Aiken from 'Idol' sings in Indonesian<\/p>\n
Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Clay Aiken, American Idol runner-up, has begun his debut tour
\nin Indonesia this week. But rather than performing any songs, he
\nwas visiting the tsunami-ravaged province of Aceh as an
\nambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).<\/p>\n
Fresh from his three-day trip that ended on Wednesday, Aiken
\nsaid in Jakarta on Thursday that he was in Aceh as part of a
\nfact-finding mission for the U.S. UNICEF committee.<\/p>\n
The committee has raised money for tsunami victims, and the
\nAcehnese have benefited from this, particularly in helping
\nchildren continue their education.<\/p>\n
\"The trip was for fact-finding purposes. There are citizens in
\nthe U.S. who have offered their time, effort, money and
\nresources. There are some who try to find out where their money
\nis going, what type of work is being done,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Aiken said that, so far, all the U.S. funding had been well-
\ndistributed to needy projects.<\/p>\n
He said he also took part in publicizing UNICEF's School in
\nthe Box program for Acehnese students. He said that the most
\nimportant thing to do was to keep children in school, and for
\nthat, the countries devastated by the tsunami needed long-term
\nsupport.<\/p>\n
\"Because of that, we'll see children smiling and resuming
\ntheir normal lives as far as they can. I think that's the picture
\nthat I want to see; what I hope to see is definitely the image
\nthat I saw when I was there -- of children, families, who have
\nthe hope of seeing their lives being rebuilt.\"<\/p>\n
He became famous after his performance in the 2002 series of
\nAmerican Idol, when he came second after Ruben Studdard. In 2003,
\nhis debut solo album Measure of a Man sold over 2.6 million
\ncopies overall and earned him a Double Platinum sales certificate
\nfrom the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).<\/p>\n
But rarely have we seen his passion for education, especially
\nfor people with disabilities. In 2003, Aiken set up the
\nBubel\/Aiken Foundation, whose mission is to encourage and
\nfacilitate programs that enable children with disabilities to
\nintegrate better with able-bodied people.<\/p>\n
Aiken, who was born on Nov. 30, 1978, was named the U.S. Fund
\nfor UNICEF national ambassador in 2004. The native of Raleigh,
\nNorth Carolina, is committed to supporting education programs for
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
He graduated from the University of North Carolina --
\nCharlotte, with a special education degree in December 2003.<\/p>\n
\"I am a teacher in the U.S. and have set up a foundation in
\nthe U.S. for children with disabilities. I think something like
\nthat sort of reflects what was going on here. The idea of the
\nBubel\/Aiken foundation is also included here -- allowing all
\nchildren to have access to all opportunities, regardless of
\ndisability.\"<\/p>\n
He said his mission as an ambassador was to help children,
\nwith or without disabilities, in many areas like those hit by
\nnatural disaster, or in war-torn areas, to have access to basic
\nneeds like clean water, nutrition or other activities like
\neducation. His next tour would be of Uganda.<\/p>\n
\"After all, to be part of this does give me an opportunity in
\nsome way to teach on a larger scale. I'm not necessarily in a
\nclass room every day, but I'm in a situation where I hope to
\nbring information to people.\"<\/p>\n
Aiken showed up in a casual outfit -- a green-striped, long-
\nsleeved top, Bermuda shorts and sneakers. He did not look like a
\nstar, and his modesty has won the hearts of Indonesians. He was
\naccompanied by new UNICEF country director for Indonesia
\nGianfranco Rotigliano.<\/p>\n
A UNICEF staffer said she was deeply impressed by Aiken.<\/p>\n
\"I asked him for a photograph along with me, I told him that
\nmy son adores him. He humbly said, 'Yes ma'am'. You know, I am
\nalso his fan, I shed tears the moment he sang Bridge over
\nTroubled Water in the Idol final,\" said the official, who asked
\nto remain anonymous.<\/p>\n
She has kept the photograph of her and Aiken as the wallpaper
\non her computer. \"He's very nice,\" she added.<\/p>\n
A photo of Aiken talking to Acehnese children in a camp for
\ndisplaced persons has attracted the attention of many Indonesian
\nfans. To their disappointment, however, Aiken was not here to
\nsing.<\/p>\n
\"Quite a lot of people called UNICEF and asked about Clay. I
\ntold them we have no information about his visit to Jakarta; he
\nwas accomplishing his job in Aceh,\" the official said.<\/p>\n
But Aiken did sing something in Indonesian to Acehnese
\nchildren. He sang an excerpt of an Indonesian scout song Disini
\nSenang Disana Senang (We're Happy Here and There) to the delight
\nof the audience at Thursday's news conference.<\/p>\n
\"I didn't do so well at the song, I tried, but I still have
\ntrouble with the (Indonesian) language. I do remember (singing)
\ndisini senang disana senang dimana-mana hatiku senang (we are
\nhappy, here and there, we are happy everywhere). And I could
\ncount satu, dua, tiga (one, two, three),\" to the applause of the
\nspectators.<\/p>\n
He said he had learned that from Ferry Salim, Indonesian actor
\nand UNICEF's Indonesian national ambassador.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aiken-from-idol-sings-in-indonesian-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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