Contest sizes up capital's youngest, `healthiest' ambassadors<\/p>\n
Jock Paul, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After a week of qualifying rounds, the finalists in the first
\nAbang None Jakarta kindergarten contest gathered for the crowning
\nof the winners.<\/p>\n
Some of them thought the selection of the most suitable
\nambassador for Jakarta as abang and none (the terms for older
\nbrother and sister respectively in the local Betawi dialect) was
\ngoing to be their big break.<\/p>\n
\"I want to be a model,\" said hopeful Rizky Apriliani, 5, from
\nEast Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Bima Reza Pertama said he was excited about the event,
\n\"because I want to become famous\".<\/p>\n
The six-year-old student at Al-Azhar kindergarten in West
\nJakarta, added that when he grows up, \"I want to be an artist,
\nand be famous and smart\".<\/p>\n
For Bima, it turned out that last Sunday's event could help
\nhim reach his goal.<\/p>\n
Wearing number 51, Bima was the 101st and last competitor to
\nbe called onto the stage at the Taman Mini complex in East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
As each finalist took the stage, they had half a minute to
\ngreet the audience and then answer a few questions.<\/p>\n
Bima, looking smart in traditional Betawi clothes made for him
\nby a family friend, started into a traditional Betawi song as
\nsoon as he had the floor.<\/p>\n
His energetic and clear performance captured the hearts of the
\njury and the audience. Bima was named the event's Abang Jakarta,
\nand also voted \"audience favorite\".<\/p>\n
It was the first year of the event organized by Nutricia,
\nwhich produces nutrition products for babies and children, and
\nthe Indonesian Association of Kindergarten Teachers, in
\nconjunction with the celebration of Jakarta's 476th anniversary.<\/p>\n
The contest is a smaller version of one held for young people;
\nthe latter has been the stepping stone for such artists as Alya
\nRohali, Venna Malinda and Maudy Kusnaedi.<\/p>\n
Although the organizers of the event are not expecting to make
\nstars out of the first kindergarten pageant winners, they are
\nhoping that the event will give the participants a boost for the
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
The company's business unit manager, Dr. F. Cisca Dewiyana,
\nsaid that building the self-confidence to speak in front of a
\ncrowd was one of the goals of the event.<\/p>\n
\"We are hoping to support the children with nutrition, and
\neducate them about their health and also encourage them to be
\nbrave,\" Cisca said.<\/p>\n
But the primary purpose of the event is to educate the kids
\nabout health, and hopefully improve the health of Indonesian
\nkids, she said.<\/p>\n
The final was the culmination of a weeklong contest that
\ninvolved a total of 762 children from East, West, North, South
\nand Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Ten girls and 10 boys from each area qualified for the final,
\nwith one extra boy added from West Jakarta to bring 101 children
\nto the final.<\/p>\n
During the week of qualifying a children's dentist, a
\npediatrician and a child psychologist met the children and
\nassessed the quality of their health and hygiene.<\/p>\n
Children's dentist Dr. Rinati Adrin said she graded the
\nchildren on a scale of 1 to 20, depending on the number of teeth
\nthat showed signs of decay.<\/p>\n
She said she decided to be a judge for the contest because of
\nthe opportunity to educate children that their health, including
\ntaking care of their teeth, is important.<\/p>\n
Organizers and judges were emphatic that the event was not a
\nchildren's beauty contest.<\/p>\n
The final two winners and runners up were chosen among the 101
\nfinalists based on their confidence, eye contact, physical
\nhealth, appearance, sense of humor and additional skills, such as
\nsinging, said jury member Riza Fachrizahy.<\/p>\n
The organizers are planning to make the contest an annual
\nevent. \"In the future, we would also like to involve other
\norganizations,\" said the company's managing director, Rob
\nVersloot.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/contest-sizes-up-capitals-youngest-healthiest-ambassadors-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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