WIC's annual charity bazaar on today

Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

In an effort to raise funds to improve the education and welfare of the poor, the Women's International Club on Wednesday held its 37th annual charity bazaar at Semanggi Expo, South Jakarta.

WIC public relations officer Rani Mokoginta said the annual event had been a tradition for more than 50 years.

"It (the bazaar) is very effective as a means to help us raise funds for the poor. We were once able to raise Rp 1 billion (US$112,000)," she said.

This year, the two-day event is expected to raise between Rp 600 million and Rp 700 million.

Rani said the funds will be disbursed to various institutions, including five orphanages, two nursing homes, 10 schools for the disabled, one mental rehabilitation center, a center for homeless children, a home for abandoned babies, tuition aid for 250 students in the WIC foster care program, two hospitals and 175 college scholarships.

Rani explained that before being disbursed, funding proposals would be evaluated by a team of women consisting of WIC members and honorary members (wives of ambassadors) called the Bazaar Proceeds Committee, who would review each institution's proposals.

"If the proposals are okayed by the BPC, the funds are disbursed in a form of things and materials that each institution needs," she said.

The bazaar was officially opened by First Lady Kristiani Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday, and will be open to the public on Thursday for an entrance fee Rp 5,000.

Established 54 years ago, the WIC is a women's non- governmental organization, which focuses on raising funds to help improve the welfare of the poor.

With the motto 'Friendship through Understanding', its goals are to foster friendship among women of different nationalities, to promote the cause of education and to contribute to social improvement.

Forty percent of its members are foreigners, including ambassadors and expatriates, and 60 percent are Indonesians. All members have to pay Rp 30,000 monthly membership fee. However, the fee can be waived for those who have been a member for at least 15 years.