JIS community widens coverage of its aid<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In response to the current economic crisis, the
\nJakarta International School (JIS) community is striving to
\nexpand the coverage of its assistance to needy children
\nthroughout Indonesia, an executive of the school said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The expansion of help is being conducted by introducing four
\nnew projects aimed at expanding the outreach of Tolong Anak-Anak
\n(TAA), the JIS social services organization, which has helped
\nfeed, clothe, house and educate the children over the last 20
\nyears, James Penha, TAA coordinator, said.<\/p>\n
A One More Chance House in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, has been
\nestablished with TAA funding to get children off the streets and
\ninto school, he said.<\/p>\n
Early this month, 14 children moved into the house, having
\nleft their former posts on Jl. Pramuka in Central Jakarta where
\nfor months they had literally been singing for their supper, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"To run the house and take care of the children aged between
\n12 and 18 years, we have hired a house mother,\" Penha said,
\nadding that the school had also donated furniture, fans and
\ntelevision sets to furnish the house.<\/p>\n
\"The number of children accommodated at the house is projected
\nto continue increasing. We hope it will rise to 25 soon,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Penha explained that the second project was run by JIS high
\nschool seniors, who invented the new TAA Cilandak project to show
\ntheir appreciation and concern for local kampongs surrounding the
\nJIS campuses.<\/p>\n
\"This project is financed by funds they voluntarily raise
\namong themselves,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In cooperation with local community leaders, the students
\ncontributed to the schooling and health of children in the area,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"This project shows awareness among the students on what they
\ncould do to help the needy children in Indonesia, which is hard
\nhit by the crisis. They feel they have gotten a lot from the
\ncountry and in turn they want to do their best to help the
\ncountry.\"<\/p>\n
Through the Saturday project, the third of the new
\nundertakings, JIS students invite children from TAA-supported
\nfoundations, orphanages and projects to special days at Jakarta
\namusement parks and on the JIS campus, Penha said.<\/p>\n
On future Saturdays, the JIS youngsters plan, in turn, to
\nvisit foundations to help with house repairs and to play with and
\nteach institutionalized children, he said.<\/p>\n
He explained that last month TAA also sealed a new connection
\nwith the Daughters of Charity in Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta.
\nIn addition to providing basic foodstuffs for distribution by the
\nnuns, TAA donated funds to insure the schooling of 67 children
\nliving in slum areas along the wharves.<\/p>\n
These new ventures join the dozens of other endeavors under
\nthe TAA umbrella, Penha said, adding that, in all, since August
\nTAA has donated Rp 30 million to children in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Between May 15 holiday closure of the school and its reopening
\nin August, TAA donated over Rp 86 million to 20 foundations and
\norphanages caring for youngsters. This emergency relief arrived
\non top of the Rp 153 million in grants made by TAA during the
\n1997\/1998 academic year.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of JIS students, teachers, administrators, staff and
\nparents continued to raise funds for TAA by staging theatrical
\nevents, by selling everything from cakes to Christmas cards to
\nspecially produced audio CDs and by personal and group
\ncontributions. (hhr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jis-community-widens-coverage-of-its-aid-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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