Street children get aid

Street children get aid

JAKARTA: Up to 70 students from the School for Street Children in Kampung Kakap, Penjaringan subdistrict, North Jakarta, received assistance on Monday from the state's social safety network program.

Director General of Middle and Basic Education at the Ministry of National Education Indradjati Sidi symbolically handed over the money, amounting to Rp 150,000 for each student, to the students' parents in a modest ceremony on Sunday in Kampung Kakap.

Farid Faqih, the coordinator of (Param) Pangan untuk Rakyat Miskin (Food for Poor People), the non-governmental organization which manages the school, accompanied Indradjati at the handover ceremony.

Indradjati said that the money would hopefully be used for additional nutrition and stationery.

The school, located under the Gedong Panjang toll road overpass, started operating on July 23, 2000, with 30 students.

In September of last year, the school, with 70 students, changed its name to Sekolah Anak Jalanan (School for Street Children).

The school's operation, including the teachers' salaries, depends on aid from businesspeople and other sources, Faqih said, adding that Param managed another school for street children in Pedongkelan, East Jakarta, which had 130 students. --Antara