DEPOK – Located at UI Vocational, the UI Communication Vocational Digital Clinic in collaboration with the Indonesian Civil Servants Coalition (KAMI), Jefri Nichol Fans Club, LPAI, Indonesian Orphan Friends, Ministry of Social Affairs, I am a Child Friend, SMA 35 Jakarta, Alumni of SMA 35 Jakarta, became one of the places to receive donations (drop boxes) for the 1 Million Dolls Movement for Children Victims of the Pandeglang Tsunami Disaster. The doll and toy collection activity will last until January 31, 2019. On February 10, 2019, all dolls and toys collected in various drop boxes will be jointly handed over to disaster victims in Banten. “This 1 million movement is intended to ensure that the children of disaster victims receive attention related to strengthening their psychology to face life after the disaster. We will direct the first assistance to the children of the Tsunami victims in the Sunda Strait,” said Hoky Soegiharto, Secretary General of KAMI. Collaboration with various community organizations that care about Indonesian children is the first step in a massive movement to continue to raise doll aid that does not only stop at the victims of the Sunda Strait. This movement will continue to be echoed throughout Indonesia, where collection posts will be spread across various provinces, in an effort to anticipate potential disasters. It is hoped that the logistics of children’s dolls and toys are ready to be distributed anytime and anywhere,” added Hoky who together with Kak Seto, Fachrul Muchsen, Dewi Motik, Ary Ginanjar founded KAMI. Dolls and toys have long been known in the academic world as one of the strategic therapeutic methods to help humans, especially children, go through difficult times due to various traumas such as divorce, quarrels, loss of parents due to disasters and so on. “Research by Carmichael, 2006 and Schaefer, 1993 found that play is one of the ways for children to solve problems, in addition to behaving badly at home, school and the environment, for example,” said Devie Rahmawati, Founder of the Vokom UI Digital Clinic. Play is one of the sources of human happiness. Because the comfort of play is able to arouse enthusiasm, divert stress, boredom and stimulate children’s creativity and exploration. In addition, play is a means to train the management of emotions and the human ego. Children of disaster victims need more attention. When the adults around them are preoccupied with environmental restoration efforts, toys such as dolls become a catalyst for the loneliness, fear, anxiety and confusion experienced by children,” added Devie who is also the administrator of KAMI in the communication division. “Children’s dolls and toys are an approach that provides space for children to reconstruct the trauma experienced. When a child is unable to express the fatigue experienced, through toys, they can communicate with others, using pleasant language to transfer their anxiety. The experience of non-verbal communication and toys that can be sensorially touched, grasped and even hugged by children, can be a “substitute” for the physical presence of adults who should be with children to hug them, providing a sense of security and comfort for children. The multipurpose character of toys because they can be a tool for recreation, education and therapy for children is what encourages many organizations to support this activity. We really hope that people from all walks of life can participate,” concluded Devie Rahmawati, Head of the UI Communication Vocational Study Program.
1 Million Dolls Movement for Sunda Strait Disaster Victims
