Aceh Tamiang – The flooding that struck Kebun Tanjung Seumantoh Village, Karang Baru District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, not only caused physical damage but also affected the psychological well-being of children in the area. To support the recovery process, students from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) implemented a trauma healing program titled “Rumoh Pulih” as part of the Humanitarian Community Service Program (KKN Kemanusiaan).

One of the students involved in this initiative was Rahmalina Rizky Nur Azizah, an undergraduate student from the Psychology Study Program at UNY, who was a member of Group 23 assigned to Kebun Tanjung Seumantoh Village. The program was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Duwi Kurnianto Pambudi, S.Or., M.Or. from UNY and Dr. Jofrishal, S.Pd., M.Pd. from Universitas Samudra (UNSAM). The activities, which took place throughout January 2026, targeted students from SD Negeri Tanjung Seumantoh and children attending the Madrasah Diniyah in the village. Various psychosocial activities were designed using creative and participatory approaches, including storytelling sessions, psychoeducation on Psychological First Aid (PFA), canvas painting, drawing emotions, and writing hopes on a “Hope Tree.”

Rahmalina explained that the program aimed to provide a safe space for children to express their feelings after experiencing the disaster. “Through Rumoh Pulih, we hope to help children regain a sense of safety and confidence in expressing their emotions. We also hope that they can gradually recover and develop new hopes after the flood,” she said. Throughout the activities, the children showed great enthusiasm in participating in the sessions prepared by the students. They actively engaged in drawing, storytelling, and educational games designed to help them express their emotions in a positive way. The program contributed positively to the children’s psychological condition. They appeared more confident in interacting with their peers, more open in expressing their feelings, and showed renewed enthusiasm in learning and playing.

This initiative represents one of the contributions of students from the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta in supporting psychosocial recovery in disaster-affected communities, while also contributing to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 4: Quality Education.