BDF Indonesia builds library for orphans
JAKARTA (JP): The construction of an integrated library building, to be equipped with computers and books for orphans and unfortunate children, started on Monday in Cibubur, 20 kilometers south of Jakarta.
The funding for the library, Rp 100 million (US$15,000), was donated by the Jakarta branch of the healthcare products company PT Beiersdorf Indonesia (BDF) to a social organization Save Our Souls Desa Taruna Jakarta (SOS Kinderdorf) which looks after 156 foster children.
President of BDF Indonesia Jurgen Rohlfshagen said the donation was part of the company's social program and was named after the German-based company's healthcare trademark -- Hansaplast Cares. It has been operating in several Indonesian cities since 1995.
"We contribute this library to the children under the care of Kinderdorf Children's Care Foundation and to the local community, as a way to support the Indonesian government's new national education policy," Rohlfshagen said at a ceremony marking the initial construction of the 70-square-meter library.
Present at the ceremony were the founder of SOS Kinderdorf Indonesia Agus Prawoto, German Ambassador Heinrich Seeman and Austrian Ambassador Viktor Segalla.
Rohlfshagen said the construction was scheduled to be completed next March.
"I hope our small contribution will be followed by others," he said, adding that the company also donated medical products to the five SOS Kinderdorf foster houses in Indonesia.
SOS Kinderdorf was founded in Indonesia in 1972. It is part of SOS Kinderdorf International, which has 385 branches in 130 countries. It has branches in Lembang, West Java, Jakarta, Semarang, Bali and Flores and West Nusa Tenggara.
G. Hadiyanto Nitihardjo, Indonesia director of SOS Kinderdorf, said the organization needed contribution and support from the community to expand its services to other provinces.
"We think it is necessary to have similar libraries and mechanical and handicraft workshops for the children at our other four branches," he said.
The joint-venture company BDF produces cosmetics as well as health and medical care products such as strip plasters, medicated plasters, condoms and creams. (01)