Bogor's street kids needs help: Mayor

Bogor's street kids needs help: Mayor

BOGOR (JP): Citing a limited budget, Bogor Mayor R. Iswara
Natanegara called on the public on Saturday to help the mayoralty
improve the lives of street children.

"Please don't close your eyes to street children, street
vendors, orphans and working children around us," Iswara said in
his speech to mark National Children's Day at Bogor Botanical
Gardens.

The ceremony was attended by about 2,000 street children from
the mayoralty.

He said the public should also care and be willing to help
improve the conditions of the unfortunate children, because they
were the country's younger generation.

"Therefore I ask for help from the public to solve the
problem," Iswara said.

During the ceremony, Iswara handed over packages of aid for 60
street children. The packages contained books, stationery, school
uniforms, bags and Rp 20,000 (US$2.6) in cash.

The head of the mayoralty's social service agency, Kusnadi,
said that currently Bogor was home to 553 street children.

"There has been a 32 percent increase from the time before the
economic crisis started affecting the country in mid-1997,"
Kusnadi said.

He said the increase was mainly caused by the rising number of
laid-off workers, who were then unable to provide for their
families.

Children were forced to find work to help their families
survive, Kusnadi said.

The agency was planning to help empower 50 street children by
providing a program of education, training, consultation and aid
funds.

The program would use a shelter or open house system, which
would also involve the children's parents. (24/emf)