Using EFT for Trauma Relief after a major earthquake in Indonesia

By Deepak Mostert

The earthquake

On 27 May 2006, an earthquake, 6.3 on the Scale of Richter, hit the Yogykarta area. Since then there have been hundreds of minor earthquakes in the area and the nearby volcano Merapi is very active.

The details are that; 5,722 people died, 50,000 people were injured, 350,000 houses damaged or destroyed and 1,500,000 people are homeless. The infrastructure was damaged but mostly still intact.  

School program

The NGO, Yayasan Bahari Indonesia and Pak Cahyo Alkantana were my hosts.

When I arrived at Camp Bawuran, there was already an ongoing program for the schools. The school program was to support the teachers and children by organizing creative activities and Disaster Awareness training. This training was instruction in how to act in case of new disasters in a practical way and social studies information on earthquakes and tsunami’s. The EFT Trauma Relief Training was added and integrated into the school program.

EFT Trauma Relief Program

Our main concern was the numerous reports and observations from volunteers about many children, parents and teachers, who were traumatized by the earthquake. These reports were about the impact in loss of lives, bodily harm and material damage, and the many earthquakes that have followed.

Setup EFT TR Program

For the younger children, 5-8 years, I would first teach them EFT Trauma Relief as a game. Firstly, I would ask them how many children were afraid of a new earthquake. The response was nearly 100%. I would then ask how many children were afraid to go to sleep at night. The response was 80 %. I would then tell them that I could teach them a game to play when they felt this fear.

Info for EFT community

My experience was that every child was able to learn this technique. Some would have a bit of trouble finding the EB and SE point in the beginning and needed assistance. The CB point was too difficult for them to tap, so I taught them to use the whole hand. I used the Karate Point for the PR.

The children found the UA point hilarious and I used it as a build up in the game of tapping the 7 points. After practicing this game a few times on both “fear of a new earthquake” and “fear of going to sleep”, in which the parents would participate.

After this, I would talk to the parents and teachers and explain:

·       The Intensity Meter

·       The other uses that EFT has (There were many people who were troubled by psychical problems like headaches and other tension related symptoms).

·       How to use EFT on their children

·       The background of EFT and how it works

Then together with the children, we would do two more rounds on “fear of earthquake” and “fear of sleeping”.

This was sufficient training for the children, teachers and parents to be able to work with EFT.

Although I never mentioned it during the training, the initial aim was to get the fear levels down during the training through using EFT and Borrowing Benefits. I received the feedback from parents and teachers that the program was very effective and that they had noticed the difference in the behavior of the children and themselves.

Response to EFT

I was overwhelmed by the response to this program and the feedback. There was such a large acceptance towards EFT.

Partly because next to the western medicine, the people have kept in touch with their cultural healing method. In addition, the Chinese part of the population have lived in Java for centuries and acupuncture has integrated in to the society.

The largely Muslim community also accepted the EFT program.

Activities

- During a 17-day period, the team trained 600+ people in EFT Trauma Relief.

- I trained 12 volunteers in EFT Level 1 and 3 volunteers to teach EFT    Trauma Relief to children, teachers and parents.

- Besides the teachers that we trained during our school visits, we trained 21 teachers from a Teachers Association.

- We managed to give two evening trainings for separate villages, 180 people followed the training.

Current situation in disaster area.

The First Response faze is over, foreign NGO’s have left, and local NGO’s, private initiatives, and local government agencies are faced with an immense task. The majority of the people in this area live in temporary shacks and tents. The housing situation is a major concern; it is not adequate for the monsoon season due in 4 – 6 weeks.

Due to poor hygiene facilities, the outbreak of diseases during the monsoon season is a concern. There is a shortage of orthopedic surgeons for follow up medical treatment of the injured victims.

There is to my knowledge no ongoing trauma relief work.

My recommendations for Trauma Relief in the disaster area

In spite all the knowledge we have about trauma and trauma healing techniques, there is insufficient awareness about the impact of trauma on personal lives and communities that lasts for several generations.

In the Yogyakarta area there is a great need for trauma work and a good start has been made. A continuation of this program is necessary for the thousands of people that were not reached and who are in great need for support. I recommend the founding of an independent organization for Trauma Support in Indonesia, in NGO form.

An organization:

1. That structurally organizes Trauma Relief Training in the disaster area
2. That can provide training for the workers of the many organizations that are involved with the rebuilding of this large area.
3. That develops information folders about the effects and working of trauma in the Indonesian and Javanese languages
4. That develops visual aid material to support the trainings
5. That has contacts with NGO’s, private initiatives, and local government departments
6. That prepares First Response teams for eventual new disasters in Indonesia

For comments, questions and much needed support offers concerning EFT Trauma Relief in Yogyakarta, please contact me on deepakmostert@gmail.com

Deepak Mostert