Scholarships for poor students

Scholarships for poor students

JAKARTA (JP): Cookie producer PT Nabisco Foods, in
cooperation with the Jakarta chapter of the Islamic Alms
Organization (Bazis), gave scholarships on Wednesday worth about
Rp 120 million to 1,000 elementary students of poor families in
the capital.

The money was symbolically presented by representatives of
Nabisco and Bazis to students of state elementary school SDN No.
1 in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta.

The funds were collected by Nabisco and Bazis Jakarta from
donations by the public and sales of food products.

Ginung Pratidina, coordinator of the fund raising, said the
program was launched after discovering Ministry of Education and
Culture data showing that nearly 20 percent of elementary school
students in the capital could drop out because their parents
could no longer afford education expenses.

"I hope other companies can follow PT Nabisco's initiative,"
he said.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, who was also present at the
presentation ceremony, warmly welcomed PT Nabisco's initiative
and urged other firms to do the same.

"I also urge PT Nabisco to improve its status by introducing a
foster parent program for students receiving the scholarships,"
Sutiyoso was quoted by Antara as saying.(hhr)