Child sponsorship update from Bali
14/01/2008
An update from Summer 2007
Dear Friends,
We are happy to meet you again, if only by letter! Now, what’s new at the SOS Children’s Village Bali?
You will be glad to learn that, though not all reports were satisfying, all our children were promoted last June. This is the result of the support the children get daily from mothers and staff in doing their home work and preparing for exams. Last May, even a try-out test was organised. The children were so enthusiastic about it that it is planned to arrange such tests twice each semester. The Village Director, his Deputy, and three dedicated male educators make a solid team. All five have been in the Village for years and are close to the children. Like common with Balinese, they are gifted in many ways and thus capable not only to help the children with their school work but also to lead them in sports, arts & crafts, gardening, scouting, and religious practices. This way, many activities can be performed at the Village with the guidance of its own staff. However, once the children reach a higher level of competence or enter competitions, outside experts will be needed. These will either come to our Village at Bantas or the children will be brought by bus or car to the sports facilities or studios, most of which are at the town of Tabanan, some at Kediri which is closer, or even at Denpasar.
During the past years, we have shared with you experiences and successes of our children with painting, running, gardening, and various handicrafts; today we’ll let you know about some other activities, old and new ones.
Like in many countries, football is an all-time favourite with our boys. The seven best players among junior high-school students have been recruited by the Tabanan Regency’s junior club and thus have to train there. (Last June, one of them was even ‘borrowed’ by the club from Denpasar for league contests in Surabaya.) At the Village, the boys from kindergarten through elementary school are being coached by one of the educators who is now and again assisted by two older boys. The young players are passionate - which may lead to heated disputes! When calming them down, the educator will use arguments and motivation that will help to develop their character and logic. Besides, this kind of coaching is an excellent opportunity to build up loving relationships with the children. This is important, because in reality, each of the educators plays the role of a father.
Years ago, a group of young men would teach silat Bali at our Village, but then they couldn’t come anymore. This Balinese variation of traditional Indonesian self-defence art with its concentrated yet graceful movements has been taken up again and is practiced three times a week as a warming-up exercise for football. Another sport that has been revived is volleyball for girls. It was agreed to train twice a week, but the girls would like to play every day! They may do so, provided that they have no other obligations.
For a long time, a religious group has been giving spiritual guidance to mothers, staff, and children. Since April, yoga exercises have been added for elementary school children. On Sunday afternoon, they practice yoga positions; as their body is still flexible, they can achieve even quite difficult asanas. This is to keep their inner organs healthy. In accordance with their Hindu Dharma belief, the children are further instructed in meditation, which will benefit body and soul by helping to relax their nerves, prevent stress, and heighten awareness.
And finally, dear Friends, on behalf of SOS Bali, we thank you for sharing our sorrows and filling our needs. Children, mothers and co-workers join us in sending cordial greetings.
Yours sincerely,
SOS Desa Taruna Indonesia
Gregor H. Nitihardjo
National Director
Sponsor's update from Flores
A child sponsorship update from September 2007
Dear Friends,
We are happy to meet you again, if only by letter! Now, what’s new at the SOS Children’s Village Flores? Well, this letter covers the first half of this year but also contains information from last year that reached us too late.
SOS Indonesia has good relations with several groups promoting children’s literature in Jakarta. Last year, these joined forces in donating two mobile libraries for SOS Flores. The two giant gifts were handed over to and kept at SOS Jakarta first, while the office was taking care of administration and shipping matters. The mobile libraries consist of a huge book case (or a small trailer!) pulled by a motor bike. Each holds about 700 books and booklets. The aim is, to encourage children to read, especially children in isolated regions. By touring the area around SOS Flores, the libraries make the books available to many children. To reach as many readers as possible, SOS Flores cooperates with the competent public institution. One of the mobile units makes a stop at each school of the neigh¬bouring communities, three times a week. The second unit covers the schools at the town of Maumere and places where crowds of children usually gather. To attract people, the vehicles are equipped with a popular jingle, saying, I am smart because I love to read! Readers may borrow the books free of charge. When they are not on the road, the colourfully painted vehicles are parked in front of the Village’s library. Even though children at the SOS Village are luckier than their peers, because they receive, from time to time, reading matter from friends in Java, they surely are happy with the new books.
The SOS Nursery school at SOS Flores is attended by 97 boys and girls, 90 of whom come from the poor neighbourhood. Therefore, in addition to learning and playing, the kids are served a meal rich in protein, twice a week. Often, they get together with other nursery schools for celebrations and competitions in a spirit of friendship and joy. On such occasions, the children need little encouragement to step forward to show their creativity and talent. On the contrary, so many volunteer, that the teachers have trouble selecting those who are to represent the nursery school in the contests. And whether it is an event involving just neighbouring nursery schools, or one at the town of Maumere, or one for the entire Province, the children never come home empty-handed. They always win a prize - usually even more than one!
