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.