Lions Club donates aid for Aceh
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Lions Club has committed Rp 150 million (US$ 16,393) for the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN) efforts to reunite families in the tsunami-battered province of Aceh.
BKKBN, which lost 20 of its 127 employees in Aceh in the disaster, has set up a family center in the capital city of Banda Aceh to speed up the recovery process of those affected by the devastation.
The center provides psychological counseling for children and adults.
Practical skills will also be taught at the center to children, teenagers and women.
In addition, keeping in line with BKKBN's mission, the center will aim to bolster family planning efforts of the survivors.
"BKKBN's focus on women and children fits our goals," said Hasbi Chaipadmol, a member of District 370-B involved in establishing the program. "We don't want to see a lost generation in Aceh."
The funds from the Lions Club will be spent over an initial six-month period to pay for a doctor, a psychologist, eight social workers, four motorcycles and 400 kits, costing Rp 100,000 (US$ 10.92) each, containing puzzles and children's games.
Hasbi told The Jakarta Post on Friday that if the program showed signs of succeeding, the district would be willing to disburse an additional Rp 600 million (US$ 65,500) on top of its initial commitment.
"We will hold a monthly evaluation," said Hasbi, who has been a Lion member for eight years. "We have to account for every penny spent."
Hasbi said that members of the club, which is non-denomination and apolitical, were enthusiastic in giving aid to Aceh.
"In five days we raised over Rp 1 billion (US$ 109,000) from our district members alone," said Hasbi, while adding that to date a total of 75 tons of food and clothing had been disbursed on top of the funds.
District 307-B, which covers Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and part of Jakarta, is one of two Lions Club districts in Indonesia. The district has 78 clubs and more than 2,000 members.
The first Lions Club in Indonesia was established in Jakarta in 1969. There are currently 153 clubs throughout Indonesia with over 4,000 Lions dedicated to helping their communities.
With over 1.4 million members throughout the world, the Lions Club is the largest service-oriented club in the world. In order to join, a person must be sponsored by an existing member.
The Lions Club International Foundation, the grant-making arm of the all-volunteer society, has committed at least $5 million toward relief efforts in tsunami-torn nations, including Indonesia. The funds will be used to rebuild homes and schools and to provide psychological counseling. (002)