National Children's Day celebrated<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Nearly 10,000 children from Jakarta and
\nsurrounding towns gathered at the Cibubur camping ground
\nyesterday to mark National Children's Day.<\/p>\n
After the usual rhetoric from officials presiding at the
\nopening ceremony, the rest of the day was filled with fun games,
\ncompetitions and entertainment befitting the occasion.<\/p>\n
There was a marching band, rebana (traditional music with
\nArabic rhythm), stilts and a procession of huge Betawi dolls, or
\nondel-ondel.<\/p>\n
National Children's Day will reach its climax today when 440
\nchildren from all 27 Indonesian provinces, selected because of
\ntheir school grades, will meet face to face with President
\nSoeharto in a ceremony at the Istana Anak-anak (Children's
\nPalace) at the Indonesia in Miniature Park.<\/p>\n
The theme of this year's Children's Day is Saya anak Indonesia
\n("I am a child of Indonesia"). The sub-theme is Saya anak
\nIndonesia yang cerdas dan kreatif ("I am a child of Indonesia who
\nis intelligent and creative").<\/p>\n
The theme of yesterday's gathering at Cibubur was strictly
\nfun, however. The children taking part included 8,800 elementary
\nschool pupils, 400 kindergarten children and 600 disabled
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
The games were mostly traditional. While competitive, the
\ngames hardly called for creativity. They included gunnysack
\nraces, hula-hoop contests and clogs races.<\/p>\n
Sarsito N.S., chairman of the organizing committee, said some
\nof the participants were "street children". Differences in the
\nchildren's circumstances were not apparent at yesterday's
\ngathering.<\/p>\n
"You can't tell which kids come from rich families and which
\nones live on the streets," Sarsito told reporters. "It is their
\nparents who determine the children's social status."<\/p>\n
The event, organized by the Tiara Putra Indonesia Foundation,
\nwas opened by Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman
\nDjojonegoro.<\/p>\n
When the minister asked the children what they wanted to be
\nwhen they grew up, more children raised their hands when asked if
\nthey wanted to become president than when asked about other
\noccupations, such as doctor, soldier or business tycoon.<\/p>\n
"If all of you want to be president, you should study harder,"
\nWardiman said.<\/p>\n
He urged the children to ask their teachers or parents to
\nborrow books for them from the library, saying that children
\nshould learn and read more to be smarter.<\/p>\n
After the ceremony, Wardiman was asked by journalists about
\nthe "street children" and whether they too were entitled to
\ncelebrate National Children's Day.<\/p>\n
Wardiman responded that the government was concerned about the
\nrights of all children, including poor children.<\/p>\n
"We have to accept the reality that there is still a gap
\nbetween rich children and poor children," he said. "We should be
\nable to overcome the gap," he added.<\/p>\n
Wardiman said one way out to reduce the gap would be for
\nwealthier people to help finance the schooling of poor children
\nby providing them with scholarships. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/national-childrens-day-celebrated-1447893297",
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