A personal donation of $500 000 by Dymocks chairman John Forsyth to Plan Australia will rebuild schools in badly affected regions of Aceh in Indonesia.

Mr Forsyth said "244,000 displaced kids are significantly traumatised - they are just hanging around in camps with nothing to do or think about other than the tragedy they have just been through. Going to school will get them back into a routine, give them something to do and allow the teachers to address the trauma."

Dymocks is taking the lead in rebuilding education in Aceh province after the Indonesian government invited Plan, the World Bank and UNICEF to form a steering committee for rebuilding education. There is certainly a need to urgently remove children from carnage and despair, to an environment of love and learning that can be provided through schools.

NSW Premier, Bob Carr joined Mr. Forsyth and Plan Australia Chair Wendy McCarthy for today's announcement.

"At this hour of great need, our nation has come together in an act of unity and compassion," Mr Carr said.

"I applaud the exceptional contribution by Dymocks Chair, Mr Forsyth that will support children most in need in Aceh.

"Our community has shown an unwavering determination that our good friends and neighbours in Asia should not face this tragedy alone," Mr Carr said.

Mr Forsyth said he hoped that his contribution would kick-start donations to the rebuilding phase for tsunami victims, especially children. "We need to bring back some normality to their lives."

The donation, which aims to build five permanent schools, will be used by Plan Australia to begin work immediately on getting children into interim classrooms, while building starts on the permanent schools.

Mr Forsyth will ask Dymocks staff, franchise owners, tenants, customers and suppliers to make further donations to Plan Australia to enable more schools to be rebuilt.

Mr Forsyth has sponsored children through Plan Australia for more than 23 years.

"There is nothing more important than putting children first and their education is paramount for them to recover a future."

"This offers a future to those kids who have lost everything", he said.

Plan Australia Chair Wendy McCarthy congratulated John Forsyth on his leadership and generosity. She said "This generous personal donation will assist children to get back to school and think about a future after the physical and emotional havoc of the tsunami.

"For Plan Australia, children are at the heart of everything we do and this offers us a way of ensuring the interests of children are at the centre of the recovery and reconstruction in Aceh."

Plan is one of the world.s leading international non-government, non-religious organisations for children. It has worked in Indonesia for more than 36 years and currently sponsors 49,900 children and their communities in Indonesia.

Make an online donation today to Plan Dymocks Rebuilding Schools - Tsunami Appeal

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Julian Brophy
0408 276 749

Tim Cansfield Smith,
Plan Media & Communications Manager
(03) 9672 3656 Mob: 0411 642 194