoman of the CT ARSA Foundation. The fact that thousands of kids lost their parents and homes drove Anita to evacuate at least 500 children who survived the catastrophe directly from Aceh to Deli Serdang in North Sumatra. Anita’s husband, Chairul Tanjung, helped realize the rescue. “We took all the children to Deli Serdang directly, as I could see they were traumatized by the disaster. Most of them had lost their parents, homes, and some even drifted for days at sea. I couldn’t imagine,” says Anita (51).
In Deli Serdang, Anita built Rumah Anak Madani, an Islamic boarding house for children who survived the tsunami. (Rumah Anak Madani is the embryo of the CT ARSA Foundation High School). There, Anita not only provided a place to live for the kids, but also education and health care, as well as psychological assistance to help overcome the kids’ trauma. Over time, under the CT ARSA Foundation, Anita enhanced Rumah Anak Madani’s scope of work to help underprivileged kids who lived in nearby Deli Serdang and beyond; even as far as Palu, Central Sulawesi.
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Forbes Indonesia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Forbes Indonesia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BACK ON TRACK
Collective wealth gets a 21% boost to a record $162 billion amid an economic uptick.
Championing Locals
The wave of social commerce is enabling inclusive digital economies beyond urban areas.
Boys in the Bubble
Startups are supposed to specialize, but OPENSEA’s founders thrived by building a wide-open market for creating and trading all manner of NFTs, whether art, music or gaming. Now that they’re centimillionaires and poised to become billionaires, they have other worries: competitors, fraudsters and the next crypto crash.
Enduring Relations
The implementation of IA-CEPA amid the pandemic signifies the Indonesia-Australia’s commitment to recover and counter future challenges together.
Sweet Success
Steven Erwin envisions Unifam to become a major global player in the confectionery and F&B industry.
Marathon Man
Across America, scores of municipal pension funds remain scandalously underfunded. But not the pension fund of Tampa’s police and firemen, thanks in large part to JAY BOWEN, whose no-frills approach to stock picking has protected and served them for more than 45 years.
Gold Rallies on Inflation Fears
During September the price of gold rallied to $1,868 per ounce following the release of figures on US inflation by the Bureau of Labor Statistics which indicated that, as of September, CPI inflation had rocketed to 6.2%, above the 5.8% which economists had been predicting.
Set Off to A New Start
Bank Aladin has two main ingredients for success: establish trust and offer better customer experiences.
The Daily Intake
YOUVIT plans to invest further into marketing and grow into one of the leading vitamin brands in Indonesia.
THE CROESUS OF CRYPTO
FTX COFOUNDER SAM BANKMAN-FRIED BUILT A $22.5 BILLION FORTUNE BEFORE HIS 30TH BIRTHDAY BY PROFITING OFF THE CRYPTOCURRENCY FRENZY—BUT HE’S NOT A TRUE BELIEVER. HE JUST WANTS HIS WEALTH TO SURVIVE LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE IT ALL AWAY.