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Raising funds for disadvantaged peers
Chubby little girls and boys ran around the lobby of TVRI building in Senayan, while teenagers practiced their moves
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Chubby little girls and boys ran around the lobby of TVRI building in Senayan, while teenagers practiced their moves.
Over 300 youths from communities and schools -- including Perguruan Cikini, Sekolah Cikal, Al Azhar, Concilio Music Center, Jakarta Dance Center, Sanggar Tari Jawa Bulungan, as well as the Trisakti and Tarumanegara universities and Jakarta Public University -- are staging a musical performance to raise funds for the education of disadvantaged children.
The fund will be used to construct a 7,900-square-meter learning center in Parung, Bogor, for disadvantaged children between the ages of 15 and 17.
"We want to train children, who are poor, saved from the streets, lost their parents and have dropped out of school yet still have the willingness to improve their lives," Henny Hughes, chairwoman of the Indonesian American Education Foundation (IAEF) based in Dallas, Texas, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
She was speaking on the sidelines of a rehearsal for the performance titled "We Are the Forgotten Children of Indonesia", which will take place on Dec. 11.
The learning center is designed to provide a 6-month training workshop on practical skills, such as cleaning services, basic computer and administration skills as well as knowledge on how to become a beautician, tailor, cook, gardener, driver or maid.
"We would like to start the teaching activities in mid-2009," said Henny.
"The curriculum has not been created yet, since we are still focusing on fund-raising."
She said the teaching method would be different from that in formal schools. "We might apply a reward system.
"The numbers of unfortunate children keeps growing. That's what concerns me most."
Henny said the learning center building, which will have 22 classrooms with a maximum capacity of 20 students each, would cost the foundation around Rp 18 billion (US$1.5 million).
Besides classrooms, the learning center complex will also provide student dormitories and sports facilities including a swimming pool, badminton court, gymnastics equipment, basketball court and jogging track.
The upcoming musical is expected to cover some of the cost, she said.
Initially the foundation wanted to involve street children in the musical, but Henny and her colleagues experienced difficulty in coping with street kids' irregular life.
"They could not come to rehearsals regularly," she said.
An art and culture teacher in his 20s, Ilenk Andilolo is also taking part in the performance. He said, "I am proud I can do something to help unfortunate children.
"What else can we feel proud of in this country if we do not start making good things happen?"
For more information:
Indonesian American Education Foundation Phone: +62-21-7888-2172 or +62-812-997-4079
