Acehnese orphans travel to Japan for special camp

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

Twenty-six Acehnese pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) students who lost their parents in the tsunami have received the unique opportunity to travel abroad.

The children left for Japan on Sunday, where they will attend a 15-day summer camp for orphans beginning on Monday.

"I never dreamed of going to Japan ... I have never even been to Jakarta," a participant, Sri Wahyuni, told The Jakarta Post before her departure.

Wearing a jacket and a cap bearing the logo of Garuda Indonesia Airways, which is sponsoring the trip, the girl was all smiles. "I am so happy I get to go to Japan, it is like a dream," she said over and over again.

With no experience in international travel, the children were a little confused as they passed through the metal detector at the airport and during their check-in.

The summer camp will give the Acehnese children the opportunity to share experiences with orphans from 17 other countries, including Algeria, Iran, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey and the U.S.

Sri Wahyuni lost both her parents in the tsunami and is now studying at the Abu Lam U pesantren in Aceh Besar regency, where hundreds of children who lost parents took shelter after the disaster.

The annual summer camp is hosted by Ashinaga Foundation in Japan and this year some 400 orphans will attend the camp.

During the camp, the Acehnese children will present several traditional dances.

"We have been practicing," said another participant, Reski Setiawan.

The general manager of PT Garuda Indonesia in Banda Aceh, Sukando, said the company provided round-trip airline tickets for the 26 Acehnese children and their four escorts to take part in the summer camp.

"The free return tickets for the Acehnese orphans to Japan is part of Garuda's corporate social responsibility program," he said.

The camp will give the Acehnese children the opportunity to have some fun, enjoy themselves and share their experiences with children from around the world.

"They will meet other children who share similar realities and they will say, 'I am not alone,'" Sukando said.