In This Issue

• Why The HELP Program?
• Keeping The Dream Alive
• Help the Schools (RC Jakarta)
• RC Semarang Kunthi's Story
• Interview with district 3400's senior PDG Soedarpo
• Interview with students in Semarang
  
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Saturday, September 18 was a special day for Aman Sari Elementary Public School, Aman Sari Village, Rengasdengklok Community, Karawang. 198 of its students were excitedly receiving Rotarians from RC Jakarta ariving in 10 cars from Jakarta. That day, RC Jakarta arrived to handover to the school, their renovated school building of 3 classes, complete with its desks. The building had been previously destroyed by a huge wind.

Present during the ceremony were some PDG’s, i.e. PDG Tjoet Rachman, PDG Natalia Soebagjo and IPDG Mustain Sjadzali as the Help Program Committee Chairman, and other Rotarians.

PP HB Pradhana in his speech stated that Mrs. Hasan had already conveyed the conditon of Aman Sari Elemtary PS for quite some time. She was known to be a volunteer who diligently went about sourcing funds and distributing to students in need in the Bekasi area.

She did not have a lot of students, just around 50. This wasn’t about how few or how much she was able to help. Her dedication and service was relentless, and we should be thankful for that and respect her in every way. In her own house, Mrs. Hasan also had some orphans underneath her direct care.

As with so many other places in our country presently, the surrounding socio-economic condition is also suffering. The community surrounding Aman Sari village mostly comprises labour and non-formal workers. Their wages are very minimal such that they cannot even begin to think about nutrition? On top of it, more and more people are being laid off.

This condition touched PP HB Pradhana to immediately act. Coincidentally, Mrs. Hasan was a neighbour of his in Bekasi.

The COG opportunity was taken up by RC Jakarta. USD 7,721 was received in February. On Rtn. Spike’s initiative, RC Zutphen of the Netherlands, we obtained extra funding amounting to USD 2,445. With the existing funds, the renovation of the school building could commence. With Rtn. Willy Nurma’s and other Rotarians’ help, the building was renovated in 60 working days from the estimated 75. We managed to build 3 classes for grades 4, 5 and 6. Books were also provided to fill the library.

Actually, Aman Sari Elementary PS consists of 2 units, each with 3 classes. Now one unit has become totally new. But the other building is starting to contrast sharply with its new "sister". The old building’s floor is earth, the desks are slowly being ridden by termites and are starting not to look like school desks. They are slowly deteriorating, awaiting its demise. We feel it is totally unfair to let our country’s children, our hopes for the future, to study in an environment like this. How can they grow to become our future leaders if we can only provide minimal education and nutrition?