Guess What? Stephen J. Woodhouse

Indonesian children have said good bye to Stephen J. Woodhouse, the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) area representative for Indonesia and Malaysia who left for Geneva to take up his new post last Friday.

"I feel very sad to leave Indonesia at this time of the year when millions of children are still suffering," commented Woodhouse during a farewell party with local journalists last weekend.

Popular among local journalists, he said the media had helped him to carry out a tough job to raise funds for malnourished children and school dropouts throughout the country.

During his term, Unicef actively launched the Aku Anak Sekolah (I am a school student) campaign and various health and food aid programs to help Indonesian children and women.

"I wish I could come back to Indonesia and work for the children after I retire from Unicef," said Woodhouse, who married an Indonesian lady.

He said he would really miss his friends in Indonesia and Indonesian food, especially the spicy Padang (West Sumatra) cuisine.

"If you visit Geneva, you'll have a friend there. Please come to my house," he invited the journalists. (raw)