In late November 2025, devastating flash floods caused by Cyclone Senyar buried Gampong Dayah Timu under thick mud. For Zulfadly, a young deaf man and graduate of the local Special Education School (SLB), the disaster struck very close to home. His own house was submerged, and he faced the unique isolation that often affects people with disabilities during emergencies. This included a lack of accessible information and a significant risk of being overlooked in the distribution of aid.
During the humanitarian response efforts, Zulfadly participated in an inclusive initiative in Pidie Jaya, supported by the ECT WASH Project. This project was implemented by ASB South & South-East Asia (ASB S-SEA) in collaboration with Children and Youth Disability for Change (CYDC). The main focus of the project was to provide access to clean water by installing Skyhydrant filtration units and Rainwater Harvesting (PAH) systems.
Rather than being a passive recipient of assistance, Zulfadly received intensive, direct technical coaching from the ASB S-SEA and ECT WASH teams. He was mentored in the complex mechanics of water filtration, quality testing, and system maintenance—tasks that typically require extensive formal training.
The most significant change was the speed and depth of Zulfadly’s technical empowerment. Despite communication barriers, he mastered specialized equipment in a fraction of the usual time, astonishing project leadership. He transitioned from being a survivor seeking assistance to becoming a mobile technician who leads a team of volunteers in providing clean water across the sub-districts of Meureudu, Meurah Dua, and Ulim in the Pidie Jaya District of Aceh Province, Indonesia.
Nasrus Syukroni, the ECT WASH Project Manager in Indonesia, emphasized the importance of Zulfadly’s contribution: “Fadly is a truly extraordinary individual. I personally communicate with him through sign language and text on phone screens. What is most incredible is how quickly he grasped the instructions from our WASH Advisor, Mas Anang, regarding Skyhydrant operation, water quality testing, and equipment maintenance. Normally, it takes three days of specialized formal training for someone to master this tool, but Fadly excelled almost immediately. Beyond his technical skills, his unique perspective has fundamentally made this humanitarian response more inclusive and sensitive to the needs of the entire community.”
Zulfadly’s story is a testament to the fact that disability is not a barrier to acquiring high-level technical expertise. By mastering the Skyhydrant technology, he didn’t just provide water; he shattered stereotypes. His role ensures that the “Leave No One Behind” principle is not just a slogan, but a reality on the ground in Pidie Jaya.
The inclusive humanitarian response supported by ECT WASH Project demonstrates that when humanitarian responses prioritize the inclusion and capacity-building of persons with disabilities, the entire community benefits. Zulfadly’s success proves that with the right mentorship and an inclusive mindset, survivors can become the most effective leaders of their own recovery.
**This article was written by Nasrus Syukroni – ECT WASH Project Manager in Indonesia
