Charity concert for orphans held

JAKARTA (JP): Supported by vocalist-cafe owner Nia Zulkarnaen, local band Flashback held a charity concert on Sunday at street cafes in the Plaza Senayan complex on Jl. Asia Afrika, Central Jakarta, to raise funds to help orphans.

The concert, held free of charge, encouraged listeners to make donations, according to the band's leader, Noenoes Oetomo.

"The cafe visitors got entertained by singers like Johan Untung and were approached by them as well to give donations," Nonoes was quoted by Antara as saying. Other entertainers included about 100 orphans from the Dorcas Foundation and Anak Muda Foundation, who presented a dance and song.

Nia and artist Ronny Sianturi went up to the visitors of the cafes surrounding the stage with a donation box. Nia explained that the money would go to orphanages that she co-owns, namely Al Fatah, home to 50 children, on Jl. Bekasi Timur in East Jakarta and Al Aliyah with 200 children on Jl. Tebet Raya, South Jakarta.

The lady, who also co-owns an Islamic boarding school in Jember, East Java, had once invited 150 orphans to eat at her cafe free of charge. "I want to share with them... I don't only want people who can afford to eat at my cafe," Nia said.

She hoped other artists with cafes in different parts of Jakarta would do the same, adding that she would continue her charitable efforts. "We artists want to do our best," she said. (ylt)