After the Earthquake, Lazismu Delivers 235 School Kits to Students at Dampek Catholic Elementary School

Lazismu has distributed 235 school kits to students at Dampek Catholic Elementary School in East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, after an earthquake damaged the coastal area. The assistance aims to help children maintain their enthusiasm for learning during the post-disaster emergency period.

The packages included school bags, pouches, notebooks, drawing books, pens, pencils and crayons. The distribution followed a visit to an evacuation site by the Muhammadiyah central leadership. Hilman Latief, the organization’s treasurer, met survivors and children on Sunday, September 6, 2026. Lazismu leaders, including central board chairman Ahmad Imam Mujadid Rais and chief executive Barry Adhitya, attended the handover.

The earthquake severely damaged the school. Ten of its 13 classrooms are considered heavily damaged, leaving only three suitable rooms for 11 class groups. School principal Bernadeta Hadia said most students lost their learning materials when buildings collapsed and seawater entered coastal homes. “Many residents’ houses collapsed completely or partially, and seawater even entered some coastal homes, leaving nothing of the children’s belongings, including their books and uniforms,” she said. “The children are very happy to receive these new supplies.”

Some students suffered injuries, including broken bones and head wounds, from collapsing structures and have received medical treatment. The emergency response is scheduled to continue until September 12, so formal learning has not yet resumed fully. The school has begun trauma-recovery activities, including drawing and writing about the students’ experiences at the evacuation post.

Dampek Catholic Elementary School has previously achieved educational awards, including a district-level Indonesian language assessment title and third place for its exhibition stand at an education expo. Lazismu hopes the school kits will help restart education and allow students to return to their achievements.

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Many residents’ houses collapsed completely or partially, and seawater even entered some coastal homes, leaving nothing of the children’s belongings, including their books and uniforms. The children are very happy to receive these new supplies.