Happy Hearts Indonesia, an NGO affiliated with Happy Hearts Fund, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic, has raised US$16,600 (Rp 241.2 million) from an art charity auction and musical charity in order to renovate schools in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

The Happy Hearts Fund, which is now known as All Hands and Hearts, was established by famous Czech supermodel Petra Nemcova in 2005 to help victims of natural disasters.

The charity event took place on Nov. 7 and was attended by more than 120 guests. Czech Republic Ambassador to Indonesia Ivan Hotek was present at the event. The Czechoslovak Group, meanwhile, topped up the funds raised at the art auction by donating $10,000.

“This program is one of our top activities in Indonesia. We would like to help build school buildings in Indonesia (NTT) with whatever money we raised from these two events,” Hotek told The Jakarta Post recently in Jakarta.

According to Hotek, Czech Republic — a close friend of Indonesia — also donated 400,000 euros recently to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Palu and Dinggala, Central Sulawesi.

Among the artworks put up at the auction were “The Martian”, a masterpiece by renowned late Czech artist René Roubíček, and six other exclusive artworks by prominent Indonesian artists, namely Arahmaiani, Sinta Tantra, Alexander Thian, Arkiv Vilmannsa, Oky Rey Montha and Labadiou Piko.

Quick look: The early education school Kuntum Katara in Fafoe village, Malaka, East Nusa Tenggara, provides education to 30 students in a small classroom. The school lacks proper school infrastructure and supplies.

The charity auction, which was part of the #IAMCHANGE campaign to build 200 schools in East Nusa Tenggara by 2023, aimed to raise funds to support the renovation of four schools in the province.

“Ultimately, through this charity event, we successfully raised funds that can support the rebuilding of four schools in East Nusa Tenggara,” Sylvia Beiwinkler, the CEO of Happy Hearts, said in a statement.

One of the four schools is the early-childhood education (ECE) school Kuntum Katara, which was opened in Fafoe village, Malaka, East Nusa Tenggara, in 2010. With 30 students registered, the early childhood education school conducts its learning activities in a small room owned by a community member.

The facilities of the school are inadequate. The leaking bamboo walls of the classroom cannot protect the students during the rainy season. Furthermore, the zinc roof of the school is not a proper ceiling either as the metal roof absorbs the heat into the classroom in hot weather. This school also lacks appropriate educational furniture and supplies. The students also urgently need proper sanitation facilities.

Furniture company BIKA Living and Czech glass manufacturer Lasvit expressed their support for the reconstruction of two more schools. The charity night ended with a matching donation from Rodamas Group.

The event also presented the stunning classical music recital “Charity Classical Music Soirée” by Czech violinist Jaroslav Svěcený and guitarist Miroslav Klaus.

The charity was also supported by Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, Indonesia Design (iD) and Can’s Gallery, among others.

Say cheese!:Czech Ambassador to Indonesia Ivan Hotek (fifth right) poses for a photograph with participants of the Charity Classical Music Soirée event in Jakarta recently.

— Photos courtesy of Czech Embassy