Children Survivors of the 2004 Tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia A Study of Resiliency YOHANA RATRIN HESTYANTI Atma Jaya Catholic University, Department of Psychology, Jakarta, Indonesia ABSTRACT: This exploratory study investigates factors contributing to resiliency of children in the age group of 11–15 years, survivors of the 2004 tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia, through qualitative methodology. Se- ries of participative observation and interviews with children, parents, and local social workers were conducted. A group of 50 children from three camps of the tsunami-affected areas in Banda Aceh and Great Aceh were involved and observed through several psychosocial activ- ities conducted in coordination with local social workers in the com- munity. Resilient children were identified based on criteria that were developed from the context of the tsunami-affected children in Banda Aceh and Great Aceh. Six children were identified as resilient. They show absence of clinically significant levels of trauma-related symptoms as measured by Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children-A (TSCC-A). They are able to live normally, such as participate in school activities, play with friends, perform daily chores, be involved in religious activi- ties, and develop healthy relationships with caregivers and peers. They are also perceived as cooperative in psychosocial activities. Findings in internal protective factors of these children include: strong internal mo- tivation to recover, good heart, open to other people, high motivation to bond to religiosity, self-responsible, sense of humor, and easygoing. Contributing external factors include: support from significant others, able to do religious practice routinely, able to learn traditional dance in groups, have opportunities to be involved in structured play/psychosocial activities, and have access to natural resources for recreation, such as a river. KEYWORDS: tsunami; child survivors; child resiliency; factors of re- siliency; Acehnese children; Indonesia Address for correspondence: Yohana Ratrin Hestyanti, Department of Psychology, Atma Jaya Catholic University, Jl. Jendral Sudirman 51, Jakarta 12930, Indonesia. Voice: +62-21-5719558; fax: +62-21-5708830. e-mail: jo hesty@yahoo.com Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1094: 303–307 (2006). C  2006 New York Academy of Sciences. doi: 10.1196/annals.1376.039 303