Both nursery and school children had many special activities in connection with SOS Day, which was celebrated during the vacations, with games and competitions. The older children also took a trip to Ledalero, for a visit of the remarkable Anthropology Museum and its Library. And as it has become a tradition to do a service to the community in the holidays, they cleaned up the surroundings of a nearby church and a mosque, this time.
By the way, if you came to Flores now, you could see that our 100 papaya trees have started to bear fruit. This means that the young trees require daily watering. Our youngsters don’t mind helping, because they can’t wait till the juicy fruit are ready to eat! Maize has been harvested and the mothers have planted vegetables, as there are hardly any available in the market during the long dry season.
But we saved the big news for the end! Three additional family houses have been built at SOS Flores, because so many more children need a home. Thus, SOS Flores now has a total of 15 families (like Jakarta). The three mothers who moved in to set up a household are experienced Mother’s Assistants; one served at SOS Flores whereas the two others were working at SOS Jakarta and SOS Lembang for several years; but all come from the Florenese islands.
And finally, dear Friends, on behalf of SOS Flores, we thank you for sharing our sorrows and filling our needs. Children, mothers and co-workers join us in sending cordial greetings.
Sponsor's update from Jakarta
An update for child sponsors from Summer 2007
Dear Friends,
We are happy to meet you again, if only by letter! Now, what’s new at the SOS Children’s Village Jakarta?
Last December, a generous friend, together with his family and staff, organised a successful Charity Night for us at a top hotel in Jakarta. Every effort was being made with the preparations, which took months and involved co-workers from the National Office and SOS Jakarta. The artistic part was composed of contributions by children from Jakarta, Semarang, Lembang as well as Bali and made a big impression on the audience. Like the dance from Aceh performed by 15 kids from Jakarta; they managed to act out its quick movements simultaneously without any mistake. A well-known choreographer had rehearsed with them and been quite strict as a result they appeared just like professional dancers!
During the first months of this year, inhabitants of the Village were involved in three workshops and training courses. First, SOS Jakarta hosted a seminar on the topic Family-Based Care, with prominent speakers and a popular moderator. The SOS point of view was explained by the National Director. High-ranking represen¬ta¬tives from the Social Ministry and non-governmental child-care organizations were present. Then, an idealistic free-lance journalist held a two-day workshop on writing for SOS Jakarta. He guided children, teenagers and even mothers in expressing themselves in better and more creative ways, showing them that writing could be fun. Later, some of our elder students took part in the first session of a series of training courses on HIV/Aids. Subsequently, it will be their task to propagate the knowledge to their peers a mission as important as it is urgent.
Let us continue with some more examples of community work. During National Immunization Week, our kindergarten was serving as a base for the work of the public health officers. With the assistance of some Mothers and kindergarten teachers, 57 children below five (including 30 from outside) were vaccinated against measles. When big floods afflicted Jakarta last February, SOS Indonesia was quick to take action, with the support from the international SOS organisation. SOS Jakarta, spared by the flood, operated an emergency relief program during the first week, when the activities of most government offices and public facilities were paralysed. The SOS team consisted of Mothers, young people, and co-workers, who worked really hard. In the beginning, the most urgent task was to prepare and pack meals and to distribute them together with milk, mineral water, biscuits, rice, instant noodles, eggs, children’s clothing as well as medicine, blankets, mats and tarpaulin for sitting and sleeping; later school utensils were handed out. Part of these items were collected by our team and redistributed right away in various parts of Jakarta where flood victims had gathered, e.g. to 210 families staying under a highway fly-over, the only dry location in the area. To reach another location, we had to borrow a rubber craft from the army. When the water receded on the 6th day, we set up a health post in the city, for many flood victims had become sick. Doctors from two hospitals co-operated in taking care of them, our Village Nurse together with two student nurses assisted. Altogether, about 8000 people profited from the SOS relief program.
Learning and recreation were combined in three outdoor events. During a weekend in Bogor, campers were taught how to make compost, plant vegetables and harvest them effectively. They enjoyed this experience and returned in high spirits. Another event, named Camping with Fighting Spirit, was arranged for big boys only. The participants - 27 youths from Semarang and Jakarta - were camping in the woods of Ungaran near Semarang for three days. The program was aimed at training the boys to meet challenges and overcome obstacles by creativity and perseverance and thus prepare them to face and solve problems at school or, later, at work. And finally, everyone in the Village was invited for a picnic at Jakarta’s extended zoo by an association of young workers. It was a day of fun and joy!
Dear Friends, on behalf of SOS Jakarta, we thank you for sharing our sorrows and filling our needs. Children, mothers and co-workers join us in sending warmest greetings.
Yours sincerely,
SOS Desa Taruna Indonesia
Gregor H. Nitihardjo
National Director
Relevant Countries: Indonesia.