G

iving teenage boys the opportunity to play with water during a scorching day will inevitably result in splashes and clumsy fun, as occurred Wednesday noon at the boys' penitentiary in Tangerang.

The inmates were having the time of their lives playing a game in which they had to climb a wobbly, slippery pool while splashing themselves with buckets of water in the process.

Such a treat is not always available for them. The games, along with musical performances by pop musician Ari Lasso as well as the inmates themselves, and a motivational talk from child expert Seto Mulyadi, was part of the annual "Gembira Bersama Prudential" (Having Fun with Prudential) event, to celebrate the anniversary of PT Prudential Life Assurance.

"We feel helping these children is the right thing to do and we would like others to help as well because people have misconceptions of places like this," Nini Sumohandoyo, the company's director of corporate marketing and communications, said.

"These kids need to be ready when they are released, so we try to help where we can." she added.

However, not everyone was having fun.

"Why can't we play? It's fun!" asked an inmate of the Tangerang Women and Children's Correctional Facility, located less than an hour from the boys' facility.

She and her friends were advised against joining the games by officers from her facility who were chaperoning them that day.

"You'll get soaked and you didn't bring any change of clothes," the officer replied.

The officer said she wanted to prevent any inappropriate incidents.

The girls might remember to bring towels and clothes next year, but they revealed it was not the first time they envied their male counterparts.

Riza, a 17-year old inmate from the women and children facility, said she found visits to the boys' penitentiary enjoyable, because the place had many things her facility didn't.

"It's more fun to hang out here, the garden is prettier, and it's more lively," Riza said.

Nurul Qomariyah, one of the officers supervising Riza and her friends, admitted that the women and *female* children penitentiary, which currently has more than 20 female inmates, was not as well-equipped as its male counterpart.

Riza said the girls were given activities to do such as sewing and knitting, but she still wished the girls had instruments to play.

"Some of the girls there play music too," she explained.

Nini said her company would consider giving the girls special treats in the future, but thus far could only accommodate them by having them attend the event.

"This is only the second time we are fortunate to have them join the event as well," she said, adding that her company has been carrying out the event for four years.