Lions Club donates aid for Aceh

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)