JP\/18\/SCHL2<\/p>\n
checked --JSR
\nKamal now has the world at his fingertips<\/p>\n
Not that long ago 11-year-old Kamal could not see a future for
\nhimself, but now he has aspirations to be a pilot.<\/p>\n
He really enjoys school and his favorite subject is maths.<\/p>\n
Prior to starting school, Kamal, like many of his fellow
\nstudents, used to spend all day looking for things on the street
\n-- so he looked forward to going to school each day.<\/p>\n
His parents have encouraged him to persist with his education
\nand once he has finished sixth grade this year he hopes to be
\nable to continue.<\/p>\n
Once Kamal gets home from school he studies; as soon as he has
\nfinished he and his mother look for recyclable products until 8
\np.m.<\/p>\n
His father looks for recyclable products when his mother and
\nKamal are not out searching for them. Kamal has been collecting
\nrecyclable garbage to sell for two years.<\/p>\n
Kamal hails originally from Subang, West Java, his parents
\nmoving to Pondok Kelapa to find work.<\/p>\n
The family lives near a temporary market.<\/p>\n
Kamal said he had no siblings that attended the school but he
\nhad made many friends.<\/p>\n
The school has given his entire family hope for a more
\nsuccessful future.<\/p>\n
Kamal's mother, Sirdar, said that before he started going to
\nschool he did not have any hopes or dreams, could not count or
\nread and did not have any manners to speak of.<\/p>\n
Kamal now has perfect manners and comes across as a shy young
\nman.<\/p>\n
She is very pleased with the progress he has made at the
\nschool.<\/p>\n
\"The school has changed our lives significantly; it was like a
\ncandle in the darkness. Before school, we thought Kamal would
\nbecome a scavenger like us,\" Sirdar said.<\/p>\n
\"We now realize the importance of education since Kamal has
\nbeen going to school. Parents are also given the opportunity to
\nlearn things at the school so we now appreciate things like
\netiquette, cleanliness and striving for a better life are
\nimportant,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"We have also learned that a religious education is also
\nimportant.\"<\/p>\n
Kamal's family have not had it easy. Sirdar had four children
\n-- three boys and a girl -- but her first and second child died
\nbecause they were sick and she did not have enough money to pay
\nfor their treatment.<\/p>\n
Kamal has an older brother who is married.<\/p>\n
Kamal and his family are just one example of the many lives
\nthe school has changed for the better.<\/p>\n
Despite the hardship the children endure in day-to-day living
\nthey are bright and enthusiastic and, according to founding
\nteacher Ibu Novi, are developing rapidly in the school's
\nsupportive environment.<\/p>\n
\"I love it when we receive prizes for good results. I'd never
\nreceived any prizes before I started at the school,\" Kamal said.<\/p>\n
\"I couldn't read before I came to school but now I can -- now
\nI'm clever,\" he said, with childlike candor.<\/p>\n
-- Karen Stingemore<\/p>\n
Caption: Student of the East Jakarta school for disadvantaged
\nchildren, Pkbm Pusat Kegiatan Belajar Musyarakat (Center For
\nCommunity Based Learning Activities), 11-year-old Kamal, with
\nfounding teacher Ibu Novi.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp18schl2-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}