Songs for Sumatra Humanitarian Concert in London Partners with Human Aid Initiative UK to Support School Reconstruction in Sumatra

The humanitarian concert Songs for Sumatra was held in Greenwich, London, on February 2, 2026. Through this initiative, the Indonesian diaspora, musicians, and supporting partners mobilized collective support to advance education recovery efforts in Sumatra following the flash floods at the end of last year.

The fundraising concert successfully raised £95,000, equivalent to approximately IDR 2.2 billion. Human Aid Initiative UK and Human Initiative Indonesia will channel the funds toward rebuilding school facilities in Sumatra that were damaged by the floods. This effort aims to ensure that children can return to learning in safer and more adequate environments.

The concert featured diaspora musicians including Desmonda Cathabel, El Haq Latief, Jaz Triadi, Ledi, Mychelle, Widyadari, Gabriela Fernandez, and the Swara Nusantara Choir Group. The Indonesian Dance Group performed Ratoh Jaroe, a traditional dance from Aceh. Several Indonesian musicians and artists based in the United Kingdom also contributed to the event, including talents active on the West End theater stage. Through this cultural approach, music served as a bridge for cross border solidarity and expanded the reach of the humanitarian message.

President of Human Initiative Worldwide, Tomy Hendrajati, emphasized the strong humanitarian significance of the concert. “This was not merely a concert, but an expression of humanitarian solidarity. We are honored to be a partner in this initiative. We are committed to ensuring that the trust placed by the public and donors is fulfilled through the reconstruction of schools damaged in Aceh Tamiang,” he stated.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Kingdom, Desra Percaya, welcomed the initiative led by young Indonesian talents in the UK. “This is a tangible expression of solidarity in response to the floods in Sumatra, reflecting love for Indonesia and meaningful contributions through artistic creativity on the international stage,” he said.

The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon, highlighted the role of art as a unifying medium across nations. “Art is a universal language that conveys care through creativity, expression, and humanitarian solidarity,” he noted. The event also received support from Bank Mandiri and Bank BRI.

Moving forward, Human Initiative and its partners will manage the school reconstruction process through structured planning aligned with field based needs assessments. This approach aims to ensure sustainable and context appropriate benefits for local communities.

From Greenwich to Aceh, this collaboration demonstrates how solidarity transcends distance. Through collective action, impact expands and hope is strengthened.

Human Initiative invites the public and partners to continue advancing humanitarian collaboration through solusipeduli.org, as part of expanding meaningful and sustainable impact.