International children enjoy 'village,' defy political tension

TANGERANG (JP): Children, on the whole, care less about politics and more about friendship. That is what has driven dozens of foreign children to join a month-long exchange program in Serpong.

About 50 children from various countries, with an average age of 11, have joined the Children's International Summer Village (CISV) program conducted at the International German School, Bumi Serpong Damai, Tangerang.

They are from Germany, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Thailand.

However, children from the United States and Australia failed to show up, simply because their governments had advised them not to travel to Indonesia due to the unstable domestic political and security situation.

The village program's committee chairwoman, Mira Wisendha, admitted that the cancellation by the two delegations was made based purely on the Indonesian political situation.

"Their governments had advised the delegations not to come here because of the political situation. Their worries are misinformed though," Mira said.

Mira's statement was supported by the leader of the German delegation, Andrea Reiter and other participants.

Reiter said she knew about Indonesia's current political tension from television and the internet.

"But after arriving here and staying here, it's not like what we heard in the international media. Here it is so calm and happy," Reiter told The Jakarta Post.

Johanne Rokne Altenau, an 11-year old girl from Norway, shared the same view: "I'm not afraid about being far from home."

Altenau and other children, including Indonesian participants were involved in various activities, ranging from staying in Indonesian families to visiting places of interest such as Ancol Dreamland, Sea World in North Jakarta and Safari Park in Puncak, West Java.

On Sunday, the children performed traditional dances and songs at the German School, which was open to the public. In addition, the children performed a dance from West Sumatra and West Java's Angklung traditional orchestra.

Noted communication expert from the University of Indonesia Bachtiar Ali said the program aimed to educate children to become more independent and aware of other cultures.

"The children will be able to understand other cultures and achieve high self-esteem," Bachtiar said, whose son joined a summer village in Sweden last year.

He hoped that such programs could involve more children, including those from more modest backgrounds, to avoid exclusivity.

Mira Wisendha acknowledged that, for the time being, the village was joined by children from middle and upper class families because it still required financial support from parents.

Parents are at required to pay for the air tickets, while meals, travel and accommodation costs in Indonesia are covered by the local committee, CISV Indonesia.

"In the future, we hope we will be able to help children from ordinary families to join the village," Mira said. (jun)