Seniors get ready for Christmas
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
With the glow of dozens of candles lighting her face, Nasiah, 87, gazed at a shimmering Christmas tree as she thanked God for blessing her with such a merry Christmas.
"I have no family left. No husband and no children. I am alone. But I am blessed that I can stay here in a retirement home together with other seniors. And I thank God for giving me this cheerful Christmas," she told The Jakarta Post.
Nasiah is one of the 60 senior citizens at Pniel Foundation, a retirement home in Bintaro Jaya, South Jakarta, who celebrated an early Christmas on Sunday upon the generosity of several religious organizations.
Although simple, the celebration held among half-finished facilities was bright and warm.
About 200 guests, who came to share in the elderly people's celebration of Christmas, all held aloft their candles and sang joyously.
All seemed deeply absorbed in the afternoon's atmosphere of Caring Love, the event's theme.
Several representatives of the sponsoring religious groups -- including Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian groups -- also attended the celebration, during which they made additional contributions for the nursing's home day-to-day operations.
Making national headlines last year, Pniel lost its strategic location on Jl. Samanhudi, Central Jakarta, in a property dispute that allegedly involved a prominent businessman and thugs. Thanks to the interventions of a Buddhist donor, they were able to find an alternative site in the suburbs of Jakarta.
Pniel Foundation director Stien Hitipauw said the retirement home was able to continue providing care to all of its elderly residents because of regular donations from religious groups.
The foundation is non-profit and raises funds to support its operations, facilities and charges, as only a few of Pniel's residents have family support, she said.
"Around 80 percent of the donations we receive come from Buddhist groups. Thank God. The remainder comes from other religious groups. Anyone can help underprivileged people, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity," Stien told the Post at the celebration.
An Pniel staffer, Gustaf Titahilu, said the center needed at least Rp 2 million (US$222.23) weekly for meals, laundry, maintenance and daily operations to care for its 60 residents.
Operational costs notwithstanding, Pniel needed more money to complete building their facilities, said Stien. "We do not have the money yet to complete the other half of the construction."
As the celebration continued well into the night, Nasiah and her neighbors continued to sing joyously, forgetting about their usual loneliness.
For more information on Pniel Foundation and making a donation, contact 021-7456180 or visit Pniel on Jl. Kampung Pondok Jaya No. 49 RT 004/01, Pondok Jaya Village, Bintaro, South Jakarta.