JP/18/SCHL2

JP/18/SCHL2

checked --JSR
Kamal now has the world at his fingertips

Not that long ago 11-year-old Kamal could not see a future for
himself, but now he has aspirations to be a pilot.

He really enjoys school and his favorite subject is maths.

Prior to starting school, Kamal, like many of his fellow
students, used to spend all day looking for things on the street
-- so he looked forward to going to school each day.

His parents have encouraged him to persist with his education
and once he has finished sixth grade this year he hopes to be
able to continue.

Once Kamal gets home from school he studies; as soon as he has
finished he and his mother look for recyclable products until 8
p.m.

His father looks for recyclable products when his mother and
Kamal are not out searching for them. Kamal has been collecting
recyclable garbage to sell for two years.

Kamal hails originally from Subang, West Java, his parents
moving to Pondok Kelapa to find work.

The family lives near a temporary market.

Kamal said he had no siblings that attended the school but he
had made many friends.

The school has given his entire family hope for a more
successful future.

Kamal's mother, Sirdar, said that before he started going to
school he did not have any hopes or dreams, could not count or
read and did not have any manners to speak of.

Kamal now has perfect manners and comes across as a shy young
man.

She is very pleased with the progress he has made at the
school.

"The school has changed our lives significantly; it was like a
candle in the darkness. Before school, we thought Kamal would
become a scavenger like us," Sirdar said.

"We now realize the importance of education since Kamal has
been going to school. Parents are also given the opportunity to
learn things at the school so we now appreciate things like
etiquette, cleanliness and striving for a better life are
important," she said.

"We have also learned that a religious education is also
important."

Kamal's family have not had it easy. Sirdar had four children
-- three boys and a girl -- but her first and second child died
because they were sick and she did not have enough money to pay
for their treatment.

Kamal has an older brother who is married.

Kamal and his family are just one example of the many lives
the school has changed for the better.

Despite the hardship the children endure in day-to-day living
they are bright and enthusiastic and, according to founding
teacher Ibu Novi, are developing rapidly in the school's
supportive environment.

"I love it when we receive prizes for good results. I'd never
received any prizes before I started at the school," Kamal said.

"I couldn't read before I came to school but now I can -- now
I'm clever," he said, with childlike candor.

-- Karen Stingemore

Caption: Student of the East Jakarta school for disadvantaged
children, Pkbm Pusat Kegiatan Belajar Musyarakat (Center For
Community Based Learning Activities), 11-year-old Kamal, with
founding teacher Ibu Novi.