'I have to work during the long school holiday'

The school holidays have just started for some students, while the rest will have their days off shortly. Many students will participate in a variety of activities to make the most of the holiday. Unfortunately, some students will not be able to enjoy the holiday due to financial constraints -- they will even have to work to support their parents. Some of them spoke to The Jakarta Post about the holiday.

Ahmad, 12, is a fourth-year student at a private elementary school in Kramat, Central Jakarta. He lives in Cikini, Central Jakarta, with his family:

I'll do a lot as usual, as on other days when it isn't a holiday. I mean, I'll play a lot with my friends and also work for money.

One thing, for sure, is that I'll work as a street musician, as I usually do after school. Besides, I'll also work as a parking attendant, to earn a little money from the parking fees.

I'd like to spend my leisure time during the school holiday playing soccer and swimming. However, those activities are not free.

I have to pay Rp 500 to play soccer with friends, yet I don't know where the money goes. It costs Rp 2,100 to go swimming.

I have no choice but to work to make money. Usually, I save it up on weekdays so as to be able to play on Sunday.

I can't rely on my parents' generosity to give me pocket money because I know they struggle hard for the whole family.

I even have to share my earnings with my parents, who do not have permanent jobs. My father is a temporary worker and my mother is just a housewife.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the long holiday because I don't have to go to school!

Acong, 12, is fifth-year student at a private elementary school in Senen, Central Jakarta. He lives in Kali Pasir, Central Jakarta, with his family:

I don't think I plan to do anything special during the upcoming holiday. There's no great difference between school days and days off for me.

I usually work as a shoe-polish boy every day after school, till late at night. It means that during the holiday I will work for longer than usual.

I'm not sad because this is my daily routine. Anyway, I can play with my friends every day while working to earn a little money.

Normally, I can earn around Rp 10,000, or at least Rp 5,000 a day. From these earnings, I'll spend about half on snacks and meals at work. The rest is for my parents.

My father is a car washer and my mother washes clothes for my neighbors. They don't give me any pocket money normally, let alone for the holiday.

I have to earn money myself. Perhaps I'll also spend some time at night, if I'm not too tired, studying in preparation for the next school year.

Beby, 17, is second-year student at a state senior high school in Central Jakarta. She lives in Palmerah, West Jakarta, with her family:

I don't have any specific plans for the holiday. I'm just happy at not having to wake up in the morning for school.

I'll spend most of my time at home with my family, most likely watching TV and reading magazines.

My mother hasn't set aside any money for the school holiday. Her food catering business is so sluggish now, she has practically nothing to do. My father is unemployed.

I count on my mother's support financially, so I feel I must sympathize with her currently unfortunate situation. Thus, it is better for me to stay at home and help her with household chores, while looking for any business opportunities.

I realize she has spent a lot of money on my education thus far. I don't have the heart to ask her for more money right now for hanging around with friends.

Anyway, I don't usually make any special plans, despite the long school holiday, but I might go somewhere, like the shopping mall, for example.

-- Leo Wahyudi S