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.