Lionhearters bring warmth to Pariaman

by Nur Zuriana & Sri Syafiqah (Hong Kah Secondary School), SG United Journalists

“In Singapore, I can easily visit a nearby clinic to seek medical help, but the victims can only wait patiently for medical teams from other countries, like those from Singapore, to fly in to where they are to assist them. It is difficult for them to get medical care, especially those affected in Pariaman.”

Noh Iskandariah, a second year student from the School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Singapore Polytechnic, recounted his experience of helping the victims of the Padang Earthquake, when interviewed after the official launch of the Singapore Polytechnic-Civil Defence Lionhearter Club on 27 Oct 2009.

Earthquakes rocked West Sumatra, Indonesia, on 30 Sep and 1 Oct, leaving tens of thousands in search of humanitarian assistance. The SP-CD Lionhearter Club responded to the call for help, and deployed six members to Pariaman, Padang City, to assist Mercy Relief in its humanitarian mission.

The roles of the SP-CD Lionhearter Club include providing humanitarian assisitance during overseas missions, providing assistance for on-campus incidents, and training the community in life saving skills.

Noh Iskandariah was one of the six Lionhearters who volunteered to travel to Pariaman to extend help to the victims, and their effort was recognised and commended at the launch of the SP-CD Lionhearter Club. In a short presentation to showcase the humanitarian work done, the six Lionhearters shared with guests the devastating state they saw upon stepping onto the Pariaman grounds.

Homes used to house people from the heat and cold had turned into rubble; those injured were waiting anxiously for medical treatment. Children had no schools to go to, and had no toys to play with.

Left in the open: Many earthquake victims lost their houses, and children had no school to go to. (with thanks to SP-CD Lionhearter Club)

The Lionhearters helped distribute relief aid such as food, water and medical supplies to earthquake victims in the affected areas, and were tasked to do unload and pack relief items at the Mercy Relief’s warehouse. They also did their bit for the students of the “Yayasan Pendidikan Silaturahmi” school which collapsed in the earthquake, by erecting tentages to be use as temporary classrooms. Smiles returned to the children's faces when they found comfort, attending classes again with their friends.

Lionhearters in action: The team of six Lionhearters, made up five male students and one female student, helped unload and pack relief items at the Mercy Relief’s warehouse, and distribute relief aid to earthquake victims in the affected areas. (with thanks to SP-CD Lionhearter Club)

Back to school: Lionhearters helped put up tentages to be used as temporary classrooms for the children to replace the schools destroyed in the earthquakes. (with thanks to SP-CD Lionhearter Club)

After the presentation, the pioneer batch of 85 SP-CD Lionhearters from various disciplines in Singapore Polytechnic, including the six who went to Pariaman, received their CD Lionhearter insignia from SCDF Commissioner Peter Lim and Mr Tan Hang Cheong, Principal of Singapore Polytechnic.

The Lionhearter Club is a new programme which SCDF is planning to extend to other local tertiary institutions.

“We have come to realise that tertiary students have not really been involved in civil defence, emergency preparedness and humanitarian projects, they feel that they do not have time to be involved in community projects. This is our first initiative to engage tertiary students in a formal way,” said Commissioner Peter Lim when he highlighted the significance of launching the SP-CD Lionhearter Club.

Apart from being trained in basic skills such as first-aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), fire safety and casualty evacuation, the Lionhearters will also be trained to prepare themselves psychologically for overseas humanitarian missions and understanding cultural sensitivities in the host countries, so that they will be able to perform their duties effectively.

For more information, please visit the Facebook page of CD Lionhearter Club.

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Please click here for the News Release on the Launch of the CD Lionhearter Club.