Teenagers awarded for exemplary social service

Teenagers awarded for exemplary social service

A. Junaidi, Jakarta

Three teenagers have proven to the nation that despite their
young age, they have been able -- probably even more so than
adults -- to inspire other young people to overcome adversity and
move toward a better life.

Esthi Maryanti Epaenim from Ambon dedicated herself to helping
her friends continue their studies during the clashes between
Muslims and Christians in the Maluku province. She started her
social work in 2001 when Muslims and Christians were still
killing one another.

The 16-year-old Muslim girl collected books and other school
materials from donors and distributed them to students in the
city, regardless of their religion. While remaining disciplined
in her school activities, in her capacity as the speaker of
Maluku Child Parliament, she also campaigned for the protection
of children in the violence.

Supported by her parents, Esthi, who is also active as a
HIV/AIDS counselor in her school, has set up a small library in
her home for children who cannot continue their studies.

"I'm lucky that I can still go to school. Many children in our
region can't go to school because of the prolonged conflicts,"
said the eldest daughter of parents who are both teachers in a
press meeting together with the two other youths.

Along with Syarifah Amelia, 14, from Bangka-Belitung, and
Teguh Rahardjo, 16, from Yogyakarta, she was named on Wednesday
as a recipient of the Youth Leader Award 2004 from the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Office of the State
Minister for Women's Empowerment.

Each of them received Rp 5 million (US550) from Bank Niaga in
a savings account and a Rp 2 million cheque from PT Astra CMG
Life insurance.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri will confer the awards on the
young people in conjunction with National Children's Day on July
23.

"I will use the money I have received to expand my library,"
said Esthi, who will complete her studies at Senior High School
(SMU) 11 next year.

Similarly, Amelia, a first-year student of state-run SMU I in
Tanjungpandan district, Belitung regency, has been campaigning
for children's rights, especially the right to education, for two
years since becoming active in the Women's Empowerment and Child
Protection Institute.

"I see many children who can't go to school because they have
to work. If you eat the famous salted fish from Bangka-Belitung,
it was dried by children," said the 14-year-old Amelia.

Working with a local non-governmental organization, Amelia
campaigns to help poor children get education, and even to get a
free birth certificate.

Meanwhile, Teguh, a third-year student of state-run vocational
school SMK 3, promised to step up his work to campaign for
children's protection. He participated in last year's children's
congress.

Teguh, who has been involved in the campaign for three years,
read a resolution on the importance of protecting children to the
House of Representatives last year.

"But it seemed that they just listened to the resolution but
there was no will to implement it. However, we will keep talking
about the importance of child protection," he said.

The three were selected from among 52 children from 15
provinces who had been nominated by NGOs. The selection involved
NGO representatives, teenagers, public figures and government
institutions.