HRH Prince Feisal’s initiative to be implemented in Indonesia
Amman, Jordan: December 26th, 2004, started off just like any other day for Merlinta Anggilia who is one of the seven delegates attending the global initiative Generations For Peace’s international camp in Amman, Jordan.
The 17 year-old was minding her four year-old brother while her parents made their regular morning trip to the local town for supplies. But the day would end with the world a changed place forever following its worst ever natural disaster.
“It all started with the earthquake at around 8am which was terrifying,” she said, recalling a day that would transform the lives of millions. “My parents arrived home saying that many of the town’s buildings had collapsed and people were killed. But then everyone was shouting that a wave was coming so we all went up to the second floor of the house.
“We only lived five minutes walk from the beach and it was not unusual for high tides to reach us up to ankle level so we went upstairs as a precaution. No-one expected what would happen next.”
Less than five minutes later and a wall of water 15 metres high ripped through the village and, in a flash, Merlinta lost both of her parents; the brother she was holding in her arms as well as her older brother. She later discovered her fiancé was lost to nature’s ferocity too.
“The wave made a noise like a jet engine,” she said. “It swept away everything in its path. I was lucky. I came to the surface but was hit by the second wave too. Somehow I survived but unfortunately so many people didn’t.”
It was nearly 12 hours later that she was plucked from the sea after tearing the clothes from a floating dead body to make a distress flag spotted by an eagle eyed fisherman that had been pulling dead bodies from the sea.
It was devastating and resulted in 230,000 of her countrymen and women killed, but despite the heartbreak Merlinta has an approach to life which has gained her massive respect from the 80 delegates from 13 countries attending the camp.
“You cannot look back, you have to look forward. I have another brother to care for after discovering he was alive three months later. I know that my experiences can give people strength so my volunteer work is important.”
Now 22, Merlinta is working with homeless street kids and also with Oxfam International while studying. She has formed a strong bond with the six compatriots she has met for the first time in Amman and is looking forward to rolling out Generations For Peace activity within her country.
“I have learned so much at this camp,” she added. “I have never taken part in sport before but have learned that by using sport, people from all types of ravaged areas – whether devastated by war or disaster – can use sport to help them through tough times and to come together. It is an important initiative for the whole world.”
Created by HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein in 2007, Generations For Peace has reached out to 40,000 children from 28 countries through the leaders of youth that have been trained at the 10-day international camps by professional sports coaches and academics in conflict resolution.
The fifth camp rounds off a successful year for the global initiative which has held three international camps and was granted Recognised Organisation status by the International Olympic Committee last week.