Sat, 01 Jul 2000

OBI to raise attention, funds for disabled people

JAKARTA (JP): In a campaign to raise funds for and attention to the plight of the city's disabled and elderly, outdoor management training specialist Outward Bound Indonesia (OBI) will hold a leisurely walk with camels, titled Lions-OBI Camel Walk 2000, on Sunday.

The event will be held in cooperation with international organization Lions Club Indonesia and the Indonesian Association of Disabled People (PPCI).

"We want Jakarta to be friendlier toward its disabled people and the elderly by providing more accessible facilities in public areas," deputy chairman of the organizing committee Djoko Kusumowidagdo told The Jakarta Post recently.

"Indonesia already has Law No. 4/1997 on Disabled People. Jakarta also has Gubernatorial Decree No. 66/1981 which regulates the provision of facilities for disabled people in public buildings," he said in a written statement.

Despite the regulations, Djoko said, many of the city's residents still lacked awareness of the problems of disabled people and the elderly.

First Lady Sinta Nuriyah and several Cabinet ministers are expected to join the leisurely walk with the camels, which will be borrowed from Taman Safari in Cisarua, West Java. Some disabled and elderly people will also take part in the walk.

The walk will start from the Bank Indonesia traffic circle on Jl. M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta at 6 a.m.

"The participants will walk along Jl. M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, also in Central Jakarta, before returning to the point of departure. We expect more than 2,000 participants to show up on Sunday," said Djoko.

"Residents who want to take part in the event will be charged a Rp 25,000 (US$2.90) fee to cover the expenses of a polo shirt and breakfast," he added, while citing that the committee also welcomed sponsorships and contributions for the event.

The event, held to commemorate OBI's 10th anniversary, will also be highlighted by an effort to break the national record for lap-sitting, where as many people as possible create a circle by sitting on each other's laps while holding onto the person in front.

The event will also feature the Customs and Excise marching band and several artists.

Djoko revealed that all profits would go to charity for disabled people and the elderly.

"We will designate 90 percent of the profits to provide better accessibility for disabled people in Istiqlal Grand Mosque and nearby Jakarta Cathedral in cooperation with PPCI," he said.

"While the remaining 10 percent will be used to hold cataract operations for the less fortunate, to be organized by the Lions Club Indonesia," he added. (nvn)