146 scavenger children at Makassar's Antang landfill receive PIP scholarships
Makassar (ANTARA) - A total of 146 children of waste pickers and underprivileged families supported by the Pabbata Ummi Lino Foundation (Yapta-UL), who live in and around the Tamangapa Antang final waste disposal site (TPA) in Makassar, South Sulawesi, have received scholarships under the Smart Indonesia Programme (PIP).
“Alhamdulillah, with this scholarship our children can continue their education. We hope the scholarship can still be fought for, because there are still around 62 children under our care who have not yet received it,” said Yapta-UL Daily Chair Makmur in Makassar on Tuesday.
In addition to the PIP scholarships for the 146 children, the Head of the Makassar City Education Office, Achi Soleman, personally provided scholarships to 13 children supported by Yapta.
He said the awarding of the PIP scholarships was inseparable from the struggle of civil society organisations (OMS) and the efforts of Member of Parliament for South Sulawesi Electoral District I, Syamsu Rizal, who advocated for their fate at the central level.
The former head of the Makassar UPTD PPA Technical Resource Centre and an activist for the protection of women and children, he hopes the struggle to fulfil children’s rights and protection will continue.
Previously, Syamsu Rizal symbolically handed over the PIP scholarships to the recipient children, witnessed by several civil society representatives and local government officials at the Yapta-UL office, in front of the Antang landfill site.
According to the man commonly known as Daeng Ical, socio-economic status is a crucial factor, particularly given the children’s enthusiasm for attending school. He emphasised the importance of education for children as the nation’s future generation of leaders.
“It could well be that some of the children from this place become presidents or great leaders in the future,” said the former Deputy Mayor of Makassar.
The awarding of scholarships to more than a hundred children in the Antang landfill area was part of a series of events celebrating National Children’s Day, initiated by Yapta-UL and attended by officials from the Makassar City Government as well as local schools and district authorities.
Among the civil society organisations taking part in the Children’s Day celebration were Walhi South Sulawesi, JARAK, LBH Makassar, PKBI South Sulawesi, LAPAR, Yayasan Rumah Mama, LPA South Sulawesi, Yayasan Jati and Yasindo.
Also participating were Yasmib, Balla Inklusi, Societas Initiative, Transformasi Anak Muda Celebes, the Makassar Legal Aid and Advocacy Institute, LBH Maros, SPRT Paraikatte and Info Celebes.