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