Photos by Arief Suhardiman

A celebration for Indonesian children

WORDS Aulia R. Sungkar

A diamond anniversary calls for something special, especially when honoring long years of dedication in creating homes and better futures for abandoned and neglected children in Indonesia.

This led the Sayap Ibu Foundation, a Jakarta-based organization and orphanage, to celebrate its 60th anniversary with a musical titled Kandil & Kampung Srundeng.

The musical, set to take place next on Feb. 28 at the Jakarta Theater at Taman Ismail Marzuki, in Cikini, Central Jakarta, tells a story of courage.

'€œIt'€™s about a brave young girl named Kandil, who diligently looks for money so that her mother and her siblings can go to Jakarta to look for their missing father,'€ Ida Soeseno, creative director of the production, said at a recent press conference.

'€œHer hard work isn'€™t just in unifying her family that got separated during the search in Jakarta, but also encouraging many people in her hometown, a small village in Lampung, to be economically independent by means of producing a local seasoned grated coconut snack called srundeng.'€

Big names are supporting the musical, which will be staged by Perempuan Peduli Sayap Ibu and Arniyani Arifin, who is well-known for her concern for children and culture issues in Indonesia.

Arniyani has taken the lead for the production. '€œI felt like I had to do something, to give what I could with my friends and other parties who are also concerned about the future of the children under the care of the Sayap Ibu Foundation,'€ she said.

Young actress Cut Syifa, best known for her role in the television series Tukang Bubur Naik Haji (A Rice Porridge Vendor Makes the Haj Pilgrimage) leads the cast as Kandil.

Inayah Wahid plays her mother and Chandra Satria is the missing father.

Other famous names fill out the cast of the musical, including Lea Simanjuntak, Baim Wong, Happy Salma, Gabriel Harvianto, Ziva Magnolya and Ghea Panggabean.

But what'€™s a musical for children without children on stage?

Kandil & Kampung Srundeng also features kids from the Sayap Ibu Foundation as well as children from Al-Izhar Jakarta, The Resonanz Children'€™s Choir and Marlupi Dance Academy.

The lead actresses both expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be involved in the production and to meet the kids from the Sayap Ibu Foundation.

Behind the stage are Inet Leimena as show director with Carmanita and Enny Soekamto working onwardrobe.

This musical reflects the spirit of the Sayap Ibu Foundation, which was founded in 1955 by Sulistina Sutomo, the wife of Bung Tomo, a National Hero best known for his role in the Battle of Surabaya.

The orphanage has given abandoned children a place to stay as well as equipped them with skills useful for a better future.

The orphanage eventually developed into a foundation focused on education and health and for training for baby sitters and other workers.

'€œThe Sayap Ibu Foundation is an official foundation for those looking to adopt a child, be they of Indonesian or foreign citizenship, says Tjondrowati Subijanto, the head of the foundation, adding that adoptions are handled internally through a special division.

Beyond the musical, which also serves as a fund raiser for the foundation, the Sayap Ibu Foundation also has plans to establish a proper center for abandoned children over five years old.

'€œSome of our foster children have entered the pre-teen age and need special attention and care. We also can'€™t ignore the fact that some of these pre-teens are special needs.'€ Tjondrowati said.

Tjondrowati added that Kandil's never-give-up spirit could inspire children to keep pursuing their dreams to create their own happy endings.

________________________

Kandil & Kampung Srundeng

Sayap Ibu Foundation
Performances on Feb. 28
Jakarta Theater at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Cikini, Central Jakarta
sayapibujakarta.org