Kids raise Rp 17 million

BOGOR (JP): Pupils from privately run Cita Buana School in South Jakarta donated school packages worth Rp 100,000 each to 100 less-fortunate peers in Bogor on Saturday.

The pupils, mostly children of mixed marriages, raised the money by holding a charity marathon at their school in Cipete, South Jakarta, on Oct. 7.

"The event was organized by the students themselves," Cita Buana principal Nannies Wiryoatmodjo said at the ceremony presenting recipients with the packages, held at PT Bakrie Finance Corporation's guest house in Mulyaharja Village.

Each package contained a school uniform, a pair of shoes, a school bag, writing utensils, biscuits, soap, shampoo and toothpaste.

Even though government schools are free, millions of Indonesian children had to quit over the last three years as their parents could not afford to pay for uniforms and books.

Tenth grade student Kenny Griffiths, the head of the Cita Buana student council, said he initiated the charity marathon to help other kids who were in need of aid.

"This is only the start. We are going to do more activities like this in the future," Kenny said.

The recipients were from eight elementary schools: SDN Mulyaharja I and II; SDN Cibeureum I, II, III, and IV; the Islamic Primary School Ash-Sultoniah; and Ikhsanul Amal.

During the ceremony, the We Care Fund foundation, to which many of the parents of Cita Buana pupils belong, also gave used clothes and shoes to needy children. (04/21/asa)