A new building to provide the basis of activities for the
A new building to provide the basis of activities for the Aulia Foundation is about to be completed. In this building, children who are deprived from satisfactory education can find space either to read books or to study computers.
A comfortable room is also prepared for their mothers' gatherings. Medical check-ups, together with treatments for simple diseases are also on service replacing hospital visits. The day-to-day operation of the building is put in charge of those who want to use it. Every body can visit the building at any time, and assistance is available from the staff of Aulia Foundation.
Pedongkelan and Pengarengan Area in East Jakarta are one of the Foundation's areas of activity. Agus, who received a grant from the Foundation, currently is in his third year in senior high school; and soon he will continue his study to junior college. Agus has actually no registered home-address.
If you try to find his house location on the map, you will only find a sign that showing spreads of swampy land. Yet, the area is actually filled with barracks and poor people living in their tiny rented rooms.
When he was very young, Agus used to work as a street musician (Pengamen) at a large intersection near his village in that swampy land. His other brothers also took any street jobs available to help their parents. Forever, from year to year, the family lived in hard conditions that eventually had developed the mind of young Agus became devastated.
One day, Agus was granted a scholarship from the Aulia Foundation; and such a moment preventing him from dropping out of school. Staff at the Aulia Foundation had taught Agus whilst it has been the Aulia Foundation principle that no matter how poor a person or a child; he has the right to live as a member of the society.
Recently, Agus was invited to attend a seminar on children's right where he also joined the discussion. For Agus, it's a memorable experience he never dreamed of when he had to spend his life and street-jobs.
Nowdays, from time to time, the Japanese ladies under a volunteers group named "J2-net" visited Agus village to teach children on Origami, Japanese songs, and other activities.
Agus, like any others, is now expecting enthusiastically the day to start his activities in a new building. Never had he perceived any possible relation between foreign grant and his life, yet now he found out with surprise and great joy that the Japanese government is going to extend supports to his community.
Today, Agus may only be able to do small deeds; but now he is starting to believe that one day he will be able to do something big to change the society!