U.S.-based RI businesses aid E. Jakarta orphanages

JAKARTA (JP): Two city-owned Tunas Bangsa orphanages in East Jakarta have received the first in a series of monthly supplies donated by the Indonesian business community in Houston, Texas, USA.

The supplies -- snacks, medicine and food supplements -- were handed over by the Indonesian consul general in Houston, Siswadi Harjowijoyo, during modest ceremonies at the two orphanages on Thursday.

"I'm proud to say that the funds for this donation were raised by fellow Indonesians in Houston who have been touched by the plight of orphans here," he told staff and a visiting delegation from the Indonesian-American Business Association (IABA) at the Tunas Bangsa 01 orphanage in Cipayung. The orphanage specializes in caring for infants, and currently has 45 children under five in its care.

Siswadi said the Houston branch of the IABA raised funds for the orphans through a series of bazaars and festivals.

The association sent food and medicine rather than cash to avoid burdening staff at the orphanages with complicated accounting procedures.

"Volunteers here will help the association to monitor the monthly donations. They will also find out what the orphanages need each month," Siswadi said.

IABA Houston's executive director Engeline Tan said the association had decided to provide regular assistance to a number of orphanages around the country.

Orphanages included in the program will receive the equivalent of between Rp 1.5 million and Rp 2 million each month, Tan said.

She added that members of the association's Houston branch were laying plans to raise further funds later this year.

"This year alone, we plan to raise US$12,000 through a second series of bazaars.

"We hope that we will be able to raise even more money," she said.

Later in the day, the delegation went to Tunas Bangsa 03 orphanage in Klender, which specializes in caring for teenagers.

On the sidelines of the IABA visit, the chief warden at Tunas Bangsa 01, Suparsih, said that orphanages throughout the country were facing series financial difficulties. Many have lost the support of regular donors at a time when the cost of food and medicine has risen sharply. (emf)