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A Message from Eddie
It will be 4 years running this January since AIRO
first joined the world’s response to one of the worst
natural disasters of all time, the Asian Tsunami of
December, 2004. Some 150 fishing boats, dozens
of fishing nets, quality boat building workshops,
truckloads of tools and the Queen of Spain later,
AIRO remains engaged and contributing.
Both Eddie and Aaron Anderson, otherwise known
as “Kedua”, continue working in Aceh. They may be
with different organizations but both are contributing
to the long-term development and capacity building
throughout Northern Sumatra.
And AIRO continues – currently building an original
INS-15 design using FAO 12-meter specs on their
“Shaft-Log System” metered up to a 15-meter
transport vessel. The extra-wide design is built for
comfort and stability and will house 2 births below
deck, a cooking area and a bathroom. It is the
largest boat built to date in the AIRO KR facility.
Pk Marzuki reviews hull work on the biggest AIRO
boat yet, a 15-meter long, 4-meter wide transport
vessel! AIRO secured the Krueng Raya boat
building workshop property on a 10-year lease for
Pak Marzuki and company (a mostly family
company!) to work and manage their own contracts.
Aaron Kedua has taken a position with the
International Labour Organization as an operations
specialist, supporting badly needed infrastructure
development on each of the Tsunami affected
coasts.
Eddie is now engaged with the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) to manage the establishment of marine
livelihood service centers in 8 strategic fishing
estuaries around Aceh. The centers will include
information technology and radio communications
equipment with months of training once the centers
are built and the equipment installed. Activities are
designed to build the capacity of Panglima Laot (sea
commanders) officials who control the local fishing
estuaries. Boats and nets were provided to help
them catch more fish through material transfers; this
project is designed to help them get a better value
for the fish that they catch through information
transfers.
And what about 2009? AIRO is interested in
exploring opportunities to expand the production
facilities and worker skills at the Krueng Raya boat
building workshop. These may include anything
from alternative boat materials such as fiberglass or
aluminum, to commercial construction framing and
even possible furniture production. AIRO-Head
wanna-be’s need only email Eddie or Aaron Lyman
of their interest to get involved in these project
developments.
Fiberglass boats or unique furniture lines, AIRO will
maintain a presence in Aceh through 2009, and
beyond. What started out as a “3-hour tour” has
turned into 4 years of successful emergency relief
and long term development activities, partnerships
and incredible life-enriching experiences that
continue today. Long live AIRO!
Eddie Bloom
15-November, 2008
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AIRO Partners with Over the Edge, Inc. Bungee
Jumping
Eric Lyman, lifetime AIROhead, has founded Over
The Edge, Inc. Bungee Jumping. OTE partners
with AIRO in various charitable activities. More
information as follows:
http://www.overtheedgebungee.com/
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Aaron Anderson (Kedua), our newest AIROhead,
and friends
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AIRO Formed in Tsunami’s Wake
On 26 December 2004 a magnitude 9.0 earthquake
struck less than 90 miles from the shores of Northern
Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. The quake sent a 30-meter
ocean swell traveling 500 mph under water for a direct hit
on the Indonesian island’s western coast. Aceh Province,
the most northern located area of the island, was clearly
the worst hit area anywhere.
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The combination 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami
was deadly and destructive, leaving over 250,000
Acehnese dead or missing, and causing massive
disruption to the area’s once productive infrastructure.
On 28 March, 2005, yet another earthquake, of
magnitude 8.7, struck within 100 miles of the one on 26
December, causing further damage and claiming
another 2,000 lives in the area.
To date the relative toll of dead and missing underscore
the immensity of the disaster for Aceh:
Maldives: 82 Dead
Sri Lanka: 38,195 Dead
4,924 Missing
Thailand: 5,395 Dead
2,991 Missing
India: 10,779 Dead
5,614 Missing
Aceh Province, Indonesia:
172,161 Dead
116,368 Missing
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Since January 2005, Austin International Rescue
Operations, Inc. (AIRO) has been working with local
communities, Indonesian authorities and international
aid organizations to provide long-term sustainable
livelihood recovery and reconstruction to tsunami-
affected areas of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia.
AIRO has a proven track record of successfully
managing local resources – providing project
development, quality control and/or project completion.
The executive management background of AIRO staff
has afforded the organization a keen sense of efficiency
and effectiveness in an often challenging work
environment. AIRO remains committed to the long term
rebuilding of Aceh & Nias and is available to collaborate
with other relief organizations wherever project and
resource management, quality control and project
completion are required.
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AIRO’s Approach to Relief Work:
Projects are selected to maximize benefits with long-
term, sustainable relief. AIRO projects are designed to
create positive ripple effects to all related sectors of the
local economy. This approach helps revitalize entire
villages by magnifying the impact of every relief dollar
spent. AIRO’s relief work guiding principles include:
*Employing local workers and craftsmen with expertise in
local resources, needs, traditions, and beliefs
*Promoting local capacity building and ownership
*Maintaining on-site staff for consistent quality control
with full language capabilities & cultural sensitivities
*Offering professional management services &
accountability to all partners, vendors & Indonesian
authorities
*Long-term commitment to efficient and effective
expenditure of all AIRO resources.
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AIRO PROJECTS TO DATE:
Emergency Clean Water Relief - 30, Water filtration
systems distributed
KR0 - 10, 9-meter Acehnese fishing boats w/ outboard
40hp to Krueng Raya
KR1 - 22, 5-meter Acehnese w/ 16hp inboard to Krueng
Raya
KR2 -30, INS-10, 8-meter fishing boats w/ 23hp inboard to
Lhokseumawe & Calang
Training - 30, Indonesian boat builders trained at AIRO
KR facility
Building Renovation – design, material procurement and
construction supervision
LA1 - 6, large fishing vessel (23-meter) renovations in
Lampulo
LA2 - 6, 1200 x 80-meter fishing nets supplied to large
fishing vessels in Lampulo
K+N – 7 INS-10, 8-meter fishing boats to Pulu Nasi
LH1 – 50 INS-10, 8-meter fishing boats to Tana Pasir,
Aceh Sulatan & Aceh Besar
KR3 – 25 INS-6, 7-meter fishing boats to Nias
Simeulue Boats – 30, INS-10, 8-meter boats to Simeulue
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT
AIRO PROJECTS.
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The Alaska-lots of work to do…
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A Message from Aaron
December 26, 2008 marks the 4th anniversary
of the devastating tsunami and January 2009
marks AIRO's 4th year of rebuilding and
reconstruction in Aceh. While there has been
huge progress, there is still much to be done.
2008 has been a year of change for AIRO.
From day one, we have tried to create an
atmosphere where our boat making crew could
eventually be self-funding and self-driven by the
Indonesian people themselves. We designed an
organization and provided the tools, training,
facilities and initial projects that could enable
them to be self-reliant. AIRO recently negotiated
and paid for a ten-year lease on the Krueng
Raya boat making facility IN ADVANCE. This
means these workers and their families, together
with the hundreds of direct recipients of the
boats and fishing gear that they produce have
the tools to make a lasting and sustainable
livelihood.
AIRO has been able to accomplish a self-
sustaining organization by empowering the
people of Aceh while diminishing the direct AIRO
management of projects there. While Eddie
Bloom and Aaron Anderson continue to work in
the area to support the fishing industry, they are
now working directly for other organizations with
a continued voluntary status with AIRO.
What does all this really mean? A few months
back, I was visiting and working with the guys in
our little facility in Krueng Raya and as I sat
under the coconut trees on the edge of the
Indian Ocean and watched the scene, I was
overwhelmed by the magnitude of our success
there.
We have about 15 workers in the AIRO
boatyard. Young mothers were scurrying about,
chasing little children and making preparations
for dinner and baths. The men of the village
were cutting and planing fine hardwoods, then
brushing-in resins and sealants. They were
adjusting boat engines and building forms and
patterns. While saws were whirring and planers
were singing, I realized just how far we have
come since our early days of wondering how we
could possibly make a difference.
I realized that these things have been possible
through the amazing support of all of you,
AIROheads of the world. You understand and
TAKE ACTION. Around the world or across the
street, you care about others and find ways to
serve.
John Donne said:
"No man is an island unto himself. Each is a
piece of the continent, a part of the main. Each
man's death diminishes me. For I am INVOLVED
in mankind. Therefore, send not to know for
whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. "
Our ongoing mission: hope and dignity for the
people of Aceh.
Please enjoy the updates to the website and
thanks again for all your support!
Aaron
President AIRO
AIRO Commits to Long-Term Rebuilding &
Reconstruction of Aceh & Nias
With the modest start up of just ten 9-meter
fishing boats built for the village of Krueng Raya,
AIRO has now gone on to complete nearly 100
quality fishing boats and large vessel renovation
projects. At the same time AIRO went from “just
3 guys from Texas” wanting to offer hands-on
assistance to full US 501(c)3 non-profit status
and Indonesian Yayasan AIRO distinctions.
AIRO continues to earn recognition and praise
from both Indonesian authorities and other
NGOs – along with some notable dignitaries, like
the Queen of Spain! - as one of the most
efficient and effective aid organizations still
operating here. Today AIRO enjoys the
reputation as one of the best boat builders in the
province!
The AIRO Krueng Raya boat building facility has
been operational since early 2005, a few weeks
after AIRO arrived in Aceh.
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If you have any questions or would like more
information, please contact Aaron Lyman directly
at 1-512-750-5096, or at alyman@austin.rr.com
AIRO US HQ (new address!):
8804 Appaloosa Run
Austin, Texas 78737
USA Fax: 1-512-301-7154
USA Cell: 1-512-750-5096
Indonesia:
AIRO Aceh HQ (new address and number)
Jl. Elang Lr. Merpati No. 43
Ateuk Pahlawan - Banda Aceh
NAD - Indonesia 23241
Intl. Cell: +62-81-36263-7777
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How can you help?
*Make a donation*
AIRO is a 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Organization - No:
55-0896249
Send your tax-deductible check made out to:
AIRO
8804 Appaloosa Run
Austin, Texas 78737
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