Vocation found through tragedy

By Megan Mills

There is no shortage of media coverage of the earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan. 12. But in the months to come, like with most other disasters, the coverage will gradually fade away until eventually, for those of us not personally affected by the quake, it will inevitably be another event in the past.

When the infamous tsunami hit the Aceh province of Indonesia in 2004, Dian Alyan was looking for something bigger to do with her life, something remarkable that would make her proud that God had created her.

This past December marked the five year anniversary of this devastating natural disaster that took the lives of over 40 of Alyan's family members.

Alyan spent the first 15 years of her life living in Aceh and then moved to Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, to pursue higher education. She was hired by the global company Proctor & Gamble's marketing department upon graduation and poured her heart and soul into her work.

She was promoted at rapid speed and eventually accepted a position in America that would groom her to become one of the company's top mangers.

"My work gave me satisfaction because it was challenging intellectually, but there's got to be more to life than to pursuade women to buy more bottles of shampoo," said Alyan of her work in corporate America.

She also felt restricted because she worked for someone in a major corporation, never for herself. "I love to lead," said Alyan. "I don't like to follow."

While Alyan was dissatisfied with her job, the tsunami hit the shores of Aceh. She knew it was time to make a change that would not only impact her own life but the hundreds of children she would eventually help.

"Because the pain was so much, I couldn't sleep for two weeks at all. I was literally haunted by the image of the children floating in the ocean. It was just full torture, to the point where I knew if I didn't do anything, I would go crazy," said Alyan.

This is when she decided to start her non-profit organization, the GiveLight Foundation, which has established orphanages for over 600 children in six countries, including those who lost parents in the tsunami.

Although GiveLight is only one of the many of its kind, distinctive features of the organization have enabled it to succeed at an exceptionally fast rate typically unheard of for most non-profits.

Alyan, a devout Muslim, explained that orphans have a special status in Islam; helping an orphan in need is one of the greatest good deeds that one can do. Mercy, compassion, love and empathy are all part of her beliefs.

She believes rewards are palpable and rich here in this life and has hope for a beautiful hereafter.

GiveLight offices are located in the Silicon Valley, which is one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the United States and boasts a multitude of religious backgrounds and affiliations, including Islam.

"Dian is a goal-oriented person, and she is deeply rooted in her faith," said Rani Aviananda, a member of Alyan's local mosque.

Alyan believes that the tsunami was the catalyst for her to manifest her love for Islam, love for her Creator and love for humanity, but she believes that everybody, regardless of religion, has a sense of mercy in them.

"Even if you are an atheist, helping other people is morally right," said Alyan. "The world has a common ground on goodness."

GiveLight aims at being an organization that can respond to global disasters or poverty and restores hope to orphans in the context in which they were raised.

"I want to make sure that I don't just go after the numbers. I want to be able to sustain the support to the existing orphans and I will add more when current ones have already been guaranteed," said Alyan.

While Alyan and her husband have two children, she considers all of the orphans as her own.

"I am committed to these children for life," said Alyan. "They call me mother. I want to work hard for them because I felt like I was able to find the purpose of my life through their suffering."

In light of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti just five weeks ago, which left hundreds of children orphaned, Alyan's compassion gains an even greater significance.

For more information on the GiveLight Foundation and to see how you can help raise awareness & funds for global orphans including Haitians, please visit www.givelight.org or send an email to info@givelight.org.

Megan Mills is a senior communication major.