The moving story of Joni Basrizal illustrates how easy it is for some tsunami victims to ‘slip through the net’ and how GFS can provide a lot more than Permaculture skills. Having lost all his family, he was discovered by the GFS team living rough in a refugee tent. As a single man, he was low down on the list to receive temporary housing, because of the housing ‘rules’. When staff met him he was very shy, quiet and lacking in confidence. It was thought he was probably traumatized by his experiences. In the temporary barrack housing he was silent, withdrawn and sometimes angry.

But Joni showed a passion and ability for the work at GFS and his dedication caught the trainers’ eye. Following his graduation from ToT2, he asked to be kept on, plaintively pleading with the trainers: “Please let me stay, this is my new family.” It was quickly recognized that although lacking the confidence of a trainer, he was a good worker around the garden and that he had a keen interest in gardening, seed saving and composting. He is still waiting for permanent housing to be built but has poignantly said has said he feels that GFS is his new family home.

Furthermore, he has also shown a capacity for ‘passing on the knowledge’ to others. He has two friends who are chili farmers. They used chemicals, and didn’t practice organic farming. One day, one of them collapsed due to poisoning from the pesticides and was taken to hospital.  They explained to Joni that they knew it was because of the chemicals, but felt they didn’t have any alternatives. They spent 12 million rupiah on the chili farm, but this season only received Rp 400,000 yield. Joni explained the financial and health benefits of farming organically – such as not having to pay for pesticides, using organic compost etc. Due to Joni’s interest and passion, his friends are now implementing some of these practices, and want to come to GFS to further their knowledge.