Pinka Haprani helps earthquake-hit children in NTT overcome trauma

Pinka Haprani, chairwoman of the central executive board of Taruna Merah Putih, joined children affected by an earthquake in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, for games, songs and storytelling.

The trauma-healing activity took place Tuesday, Sept. 1, in tents serving as temporary classrooms for Robo Inpres Elementary School and Robo One Roof Junior High School in Wae Ri'i district. Hundreds of children, from preschool age through junior high school, attended.

Taruna Merah Putih volunteers organized drawing, reading, storytelling and group games to help the children regain their cheerfulness after the earthquake. The activity formed part of psychosocial assistance for young earthquake victims.

Pinka attended with Rio Dondokambey, the organization's secretary-general, and Stephanie Octavia, its treasurer-general. Manggarai Regent Heribertus Nabit also took part. The organizers said the program involved more than a dozen university student volunteers from campuses in Ruteng.