Building back lives and livelihoods after a conflict requires time and effort, but it can be done. Syahril is a living example of this: today, he owns a successful furniture shop in Gampong Teungoh village in Aceh Utara. But this was not always the case.

“I used to have my own rather successful shop, but after an incident in which a member of the Army was killed by suspected GAM rebels, the military burned down my shop and I was detained for a while as they suspected I was a GAM member. After this, I had no other option than to leave my village to save my life,” said Syahril.

Leaving everyone and everything behind, Syahril moved to the neighboring island of Java with less than $10 in his pocket. The move was difficult for him, as he was accustomed to rural life and did not have the necessary job skills to find work in the city. He found a job as a worker in a car garage and slowly saved up some money of what little income he earned.

In 2007, inspired by the peace agreement in Aceh, Syahril decided to return to his village. With the money he saved over years, he reopened a small furniture workshop on a patch of land donated by a former neighbor and was able to employ one worker. He had already made progress, but things really took a turn for the better when Syahril learned about the SERASI program implemented through BYTRA, a livelihood program in North Aceh district to help conflict victims return to their former lives.

Syahril was able to enroll in the program, and with its assistance, Syahril and his employee acquired business skills training and small loans to expand his business by buying wood, materials, and equipment. The business skills training helped him to write a simple business plan and improve his financial management.

Today, Syahril’s furniture business is growing and he receives more orders than he is able to fill. He feels that SERASI’s assistance gave him the kick-start he needed to rebuild his life and he is optimistic that he can help others who find themselves in the same situation he was in just a few short years ago by growing his business and creating more jobs in his workshop.

SERASI is a three-year USAID funded project focused on creating stable, democratic communities. It is implemented by International Relief and Development (IRD).