U.S.-based RI businesses aid E. Jakarta orphanages<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two city-owned Tunas Bangsa orphanages in East
\nJakarta have received the first in a series of monthly supplies
\ndonated by the Indonesian business community in Houston, Texas,
\nUSA.<\/p>\n
The supplies -- snacks, medicine and food supplements -- were
\nhanded over by the Indonesian consul general in Houston, Siswadi
\nHarjowijoyo, during modest ceremonies at the two orphanages on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
\"I'm proud to say that the funds for this donation were raised
\nby fellow Indonesians in Houston who have been touched by the
\nplight of orphans here,\" he told staff and a visiting delegation
\nfrom the Indonesian-American Business Association (IABA) at the
\nTunas Bangsa 01 orphanage in Cipayung. The orphanage specializes
\nin caring for infants, and currently has 45 children under five
\nin its care.<\/p>\n
Siswadi said the Houston branch of the IABA raised funds for
\nthe orphans through a series of bazaars and festivals.<\/p>\n
The association sent food and medicine rather than cash to
\navoid burdening staff at the orphanages with complicated
\naccounting procedures.<\/p>\n
\"Volunteers here will help the association to monitor the
\nmonthly donations. They will also find out what the orphanages
\nneed each month,\" Siswadi said.<\/p>\n
IABA Houston's executive director Engeline Tan said the
\nassociation had decided to provide regular assistance to a number
\nof orphanages around the country.<\/p>\n
Orphanages included in the program will receive the equivalent
\nof between Rp 1.5 million and Rp 2 million each month, Tan said.<\/p>\n
She added that members of the association's Houston branch
\nwere laying plans to raise further funds later this year.<\/p>\n
\"This year alone, we plan to raise US$12,000 through a second
\nseries of bazaars.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that we will be able to raise even more money,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, the delegation went to Tunas Bangsa 03
\norphanage in Klender, which specializes in caring for teenagers.<\/p>\n
On the sidelines of the IABA visit, the chief warden at Tunas
\nBangsa 01, Suparsih, said that orphanages throughout the country
\nwere facing series financial difficulties. Many have lost the
\nsupport of regular donors at a time when the cost of food and
\nmedicine has risen sharply. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-based-ri-businesses-aid-e-jakarta-orphanages-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}