Zulkifli, the photographer

My full name is Zukifli. I am 18 years old and was born in the Lhueng village, Lhokseumawe on March 2^nd, 1989. Now I am in the 2^nd year of the Gedong 1st Public High School.

I am the 3^rd of 5 children in the family, I only have a mother as my father had passed away in 2002, from shots fired by TNI/Indonesia Armed Forces (wrongly targeted). How it happened: at that Sunday morning around 7 a.m., my Father who worked as a farmer went to the field to plant chillies and chocolate trees. At the same day there was armed contact between TNI and GAM, after shots were fired from both sides, afterwards TNI conducted sweeping and chasing for GAM, however unfortunately they only found my father who was cultivating the soil, but without much thinking TNI soldiers directly shot my Father. I heard information about the incident from somebody whose house close to my field ( I forgot this person's name)

After Father died, Mother who previously only worked as a home-maker has to go to the field to continue Father's work, in order to earn income for her children to continue school and to live. Nevertheless Mother cannot still afford to pay for our schooling. Therefore she asked me to stay in the children home, and I did not reject that request since Mother explains that it's very unsafe to live in the village, conflicts were ongoing with no end and always accompanied by shootings. The concern was that I would drop out from school and also wouldn't dare to go to Qur'an reading lessons.

My mother has an in-law family only, but they have not continued family relationships with us after Father died, not only giving no financial support, but also never ask about our news. This was also what made Mother decide about me living in the children home. The attitudes of my mother's relatives were very different when my father was still alive, they were caring very much and pay attention to all of us, and I think that they did what they did since there was something they expected from my Father, especially since my father often gave them money.

My feeling when I started to live there, in the beginning, I was so sad parting with family, but in the long run I felt at home as I got used to it.

In the children home I don't have friends who are very close to me, all are just ordinary friends. What makes me happy is being together with them, to joke and to chat, because I can let go of sadness and stress.

I like to learn and write. Usually I write about daily stories, about daily life which usually I write in the Diary book.

My favourite school lesson is English lessons, since it's an International language, also a language that is very much needed.

My future goal is to become a medical Doctor, I often see Kak Mar (Ummi's child) who often checks and gives us medication if we are sick, and also for people around the children home. Kak Mar often asked me to grind tablets to be given to patients, because of this I want to become a doctor just like Kak Mar. And if I really become a doctor I promise to give free treatments for poor people, since I was also given free medicines by the Doctor.

After joining this Workshop, I experience many changes in my life, for example:

I now have more courage. Previously before I joined this workshop, at school if a teacher asked me to write on the board I was always trembling, but now no more trembling. When I sing in public now I have the courage to do so. I used to be very quiet, and didn't dare to speak in front of many people, but now I dare to speak in front of many people no matter how many they are.

In the children home my relationship with the care staff has not changed just the same as it is before.

After joining the Workshop I also have many friends and I often exchange information about conditions in each children home, so that it could enhance my knowledge.

A Child's Eye

Khalil       Jamri      Wahidah     Nurlalia     Zulkifli

Gallery