Introduction

PROJECT HARAPAN 2011
A group of JC1 Students from River Valley High
We understand how fortunate we are in Singapore, and we want to reach out to others internationally. And we're starting from Magelang, Indonesia.
Along with the help and support from NGO Mercy Relief, we will be going down in November this year in hope to bring some joy into their lives despite the disaster of the eruption back in 2010.

Objectives:
1. To gain a better understanding of the situation there and how the people cope.
2. Urge us to reflect on our lives and learn from the attitudes of the people there,
3. Teach us to count our blessings because we do not face the risk of such disasters back at home.
The experience would serve as a life lesson for all of us to bring back to Singapore and share with our friends and families.
4. To engage in disaster relief work which is rarely done in schools.


"HARAPAN" is Malegang's motto, which stands for "hope" - which is also what we wish to bring to the villagers there.

Contacts

Team Leaders: Bella Choo (bellacsl94@gmail.com)
Kim Yee (kenicko_dreamz@hotmail.com)

Links

Mercy Relief

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“all they need is a little hope”
September 2011

The Aftermath
Saturday, 24 September 2011 || 09:05

Check out the following websites and blogs for their photographs and reports on what happened and the situation now.



The other photographs posted are really heart-wrenching. Can you imagine witnessing the situation first-hand?



This is a more recent blog post on the situation, written this year. Another website that has recent updates is http://merapieruption.wordpress.com/

Videos:
Aftermath - Covered with ash


Mount Merapi
Tuesday, 20 September 2011 || 08:33



A little introduction to the volcano before the project officially sets in! The pretty picture above is the volcano Mount Merapi, literally Fire Mountain in Indonesian language.



It is an active stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano - a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions.


It is located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548. It is located approximately 28 kilometres (17.4 mi) north of Yogyakarta. Thousands of people live on the flanks of the volcano, with villages as high as 1700 metres (5,577.4 ft) above sea level.

Merapi is very important to Javanese, especially those living around its crater. As such, there are many myths and beliefs attached to Merapi.

The Javanese believe that the Earth is not only populated by human beings, but also by spirits. Villages near Merapi believe that one of the palaces used by the rulers of the spirit kingdom lies inside Merapi, and this palace is said to be a spiritual counterpart to the Yogyakarta Sultanate. Besides the rulers, the palace is said to also be populated by the spirits of ancestors who died as righteous people. Geological history