Students, teenagers and people in their early 30s have joined hands to give donations, volunteer and even launch humanitarian campaigns to ease the burden of other human beings suffering from the calamities.

Indonesia straddles the so-called Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped arc of intense earthquakes and volcanoes activities.

The country has recently been hit by a number of natural disasters — from flash floods in Wasior, West Papua, a tsunami in Mentawai Islands off West Sumatra and the on-going eruption of Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta that has killed hundreds and displaced thousands more.

As the government grapples with coordination problems in the disasters’ aftermath, tech-savvy young people are on the front line of volunteers ready to save the day.

 Equipped with mobile phones and social networking accounts, they have become a powerful force for aid distribution and operate at a speed that no government officials can match.

“Twitter helps us to inform who needs what — and where, as well as who has the stuff and how much they have,” said Zaki Habibi, 28, a volunteer at Demangan shelter in Yogyakarta.

Zaki told The Jakarta Post how he had collected 500 flood aid packages with only a few posts to his Twitter accounts. Within minutes, he found out where he could find the supplies.

Looking after kids: Children take part in a trauma healing program organized by volunteers at the vocational school in Boyolali, Central Java, after the Merapi volcano’s multiple eruptions. JP/J. Adiguna  “It is just so quick. I got responses from two people I never met before,” said Zaki, who helps administer  the Merapi Rim Information Network, which has gained a reputation for providing reliable information on Merapi and aid distribution over Twitter.

Young people are also use social networking for fundraising. Several young girls in Yogyakarta used Twitter to raise more than Rp 70 million (US$7,910) for Merapi victims.

“We plan to do it over the long run, dedicating funds for recovery programs also,” Dian Paramita, 22, the group’s spokesperson, told The Jakarta Post recently.

Despite their close connection to technology, young people are also known for their energetic and strong spirits — qualities that are assets in times of disaster.

Thousands of young people involved in volunteer activities during Merapi’s eruption have established refugees shelters and emergency posts for aid collection.

According to the Merapi Rim Information Network, more than 2,100 young people under 30 years of age volunteered for the Merapi disaster.

Young people hold important positions at several emergency posts and refugee shelters throughout Yogyakarta and Central Java.

Some emergency posts in Yogyakarta are completely staffed by students, such as centers at the University of Gadjah Mada and De Britto Catholic High School.

Most of the people interviewed for this article said humanitarian reasons had prompted them to help others affected by the disaster.

Some also had their own missions, such as Haryotomo Wiryasono, who said he hoped he could learn a lot from helping disaster victims.

Haryotomo together with a friend and the fellow De Britto alumni volunteered to help aid 169 refugees at the school.

Helping hands: Young volunteers carry away dead bodies in a bag in Ngancar hamlet, Glagaharjo village, Sleman regency, on Nov. 6, after the Merapi volcano eruptions. Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay “This is the best way to show how we can care about society and solve social problems after disasters,” said Haryotomo, 18, who wants to become an ambassador.

The young volunteers have come up simple ideas that might be unthinkable for their elders or the government.

“My friend organized a pillow charity drive for Merapi victims. It might sound weird but pillows are quite important for refugees sleeping in emergency shelters,” Zaki said.

Others also organized games, mobile libraries and even storytelling activities to comfort children in refugee camps.

These young volunteers have inspired others throughout the country.

Many volunteers in Yogyakarta came from cities such as Bandung in West Java, and Malang and Surabaya in East Java.

A light touch: Volunteer dancers in traditional costume entertain refugees in a shelter in Waguoharjo Stadium, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta. JP/J. Adiguna “At first, I was really worried about safety because when I first came there [Muntilan, Central Java] was like a dead city. Fortunately, the field coordinator assured us that the place we were going to visit was in safe region,” says Shandy Lucky, 19, a student from Parahyangan University in Bandung.

Shandy and 14 friends came to Yogyakarta after Merapi forced thousands to flee on Saturday morning. The group helped for two days at the Van Lith refugee shelter in Muntilan.

Shandy said his parent supported his decision to go to Yogyakarta and join the humanitarian acts.

Other have done simpler things, such as state high school SMU 8 in Jakarta, which organized fundraisers for  disaster victims.

“We managed to collect Rp 2.5 million from the charity drive,” said eleventh grader Farrah Putri Amalia, who also chaired her school’s social division.

Some have complained about the government’s slow response in emergency situations. The government was slow to react when thousands of refugees fled Merapi in the dead of the night on empty stomachs.

The popularly initiated Gerakan Nasi Bungkus (Rice Box Movement), driven mostly by young people, finally saved the people from hunger.

“The good thing from the involvement of youth in humanitarian actions is that we know we still have hope for Indonesia,” volunteer coordinator Budhi Hermanto said.