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Urban kids long for more space to play
Over the limit: A boy jumps acrobatically over a rubber rope held as high as his body in a traditional games competition at the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta recently
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span class="inline inline-center">Over the limit: A boy jumps acrobatically over a rubber rope held as high as his body in a traditional games competition at the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta recently. A youngster-initiated charity group, Indocharity, held the competition for children from low-income families studying at informal schools in Greater Jakarta, to give them the opportunity to play and interact with other kids. JP/PRM
Dimas, 12, enthusiastically handles his kite line and controls its maneuvers while trying to cut his opponents' strings loose during a kite-fighting competition held by a nonprofit organization concerned with children, Indocharity, at the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta recently.
However, he could not hide his disappointment after failing to win the competition, despite being able to take down five kites.
'Dimas is having issues in controlling his emotions. We make him participate in competitions and games to train him how to handle his emotions through fun ways,' said Betty Surya-
ningsih of the Community Child Care Education Association (Komunitas Ikatan Peduli Pendidikan Anak).
The organization has been holding educational activities for dozens of children in Rawamalang, North Jakarta, since 2009 and has struggled to find a decent playground for its children.
'Unfortunately, there is no proper open space in our area,' Betty said, adding that she and the children had to borrow the nearest elementary school's field, which was located 15 to 20 minutes away on foot from their place, just to play soccer.
'Previously, there were four soccer fields near our place, but the administration turned them into the Semper Budi Dharma public cemetery,' Betty said.
Betty said it is important for the organization to find an appropriate space because it wants to focus on developing the interests and talents of children who come from low income families in Rawamalang, which is also known as an illegal red-light district.
'This is because we do not hold classes. Instead we invite them, for example, to play soccer, to swim and to join a dance class together,' she said, adding that lack of open space forced the children to play in dangerous places, such as by fishponds, on bridges, streets and even in prostitution sites.
'We actually hope they can spend their spare time after school by playing like children in other places, instead of strolling around the prostitution sites and cafes,' Betty said.
Satu Cahaya Langit, 28, the chairman of the event committee in Monas park, told The Jakarta Post that children in Kalibata, South Jakarta, where he holds an informal weekly class, also had limited space to play.
'They have to climb up to their house roofs if they want to fly kites,' he said.
Recently, Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama officially opened two child-friendly public spaces in Sungai Bambu, North Jakarta, and in Gandaria, South Jakarta, to provide decent spaces for children in the areas.
The two parks are equipped with similar facilities, such as restrooms for children, playgrounds, integrated public health service posts and libraries. Each park also has different features, such as a mini futsal field and a jogging track, that suit the space and the needs of the residents.
The administration has prepared similar facilities in four other locations across the capital and aims to complete a total of 60 other facilities this year.
Currently, the administration is making efforts to achieve an open space area target of 30 percent of the total area of the city by 2017 by constructing 40 hectares of parks and 10 hectares of cemeteries per annum. According to the Park and Cemetery Agency, the city's open space now only represents 10 percent of the city's area.
Some children still have the ability to enjoy limited green space in their areas. Selamet, 11, a fourth grade elementary school student who lives in Tomang, West Jakarta, is one of them.
'My friends and I like to play soccer at a field near our houses after school hours,' said Selamet, who joined the informal Street Kids Ministry school, which was held under the Tomang Bridge every Sunday by several young Jakartans. (prm)
