Street children to visit 10 schools

JAKARTA: Eighteen street children will share their talents and skills with students at five elementary schools and five junior high schools in East Jakarta, a non-governmental organization said on Saturday.

Susilo Adinegoro of Sanggar Anak Akar, which provides training for the street children, said the Our Creation, Our Buddies program will kick off on National Children's Day on Tuesday and will last for a year.

The street children, who are junior high school and high school students, will share with their fellow students their talents in writing, handicrafts and theater.

"The marginalized children can boost their self-confidence through this self-actualization program," Susilo said.

Most of the children live in the slums that have sprung up along the city's rivers, in areas behind skyscrapers, alongside railroad tracks, at garbage dumps, in markets and in bus and train stations. --JP