Washing mud from their eyes
Bringing light of hope in flood-devasted Diocese of Sibolga, Indonesia
Flash floods and landslides on Nov. 25, 2025, devastated parts of the Diocese of Sibolga on the western coast of North Sumatra province, Indonesia.
Nearly two months later, thick mud remained in several affected areas, including school campuses, dormitories, and health facilities.
In Aek Tolang, mud reaching one to two meters deep blanketed church facilities and formation complex, including dormitories, classrooms, and a clinic. Damaged and impassable roads severely hampered access to many communities.
“Without the help of the TNI, our dormitory and clinic would never have been cleaned,” Frater Marius CMM (Congregatio Fratrum Beatae Mariae Virginis – Congregation of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary) told LiCAS News, referring to assistance from the Indonesian National Armed Forces, including the Territorial Development Battalion and the Central Tapanuli Military District Command.
Among the affected institutions were the Melania Elementary–Junior High School managed by the SCMM (Congregatio Sororum Caritatis a nostra Domina Matre Misericordiae or Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy) Sisters, located about eight kilometers from Pandan City in Central Tapanuli Regency, and St. Francis Senior High School in Aek Tolang that belongs to the Diocese of Sibolga and officially run by the Dominican Nuns.
The St. Francis campus had been submerged under nearly two meters of floodwater and mud.
Moving education forward
Through the diocese, assistance packages were distributed to affected schools, including uniforms, shoes, socks, stationery, and learning materials for approximately 300 students.
The total value of aid reached around IDR 300 million (~15,000EUR), donated by Lions Club Jakarta Askara Buwana District 307 A1, Singapore Intercultural Schools (SIS), Lotus Harapan Indonesia Foundation, as well as family members and friends.
Similar support was extended to Don Bosco Kindergarten School and St. Francis Elementary School in downtown Pandan. Earlier, a package of humanitarian aid was also sent to Tamiang in Aceh province for the same mission.
Vivyanti “Vivi” Ashali, an education-focused humanitarian activist of Lions Club Jakarta Askara Buwana District 307 A1, visited Sibolga in mid-January 2026.
She coordinated with Father Purwosuranto OSC, vicar general of the Diocese of Sibolga, and arrived on January 16 after a brief stop in Medan. She remained in Sibolga until January 19.
“I want to come to Sibolga and see with my own eyes how devastating this disaster has been for the diocese’s pastoral areas,” she told LiCAS News before departing.
Photo by Simoné Stander on Unsplash
Photo by Simoné Stander on Unsplash
Bringing light among the dark mud
Accompanied by Father Domba OSC and Father Rohendi Marpaung Pr, chair of the Diocesan Social Services Commission (PSE), she visited affected sites, including the CMM (Congregatio Fratrum Beatae Mariae Virginis) brothers’ complex and St. Francis Senior High School. She also held discussions with Sr. Mariane Winefride Widiastuti OP, principal of St. Francis Senior High School.
“This time, I didn’t bring specific items,” Vivi explained. “First, I want to ‘shop for data’, to see directly what kind of assistance is truly needed and what we can realistically do through Lions Club Jakarta Askara Buwana.”
Based on her observations, Vivi and her donor network are planning longer-term educational support, including a fully equipped computer laboratory, musical instruments, and books.
“For the computer laboratory alone, we need at least IDR 275 million [~14,000EUR],” Vivi noted.
“So far, we have only been able to send IDR 125 million [~6,300EUR] for St. Francis Senior High School in Aek Tolang.”
Basic necessities were provided by OSF San Damiano Convent and Indonesian Military Academy alumni forum batch 1989.
Volunteers from various regions stayed at Christophorus House, the diocesan center, before traveling daily to reach affected communities.
Little warriors
Before arriving in Sibolga, Vivi carried out a separate charity initiative in Medan, bringing nearly 300 hand-knitted hats for children undergoing cancer treatment as part of her project, “1,000 Hats for Hope – For Brave Little Cancer Warriors.”
The hats were produced through a collective effort by Lions Club Jakarta Askara Buwana club members who regularly gathered to learn and practice knitting together.
“With some close friends, I’m also preparing another 1,000 hats for shelters caring for children with cancer in Jakarta,” she said.
Working together to clean the school.
Working together to clean the school.
Working together to clean the school lab
Working together to clean the school lab
Rescuing things at The St Francis High school owned by The Diocese of Sibolga.
Rescuing things at The St Francis High school owned by The Diocese of Sibolga.
Religious sisters and volunteers unload rice, household supplies, and aid packages from a pickup truck at a parish compound in North Sumatra, as assistance continues to reach communities affected by the November 2025 floods and landslides.
Religious sisters and volunteers unload rice, household supplies, and aid packages from a pickup truck at a parish compound in North Sumatra, as assistance continues to reach communities affected by the November 2025 floods and landslides.
St Francis High School after 2 months from the flood.
St Francis High School after 2 months from the flood.
Religious sisters, volunteers, and local residents load aid supplies onto small wooden boats to reach remote villages in North Sumatra, where damaged roads have left flood-affected communities accessible only by river
Religious sisters, volunteers, and local residents load aid supplies onto small wooden boats to reach remote villages in North Sumatra, where damaged roads have left flood-affected communities accessible only by river
Volunteers and religious sisters sort and pack relief goods for distribution to flood-affected communities in North Sumatra following the November 2025 disaster.
Volunteers and religious sisters sort and pack relief goods for distribution to flood-affected communities in North Sumatra following the November 2025 disaster.
Religious sisters and volunteers ride a small wooden raft across a muddy river in North Sumatra to deliver aid to flood-affected communities cut off by damaged roads following the November 2025 disaster.
Religious sisters and volunteers ride a small wooden raft across a muddy river in North Sumatra to deliver aid to flood-affected communities cut off by damaged roads following the November 2025 disaster.
Stacks of relief goods wait on a riverbank in North Sumatra as volunteers and religious sisters ferry supplies by raft to flood-hit villages still inaccessible by road after the November 2025 disaster.
Stacks of relief goods wait on a riverbank in North Sumatra as volunteers and religious sisters ferry supplies by raft to flood-hit villages still inaccessible by road after the November 2025 disaster.
Children gather at a parish chapel in North Sumatra as volunteers distribute assistance to families affected by the November 2025 floods, bringing relief to communities still recovering from the disaster.
Children gather at a parish chapel in North Sumatra as volunteers distribute assistance to families affected by the November 2025 floods, bringing relief to communities still recovering from the disaster.
Children gather at a parish chapel in North Sumatra as volunteers distribute assistance to families affected by the November 2025 floods, bringing relief to communities still recovering from the disaster.
Children gather at a parish chapel in North Sumatra as volunteers distribute assistance to families affected by the November 2025 floods, bringing relief to communities still recovering from the disaster.
‘Seeing changes the heart’
“This journey deeply touched my heart,” Vivi reflected at the end of her visit.
“Witnessing such limitations has made me even more aware of how grateful I must be for the blessings and grace God has bestowed upon me and my family.”
For her, Sibolga was not just a destination or place of devastation, but a reminder that the light of hope can shine through effective solidarity starting with coming close, listening carefully, and allowing compassion to take concrete form.
With generous support from
Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith
Edited by Mark Saludes and Peter Monthienvichienchai
Produced by June Nattha Nuchsuwan
Published February 27, 2026
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