Concert to kick off major fund-raising campaign

Concert to kick off major fund-raising campaign

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Committee for Humanitarian
Programs (KKI) is scheduled to launch a major fund-raising
campaign, titled We Care Indonesia, in Bogor on Saturday by
staging one of the largest ever concerts by local musicians.

Media relations manager of public relations company Ellipse,
Rika Mayasari, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the
campaign would target raising Rp 100 billion for community
development projects to help the nation's needy.

"The concert will be staged in the Bogor Palace's garden and
broadcast live on all television stations," Rika said.

President B.J. Habibie, she added, expressed readiness to
attend the party, expected to include businesspeople among the
2,000 guests.

The concert will feature about 150 artists and musicians,
Ishadi SK, executive producer of the event, said in Bogor on
Monday.

Rika explained the fund-raising campaign would be held until
Aug. 17. "The closing ceremony will also be marked by the
presentation of the same concert."

Other campaign activities include long marches by students of
elementary schools and an auction of paintings by noted
designers.

Several noted public figures will be the campaign's
spokespeople, she said. They include actress Christine Hakim,
representing artists, Astra executive Rini M. Suwandi from the
business circle and MTV veejay Jamie Aditya for the country's
youth.

"We Care Indonesia is all about helping Indonesia's poor,"
KKI's chairman Chairul Tanjung said during the launching of the
campaign on Thursday.

"It is an opportunity for Indonesians to unite together to
alleviate the suffering of their own kind. Helping people to help
themselves."

Nearly 80 million Indonesians are estimated to be living below
the poverty line.

We Care Indonesia campaign will be implemented nationwide and
internationally to create awareness of the problem and solicit
donations, Rika said.

Funds raised will be used to implement KKI's ongoing
humanitarian programs focusing on Java's urban poor, but also
reaching other communities in need such as Sambas in West
Kalimantan, she said.

KKI was established in August 1998 as a nonprofit, non-
governmental and nonpolitical organization by a group of
national figures concerned about the emergency situation during
the economic crisis.

Its committee council consists of Mar'ie Muhammad as chairman,
and members Sujudi, J.E. Habibie, Pratiwi Sudarmono, Rihna Azrul
Azwar, Chairul Tanjung, Bambang N. Rachmadi, Hoesein Suropranoto
and Bondan Winarno. (24/hhr)