Street kids, orphans crave family warmth at Idul Fitri

Leo Wahyudi S., The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In observance of the upcoming Idul Fitri holidays, which falls on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 this year, Muslims have been busily preparing food in anticipation of the festivities.

Families, regardless of their social status, have begun baking cookies and cooking ketupat (rice steamed in banana leaves), opor ayam (chicken cooked in coconut milk), sambal goreng hati (liver cooked with red chilies and coconut milk) and other traditional dishes.

Parents usually buy new clothes for their children prior to the big event.

But not everyone is fortunate enough to celebrate. Some children are hoping that their dreams will come true as Idul Fitri draws closer.

Endrik, 10, makes a living on the streets in Senen, Central Jakarta. He is in his second year at a state elementary school and lives with his only relative in Pasar Gaplok, Central Jakarta. He comes from Tegal, Central Java.

I have no plans for celebrating Idul Fitri. I'll just sing and beg on the streets. I don't expect to wear new clothes for the holidays. I'd prefer to save my money instead.

I don't know if people celebrating Idul Fitri will give me more money than on other days.

I'll use my savings to return home to see my parents. I'll give my mother the money I earned from singing and begging on the streets. As soon as I save Rp 100,000, I'll head home. I miss both my parents and my younger brother and sister.

I'll return to Jakarta after staying in Tegal for a week. I have to work to pay for my tuition. I still don't have enough money to get my quarterly school report.

I wish I could go to school in my hometown as I'm sure the tuition there is much cheaper. But if I stay there, I wouldn't be able to collect as much money as I do if I work here.

Ida, 11, sings for money under the Slipi flyover in West Jakarta. She lives in Tomang, West Jakarta, with her parents and four siblings. She is in her fifth year at a state elementary school in Kemanggisan, West Jakarta.

There is nothing special happening for me on Idul Fitri because I will be working as usual. I have to sing on public buses with my friends.

It is more important for me to earn money for my tuition and daily allowance, instead of spending it. If I get some extra money, maybe I'll buy myself some new clothes, but I'm still not sure.

My family will be staying in Jakarta during Idul Fitri, so we won't return to my parents' hometown.

I usually earn between Rp 5,000 and Rp 10,000 per day. I always sing at night to avoid the raids carried out by City Public Order officers.

Defia, 12, makes a living singing at the Blok M bus terminal in South Jakarta. She has a family who lives in Kebayoran Lama but she prefers to spend her time at the Anak Nusantara Foundation, a children's shelter located at Jl. Sultan Iskandar Muda/Arteri Pondok Indah No. 32 in South Jakarta. Her earnings pay for her two elder brothers and sister's tuition.

I'll be going home to celebrate Idul Fitri with the whole family. I'll go to my mother and father to ask for their forgiveness for having a bad attitude over the past while. I'll also visit my relatives to ask for their forgiveness.

I haven't bought new clothes yet as my mother promises to buy a new outfit for me. There will be some big sales in stores so we might get some bargains.

I don't know how much I have in savings because my mother keeps all my money for me. I work to help my mother pay my brother and sister's tuition. I can earn between Rp 10,000 and Rp 100,000 a day and I happily hand the money over to my mother.

If I need some money for myself, I just go out and earn what I need. I haven't gone to school since I dropped out of elementary school a few years ago.

I've been sad though, because my mother has asked me to stop working and continue my schooling after Idul Fitri. I don't want to go back to school. I'm always happy when I am with other street children out here.

Soni, 11, dropped out of elementary school when he was in his third year. Coming from Yogyakarta, he started singing on the buses in Jakarta for money a few years ago.

I want to go home to Yogyakarta for Idul Fitri. I hope my parents forgive me for my bad behavior.

I don't think new clothes are that important for Idul Fitri. I think it's more important to bring home money so that I can give it to my mother. So far, I have only saved Rp 50,000.

I came to Jakarta after my friend asked me to. I'm very happy to be here with all my friends -- it feels like home. Besides, I can make enough money by singing on public buses.

Helen, 18, is an orphan who lives in the Putra Utama Orphanage on Jl. Dewi Sartika in East Jakarta. She has been living there since her mother died of cancer when she was a child. Her father and older siblings have abandoned her. She is in her last year at a private vocational high school in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta.

I always feel so miserable when Ramadhan and Idul Fitri come around. I have gone through some lonely years here in the orphanage, and the holidays are a time when I realize how much I miss the loving warmth of a family.

I have lost everyone. The only one in my family that I was closest to was my mother. I wish I could be with her during Idul Fitri. I wish I could find out where her grave is and visit it.

I feel like no one cares about me. I keep wondering why my mother died so early in my life. I should be getting new clothes from my parents just like other children in normal families.

Like other years, I'll just celebrate Idul Fitri with the other orphans. We'll get new clothes from some kind and generous donors. Each one of us will get about Rp 300,000, including the clothes.

I am getting ready to graduate from high school. I wish I could go on to college, but I won't be able to afford it. I wish I had foster parents who wanted to finance my studies. Will that ever happen? Only God knows.