Lombok, Indonesia – When a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Lombok six years ago, Azra, 13, rushed out of her house to safety. The earthquake, which hit the northwest of the island on August 5, 2018, was the strongest ever recorded on Lombok, causing devastation and claiming the lives of 560 people.
Azra’s home was destroyed in the disaster, but thankfully her family was unharmed. The earthquake had a lasting impact on the education system in the area, with schools being closed for three months. Many children had to learn in temporary classrooms set up in tents or mosques due to the severe damage caused to over 400 schools.
Despite the challenges, efforts have been made to rebuild and improve the education infrastructure in north Lombok. Azra and her classmates were among the first to study in new earthquake-resistant classrooms made of recycled plastic blocks. These new classrooms have provided a sense of security and normalcy for the students and teachers.
The block schools initiative, led by Classroom of Hope, aims to improve access to education and reduce plastic waste pollution in Indonesia. The modular building system used for construction is designed to withstand seismic activity and provide a safer learning environment for the children.
While progress has been made in rebuilding schools, there is still a high demand for block schools in the area. Some schools, like SD 6 Pemanang Barat primary school, are in desperate need of renovations due to the unsafe conditions of their buildings. The community continues to appeal to the authorities for assistance in ensuring the safety of their students.