Restoring the environment after a disaster requires community involvement as well as support for the economic recovery of affected families. Through the HAP KPP Project (Children’s Rights to Education, Health, Protection, and Participation in Post-Disaster Contexts), Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia (YSI), together with local communities, carried out land-clearing activities through a cash-for-work scheme in Pante Kera and Batu Sumbang Villages, Simpang Jernih Subdistrict, East Aceh Regency.

The activities took place in residential areas and school grounds. On September 3, the work was carried out in the residential area of Pante Kera Village, followed by activities in the residential area of Batu Sumbang Village on September 17, and at Pante Kera Public Elementary School (SDN Pante Kera) on September 20.

In total, 90 participants were involved, with 30 different participants taking part in each activity. Of these, 62 were men and 28 were women.

The HAP KPP Project, titled “Fulfillment of Children’s Rights to Education, Health, Protection, and Participation in Post-Disaster Contexts,” was implemented by YSI in East Aceh Regency. The program supported 150 children and 90 disaster-affected families by strengthening access to education, healthcare, protection, and participation in safe and inclusive environments.

Flash floods that struck Aceh and several other areas of Sumatra in late November 2025 significantly affected community life and the continuity of essential services. In Pante Kera and Batu Sumbang Villages, the disaster affected 225 families and damaged 165 houses.

The impacts extended beyond individual households to public facilities that support daily community life. Based on YSI’s field assessment, the affected facilities included educational and healthcare facilities, places of worship, roads, clean water and sanitation infrastructure, and government facilities. Damage to these facilities disrupted community access to essential services. This situation highlighted the need to rehabilitate public facilities, restore their functions, and strengthen the provision of basic services in both villages.

Restoring Residential Areas and School Grounds

The cash-for-work activities were carried out at several locations in residential areas and educational facilities affected by the flash floods. In residential areas, the work included clearing bushes, grass, vegetation, and other materials that obstructed the use and restoration of public spaces.

In Pante Kera and Batu Sumbang Villages, residents cleared approximately 1,500 square meters of residential areas. At the educational facility, the cleaning activities focused on affected areas of SDN Pante Kera that required restoration and reorganization.

In addition to clearing vegetation, the activities involved collecting, lifting, and removing flood debris, including mud, wood, and damaged building materials that were no longer usable. The collected materials were moved to designated locations, followed by site organization and final cleaning according to the conditions at each location.

Overall, approximately 50 cubic meters of flood debris were collected and removed. These efforts helped restore residential areas and educational facilities, making them cleaner, safer, and more organized so that they could be used again. They also contributed to the community’s post-disaster recovery.

Cash-for-Work Activities Support Household Economies

The activities used a cash-for-work mechanism, under which participating residents received compensation for their labor.

Each activity lasted one day and directly involved community members in cleaning and environmental restoration. At SDN Pante Kera, residents cleaned desks and chairs, corrugated metal roofing sheets, the schoolyard, and the drainage channel in front of the school. In the residential areas of Pante Kera and Batu Sumbang, residents cleared roads obstructed by mud and fallen wood. The work also covered the area in front of Alur Merbo Mosque in Pante Kera Village and the community health post (Polindes) in Batu Sumbang Village, both of which had been affected by flood debris.

Cleaning around the Batu Sumbang community health post was an important part of restoring the healthcare facility’s surroundings, ensuring that the area was clean and safe and that residents could access basic healthcare services.

Overall, the activities aimed to restore public spaces, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, and access routes affected by the floods. They also helped create cleaner, safer, and more comfortable surroundings that communities could use again.

The cash-for-work scheme provided affected families with opportunities to earn additional income while participating directly in restoring and organizing their living environments. This approach delivered two benefits: supporting household economies during the recovery period and creating safer, more comfortable spaces for children.

One participant, Mr. Jamin, said the activities had been very helpful to local residents. In addition to providing extra income for families, the work had made it possible for children to return to playing and carrying out activities in cleaner, safer, and more comfortable spaces.

Residents were selected based on the work requirements and through coordination with village governments and relevant stakeholders. The coordination process involved 13 people, comprising six representatives from the village governments, four school representatives, and three YSI representatives. This coordination helped clarify roles, identify activity requirements, and ensure that field implementation was organized and responsive to local conditions.

Supporting Children’s Rights through Safe Spaces

The cash-for-work activities formed part of a broader series of interventions under the HAP KPP Project to support the fulfillment of children’s rights in disaster-affected areas. The interventions focused not only on restoring the environment but also on addressing the social and economic circumstances of families, which influence children’s access to education, healthcare, protection, and safe spaces for growth and participation.

In this context, supporting household economies through cash-for-work activities and restoring residential areas and school environments were complementary efforts. The cash-for-work scheme gave affected residents temporary income opportunities while enabling them to participate directly in restoring their living environments and the spaces where children spend their time.

Cleaning activities took place in the residential areas of Pante Kera and Batu Sumbang Villages, as well as at SDN Pante Kera. In residential areas, the work included removing mud, bushes, grass, vegetation, and flood debris that obstructed access and the use of public spaces. Drainage channels previously blocked by mud were cleared, damaged building materials were moved to safer locations, and roads covered by mud were reopened for community use.

At SDN Pante Kera, the activities focused on cleaning and reorganizing the schoolyard and drainage channels that had previously experienced waterlogging due to accumulated mud. Following the cleaning, the school grounds became more organized and could once again accommodate flag ceremonies, sports, learning, and other school activities.

These changes demonstrated that cash-for-work activities provided economic benefits to participating families while also helping restore public spaces and educational facilities. With cleaner, safer, and more comfortable surroundings, residents could use shared spaces again, while children had a more supportive environment in which to learn, play, participate, and engage in daily activities.

Safety and security were also prioritized throughout implementation. Participants received guidance on the safe use of tools and the proper execution of the work. The collected materials were managed and moved to designated locations to prevent disruption to the community and surrounding environment. Before the activities began, participants received an explanation of the objectives, procedures, and requirements from the HAP KPP Project Area Manager at YSI. This helped ensure that the work was carried out in an organized manner and in line with post-disaster recovery objectives.

The implementation of these activities in September 2026 demonstrated how post-disaster recovery efforts could address both environmental needs and household economic conditions through collective action.

Through the HAP KPP Project, YSI encouraged community participation as an integral part of the recovery process. Residents helped restore spaces around their homes and schools, while the cash-for-work mechanism provided economic benefits to those involved.

After the activities were completed, the residential areas and school grounds in Pante Kera and Batu Sumbang showed improvements. Drainage channels previously blocked by mud had been cleared, damaged building materials had been moved to safer locations, and roads previously covered by mud had been reopened for community use.

The activities directly benefited 90 residents, representing 90 families living in the affected areas. These environmental improvements supported the restoration of facilities and community access while creating cleaner, safer, and more comfortable surroundings for residents, including children.

According to Mr. Razak, the Geuchik (Village Head) of Batu Sumbang Village, the activities had provided wider benefits to the community. In addition to generating extra income and supporting household economies, the work had helped create a cleaner, safer, and more comfortable environment for children.

Working alongside local communities, YSI supported post-disaster recovery efforts in East Aceh by restoring affected spaces, creating income-generating opportunities, and strengthening support for children and their families.