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Jakarta’s 'orange troops' collect Rp 26 million for Central Sulawesi relief
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Jakarta’s Public Facility Maintenance Agency workers, often referred to as “orange troops”, pose for a photograph at City Hall on Aug. 19, after collecting more than Rp 26 million (US$1,700) from the proceeds of merchandise sales, to be donated to victims of the Central Sulawesi earthquakes and tsunami. (kompas.com/Jessi Carina)
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akarta’s Public Facility Maintenance Agency workers, often referred to as “orange troops” because of their signature orange uniform, collected more than Rp 26 million (US$1,700) for victims of the Central Sulawesi earthquakes and tsunami.
The money was collected from the proceeds of merchandise sales such as pins, stickers, hats and shirts, sold by the troops under the group dubbed the Jakarta Elite Squad Forum.
“We pooled our money to fund the production of the merchandise, which we later sold to people all over the city,” Novita, one of the members of the squad said at City Hall on Friday as quoted by kompas.com, adding that the goods were distributed in every subdistrict in the city.
She said that the goods were sold at low prices, starting from Rp 5,000. She added that many buyers paid more than the asking price because they wanted to help the survivors.
The merchandise, Novita said, was sold for only a week, from Oct. 3 to Oct. 10. The money from the sales was later taken by the forum's members to the Jakarta aid post.
Another orange troop member, Dani, said although the troops do not have a lot of money, they empathized with the victims and survivors and this inspired them to want to help relieve their hardships by donating money.
“Despite that we only collected this amount of money, we hope that we can help them get through this ordeal,” he said. (ris)
