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Under a bridge downtown, we learned our math
RAY OF LIGHT: Volunteers of Sahabat Anak hold a study session for street children under Grogol overpass in West Jakarta on Sunday
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RAY OF LIGHT: Volunteers of Sahabat Anak hold a study session for street children under Grogol overpass in West Jakarta on Sunday. Most of the children, who had otherwise dropped out of school, resume their studies after joinning the sessions. (JP/Tifa Asrianti)
The roaring sound of cars on the Grogol overpass in West Jakarta on Sunday did not disrupt the concentration of 60 poor children studying in the shadows beneath.
The dark area comes alive every Sunday from 2 until 4 p.m., as volunteers of Sahabat Anak (Friends of the Children), an NGO focusing on education for impoverished children, hold a study group there.
Last Sunday, children ranging from kindergartners to high-schoolers were brought by their mothers who stepped aside to form their own gossip group as the study sessions began.
Eni, a housemaker and the wife of a bus driver, took her daughter Fani, 7, to the group for extra math lessons.
"I found out about this place in 2003, so I brought my children because I can't help them study," she said.
The extra lessons have improved the school work of her daughter, Fani, who sometimes works as a busker after school, leaving her with little time for studies.
Fani, a first grader at public elementary school SDN 5 in Tanjung Duren, also West Jakarta, said she wanted to be a doctor.
"I've been studying here since I was three. It helps me understand my school subjects," she said.
Next to Fani, Dani and Aji were studying with help from Kakak (older sister) Yana. Dani said he preferred mathematics, while Aji said he liked Indonesian.
Yana, a college student majoring in psychology at Ukrida University, volunteered after her campus held an event involving street children and Sahabat Anak last week.
"The children have a hard life on the street. I hope this activity can take them away from the streets," she said.
Frisca Hutagalung, another volunteer, said the school started in June 2002, all though at first, she added, the volunteers had to lure street children busking at the Grogol traffic lights to join the study group.
"At first, only five of around 100 children attended formal schools. But now, 90 percent of the street children go to schools. The rest are still in kindergarten," Frisca said.
Another volunteer, Heri, said to encourage the children to go to school, his organization provided scholarships made available by donors.
"We set simple requirements; the children must go to school every day and leave the streets. We know it is difficult for them to get top marks at school because such achievements also demand good nutrition and a supporting environment. As long as they go to school, it is enough," he said.
In spite of their good intentions, some have tried to reap benefit from the activity. Frisca said that once, a parking officer demanded money for occupying the space.
On week days, the land is primarily used as a parking lot for Trisakti University.
"We explained that we're volunteers, that we're not paid and that we don't pay anyone. The person finally understood," she said.
Frisca said there were rumors the administration planned to turn the land into a park, although she added her organization would continue the activity regardless.
"Perhaps we'll move slightly, but we'll stay. There are many empty spaces down here."
