Help the poor to solve crisis
As a foreigner I would not dare to urge the Indonesian middle and upper class to help the poor in overcoming the effects of the current economic crisis.
I rather feel encouraged to address an appeal to those expatriates living in Indonesia who dispose of quite a notable salary, which is paid in their respective foreign currency. Concerning living costs, Indonesia has become a paradise for those expatriates (including me) since the monetary crisis started. While life for the Indonesians is getting more and more expensive every day. Expatriates can purchase local goods and services as well as imported products of all kinds at prices they could not even dream about in their own countries. Due to the favorable conversion rate a bill at a five star gourmet restaurant has never been so easy to pay. Keeping these benefits in mind, I would like to urge the beneficiaries to share the burden of those hit by the terrible economic crisis in Indonesia.
In this context I would like to make the following suggestions:
* Increase the salaries of servants and watchmen considerably. It is common in Indonesia that servants have to spend half of their salaries to support their poor families.
* To help solve the problem of the increasing number of jobless people, employ one additional servant and watchman.
* Pay the school fees and other necessities (school uniform, shoes, books, etc.) for at least three children whose parents are too poor to bear such costs.
* Go to orphan houses or the homes of the mentally disturbed and ask how you can help.
* Be generous with tips (hotel, restaurant, taxi, etc.), again, keeping in mind that one income must also very often hold out to feed family members who have lost their jobs.
Please don't say "This is only a drop in the ocean". This is definitely not true! People who say this are often only looking for an excuse to avoid spending their money for charity.
I think this is indeed the time where expatriates should take the opportunity to prove their gratitude to their beautiful host country and its most friendly and hospitable people.
MRS. HILDE MAY
Jakarta