Mahendra (4) immediately raised his hand when he heard a question\nfrom a teacher in a small room in the Kebon Bawang area, North Jakarta,\non Wednesday (8\/7).<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are some of God\u2019s creations?\u201d the teacher asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cCats, ma\u2019am,\u201d Mahendra answered loudly. The answer brought a smile\nto the teacher\u2019s face, and Mahendra\u2019s classmates giggled.<\/p>\n
That morning, Mahendra was the first pupil to answer a question\ncorrectly. Clutching a carton of milk as a prize, he was the first to be\nallowed out of the classroom for a break.<\/p>\n
The moment was part of daily life for the children at Taman Anak\nSejahtera Arutala in Kebon Bawang.<\/p>\n
Taman Anak Sejahtera, known as TAS, is a form of social service\nproviding care, nurturing, and protection for children from low-income\nfamilies whose parents work.<\/p>\n
TAS is a facility under the Panti Sosial Asuhan Anak Balita Tunas\nBangsa, a technical implementation unit (UPT) owned by the DKI Jakarta\nSocial Affairs Agency.<\/p>\n
TAS Arutala is intended for families with DKI Jakarta identity cards\nearning below the minimum wage who do not receive similar social\nassistance, such as the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP).<\/p>\n
The facility was inaugurated by DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung on\n5 May 2025 as part of the realisation of his quick-win programme.<\/p>\n
The word \u201cArutala\u201d comes from Sanskrit and means the moon. However,\nit can also mean a high, noble, and lofty aspiration.<\/p>\n
From the outside, the TAS Arutala building is not particularly\nstriking. It sits on the edge of Jalan Swasembada Barat II in Kebon\nBawang subdistrict. Behind the fence, colourful swings and slides greet\nevery arriving child.<\/p>\n
Inside, there are numerous rooms, including classrooms, a library, a\nclinic, a dining room, and air-conditioned bedrooms for afternoon\nnaps.<\/p>\n
TAS Arutala currently accommodates 25 children \u2014 13 boys and 12\ngirls. Children eligible for TAS Arutala are aged 2 to 6, or before\nentering primary school.<\/p>\n
From Monday to Friday, their days are filled with a variety of\nactivities. On Monday, the children do gymnastics and educational\ngames.<\/p>\n
Tuesday is devoted to learning to read, write, and count. Wednesday\nis set aside for Quranic study, Thursday for sports, and Friday for\ndancing.<\/p>\n
Activities begin in the morning. After being dropped off by their\nparents, the children first have breakfast together.<\/p>\n
They then take part in learning activities for around one to one and\na half hours, interspersed with playtime and snacks.<\/p>\n
Towards midday, the children eat again, change clothes, wash up, and\nthen take their afternoon nap.<\/p>\n
Before being picked up by their parents in the afternoon, the\nchildren are bathed so they go home clean.<\/p>\n
While at TAS Arutala, the children receive three meals a day \u2014\nbreakfast, lunch, and an afternoon meal \u2014 as well as snacks between\nactivities.<\/p>\n
Rida Mufrida, head of the Panti Sosial Asuhan Anak Balita Tunas\nBangsa, said TAS Arutala was established to help low-income\nfamilies.<\/p>\n
Parents who have children and must work from morning can leave them\nat the facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the establishment of this daycare, parents who are low-income,\nworking, and registered in the National Socio-Economic Integrated Data,\nwhose wages are below the provincial minimum wage, can leave their\nchildren here,\u201d Rida said.<\/p>\n
She said all services at TAS Arutala are provided free of charge.\nParents are not asked to pay anything.<\/p>\n
TAS Arutala prioritises children from families living near the\nservice location. Parents wishing to enrol their children can come\ndirectly to the TAS for an interview and to submit supporting documents,\nsuch as a payslip.<\/p>\n
If the capacity of 25 children has been filled, parents wishing to\nplace their children there will be put on a waiting list.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey go onto a waiting list. Life goes round and round, so perhaps\nmidway through life a parent who was previously less well-off suddenly\nbecomes able to hire their own helper or carer, and then the child\nleaves and the one on the waiting list can come in,\u201d Rida said.<\/p>\n
According to Rida, the presence of the TAS is highly beneficial for\nboth parents and children.<\/p>\n
She cited changes in the children\u2019s behaviour after taking part in\nTAS activities. Children who were not previously accustomed to\nmemorising daily prayers began to practise them, and they showed greater\nrespect for elders by habitually kissing their hands in greeting, saying\nhello, and smiling.<\/p>\n
In addition, children who previously had difficulty eating became\neager eaters thanks to communal mealtimes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking parents feel more comfortable leaving their children at this\nTAS because besides being cared for, the children are given schooling,\nQuranic education, sports, dancing, and everything else. Even when\nsleeping, they are taught to pray, and the same when eating,\u201d she\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Rida said that besides TAS Arutala in Kebon Bawang, the DKI Jakarta\nSocial Affairs Agency also manages two other Taman Anak Sejahtera in\nDuren Sawit, East Jakarta, and in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we hope that residents who fall into this category will not\nhesitate to enrol their children in Taman Anak Sejahtera, because it is\nextremely beneficial. Alumni have already experienced the difference in\ntheir children after being cared for at Taman Anak Sejahtera,\u201d she\nsaid.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tas-arutala-jakarta-governments-free-daycare-for-underprivileged-families-1784789602", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }