Dolphin group takes community from sink to swim

The Jakarta Post, Thursday, June 29, 2006

Yayasan Sosial Lumba-lumba (literally translates as Dolphin Social Foundation) is in a dilemma. After more than 26 years serving the fisherfolk community in North Jakarta, the foundation has yet to find new blood to take over its work.

“We’re not getting any younger, yet no one has taken an interest in taking over after we have gone,” the foundation’s chairwoman, Yovita Soeparman, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

The foundation runs a number of activities aimed at improving the general health care and education of a community of 01 administrative unit, Kalibaru subdistrict, Cilincing district in North Jakarta.

It began in 1977 with two American Catholic priests of the Cilincing Holy Cross parish, Robert Boudhuin and Vincent Cole Maryknoll, who made the area the parish’s social project.

When the two were called to other countries in 1981, they left the work to six members of the parish — wives of soldiers living in the area — to take over.

“Conditions at the time were very sad, plenty of children were being born but many were dying from malnutrition, personal hygiene was nonexistent and children washed themselves in the ocean,” Yovita said.

The group began by advocating personal hygiene and providing nutritious food to reduce the child mortality rate.

“We began with the 14 children of the 10 local housewives who decided to help us. We gave the children nutritious food and taught them about good personal hygiene, such as washing with soap,” she said.

At first, resistance was high. A mostly Muslim neighborhood, parents were wary of the Catholic newcomers. But as the foundation’s work began to show, the community warmed up to it and the number of children helped grew to about 600 children after 1981.

“We had to establish three informal integrated health services posts (Posyandu), but afterward, with the help of the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN), we had a formal Posyandu and a family planning clinic,” Yovita said.

The foundation’s first office was a bamboo stilt house with a sago-leaf roof, but as its activities grew it got permission from the local authorities to fill in part of the beach and build a wooden shack with a clam shell and mud floor.

“But in 1983 we finally received funding from the Lions Club Metro to build this more permanent place,” she said, indicating the simple, nondescript building on Jl. Kalibaru Timur

As the child mortality rate decreased the problem of education became more apparent. At that time children there had little or no schooling and the majority of parents were illiterate small-time contract fishermen.

In 1982 the foundation established a preschool for children, and study groups for parents to learn to read and write, and ideally obtain their elementary school certificate.

“This was important for them because in the past, loan sharks took advantage of their ignorance and ripped them off,” Yovita said.

Today, 75 percent of the community’s adult population can read and write, while the school attendance rate for children is about 70 percent.

“We’re very happy about the foundation’s presence here, it’s good for the children to get an education,” neighborhood unit No. 10 head Bowo Lesmana told the Post.

The preschool started with simple lessons like showering with soap, hand washing, keeping clean, dressing tidily, as well as an introduction to the alphabet and numbers.

Now the Cilincing Dolphin Preschool has 145 students and three teachers, and classes run from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., following the national preschool curriculum.

Funding and aid for the activities comes from different sources, an annual budget from the Fasting for Development Act of the Archdiocese of Jakarta, various Catholic schools in Jakarta, as well as private companies.

Small children were squirming in their seats and raising their hands in competition to be the first to answer questions posed by visitors to the Cilincing Dolphin preschool Wednesday.

Consumer goods company PT Unilever together with local minimarket chain Indomaret was visiting the school as part of the companies’ social program, teaching students about clean, healthy and wise living.

Bringing with them ice-cream, snacks, as well as school equipment, the companies taught children about the importance of washing their hands before eating, brushing their teeth and throwing rubbish in the bin.

The two companies also donated Rp 21.5 million (about US$2,300) to the school.

Yovita said that as result of their preschooling, children were able to continue to nearby State Elementary School No. 9 and 10, as well as to pursue a higher education.

“But mostly after junior high school they take up their parents fishing work, it’s difficult to change the mind-set of generations,” she said.

And while some do finish senior high school and vocational school, they prefer going out to other parts of Jakarta to find work than continue doing the good work of the Dolphin Foundation.

“Dolphins live in the ocean, like to help, and can be taught. That’s how people here came up with the name of the foundation, it’s the same with the community here,” Yovita said.

While the search for new foundation leaders continues, Yovita said that she and the original six women would continue as best they can.

Health post steers drug users back on course

The Jakarta Post, Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Iwan Hermawan was going to be an accountant. That was before he got caught buying putaw (low-grade heroin) and spent six months in Cipinang jail.

The 28-year-old is married, but his in-laws have warned him against coming anywhere near his wife.

Drug dependency turned Iwan’s life upside down, but two years after he stopped taking drugs it’s getting back on course.

Iwan, like many other young people, was sidetracked from the straight and narrow by sheer boredom and lack of productive activity.

“I began right after graduating from high school. I’ve tried all sorts of things — alcohol, ecstasy, marijuana — but putaw gives the greatest high, and addiction to it is the worst. I needed time in rehab to go clean,” Iwan told The Jakarta Post Monday.

It was not difficult for him to sustain his habit since, at the time, drug dealing was common in Kampung Bali subdistrict in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, where he lives.

“It was a combination of many factors; Tanah Abang is a location that is easily accessible from all over, and to all people and that’s part of the problem,” Yayasan Pelita Ilmu’s (YPI) Kampung Bali program manager Pungky Djoko S. said.

YPI’s work in the area began in early 2000 after extensive research on the areas in Jakarta most vulnerable to HIV and drug abuse, he said.

“The foundation’s main work is with people living with HIV/AIDS, but since we found a strong connection between the virus and intravenous drug users (IDU), we just couldn’t ignore drug abusers,” Pungky said.

Not one to spew fire and brimstone in the hope of deterring drug users, the group began quietly by joining community activities, such as the women’s integrated health service post, which told them about the extent of the problem and the community’s immediate needs.

It invites psychoactive drug users to seek help and counseling at the Kampung Bali community health center, where the activity is centered, and slowly talks them into reducing their drug use.

“We don’t immediately cut them off from their supply, but encourage them to stop gradually,” Pungky said, explaining that some of the methods used include providing alternative medication to help them get through the withdrawal period.

“We give them painkillers to cope with the withdrawal syndrome, and encourage them to use sterile needles,” he said.

At the community health center, drug users — mostly IDUs in their 20s and early 30s — are given basic health care services, HIV testing and medication for HIV-related opportunistic infections, and referred to hospitals, therapists and rehabilitation centers.

Pungky said that since the activity began, the number of new drug users in Kampung Bali had dropped by about 30 percent, while the discovery of people who had used drugs over a prolonged period of time or in high doses had been halved.

For Iwan, the YPI urged him get help at the National Narcotics Agency’s (BNN) Permadisiwi Drug Addiction Hospital in Cawang, East Jakarta, where he spent eight months in rehabilitation.

Today, two years out of rehab, Iwan is taking classes in motorcycle mechanics and is dreaming of establishing his own small auto shop.

“And maybe, once I’m able to prove myself, my in-laws will consider me worthy of their daughter,” he said.

Although denying any ties to the YPI, Iwan is one of the group’s many former users who have became its strongest advocates, helping others get over their dependency on drugs.

“You try. You see your friends suffering and not knowing where to get help. So you help them,” he said.

City corner blooms for a weekend

The Jakarta Post, Sunday, June 25, 2006

People dropping by at the Barito flower market looking for a bouquet or arrangement got a surprise Saturday, when the entire length of Jl. Mahakam 2 in South Jakarta was closed off to make way for Barito Flower Day.

“This is quite nice, I like how they’ve blocked the road so we can shop for flowers without having to dodge cars,” said Ida Abiyoso of Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Some 52 flower stalls took part in the two-day festivities, ending Sunday, that began with the presentation of an award for the longest flower arrangement from the Indonesian Record Museum.

Spanning 156 meters and covering every flower stall along the road, the arrangement uses between 40,000 and 50,000 flowers of 15 varieties, including roses, chrysanthemums, Gerber daisies, heliconias and ginger buds.

“The planning took almost two weeks, but the flowers were only arranged yesterday and finished early this morning. None of us has slept at all since,” said Cahya Suparno, promotion coordinator and public relations spokesman of JS27 flower traders group.

He said the flower traders — many of whom have been in the area since 1969 — wanted to give a present to Jakarta on its 479th anniversary.

“We’ve been here all this time, so we feel it’s right to give back something to the people. After all we’ve survived here thanks also to the people,” Cahya told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The stalls have been tastefully decorated with floral columns and many stalls offering food — both traditional Indonesian along with more international varieties — have taken advantage of the traffic ban and set up shop.

“For all day today (Saturday) and Sunday special discounts are given on flower arrangements. The highest price offered is Rp 100,000 (about US$11),” Cahya said, adding the price included flower arrangements for table tops as well as funeral wreaths.

A stage erected in the area showcases different activities such as a flower arrangement demonstration from expert instructors from the Indonesian Flower Association, the Association of Indonesian Flower Arrangers, Indonesian Floriculture Community and the Indonesian Orchid Association.

Activities have also been organized for children, including drawing competitions, mini flower arrangements and short lessons on different types of flowers.

Perhaps because of the short notice in promoting the activity or because it was noon, with the sun scorching overhead, when The Jakarta Post visited the event Saturday there were more organizers than visitors there.

“We had hoped there would be more people, but the crowd is just like on any other day,” Lili, a flower trader from the Sinar Bandung stall, said.

He said he hoped Barito Flower Day would attract the public to buy more flowers, especially since the Barito traders suffered an income drop after the fall of Soeharto in 1998.

“Before that we could reap in at least Rp 2 million a day, but not now. There are days now when we can’t sell a single flower,” Lili said.

Barito Flower Day is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will end Sunday.

Culture agency to introduce city to its residents

The Jakarta Post, Saturday, June 24, 2006

The city administration wants residents to fully enjoy Jakarta as a center for culture.

“Jakarta has been slapped with all sorts of images, you name it. But somehow it has never been known as a city of culture. We’re trying to change that,” Jakarta Culture and Museum Agency head Aurora Tambunan, known to colleagues and friends as Lola, said Friday.

In conjunction with the 479th anniversary of the city this month, and following up on the 2006 Year of Arts and Culture launched by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last year, the agency has prepared a series of events to reintroduce Jakartans to the diversity and richness of the capital city.

“Our main priority is to protect the Betawi culture, but we are also overseeing other cultures that develop within Jakarta, including those from other regions and even other countries,” Lola said.

An exhibition will be held between June 29 and July 30 to introduce the public to Jakarta’s prehistorical heritage at the Jakarta Historical Museum.

Never before exhibited artifacts will be showcased — contributions from private collectors, and the result of excavation and research conducted by the agency between 1970 and the 1990s.

The agency will also be introducing Jakarta’s museums to state elementary school students across Jakarta next month, in the spirit of “get them while they’re young”.

“Our people will first give a talk at the schools about the museum they will visit. Two weeks later, the students will be able to see the museum for themselves,” Lola said, explaining that in this way students would acquire more in-depth knowledge about the museums and their exhibits.

Museums participating in the program include the Jakarta History Museum, the Puppet Museum, the Fine Arts and Ceramics Museum, the Textile Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Gedung Joang ‘45 Museum.

Also in July, the agency will once again hold a lights parade, the Jakarnaval, on July 8 with mobile floats decorated with plenty of colorful lights to make them attractive.

As with last year’s parade, it will start at 7 p.m. at City Hall and will travel along the main thoroughfare to end at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

“The popular band, Serieus, will have its own float, and we hope this year we’ll have more floats in the parade,” Lola said.

The next night, on July 9, music festival Gelegar Musik Megapolitan (megalopolitan music blast) will be held at National Monument (Monas) square, Central Jakarta, featuring artists from the capital including dangdut singer Iis Dahlia and rock band Naif.

The festivities will end at 10 p.m. on the dot to give avid soccer fans enough time to get home and catch the World Cup matches.

“This will provide Jakartans with entertainment alternatives, as well as proving that Jakarta is a safe city even for night entertainment,” Lola said.

In August, the agency will present the Culture Award to outstanding artists and groups that have contributed to the city’s arts and cultural development, as well as to individuals and companies that help preserve Jakarta’s heritage buildings.

“During the event we will also launch the three series of the Jakarta Encyclopedia,” Lola said.

Upcoming events:

June 24: Pecenongan Folk Festival in the Pecenongan area, Central Jakarta, beginning at 7 p.m.

June 24: Betawi Comedy Show at Kampung Bola in the East parking lot of the Bung Karno Sports Complex, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and ending just before the World Cup matches.

June 29: Passer Baroe Festival in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta.

Pawning pays ahead of new school year

The Jakarta Post, Friday, June 23, 2006

Ibu Astin from Petogogan in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, has the education of two children to finance: Her daughter needs money to complete university and her son will go into the next grade in senior high school this year.

“If it were just one or the other I might be able to manage it somehow,” she told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. As it is, Astin turned to state pawnshop Pegadaian for some quick cash.

Many parents turn to pawnshops for money in the months before the beginning of the school year in August, according to Agus Arantes Dunda, who determines the value of goods at the state pawnshop in Petogogan.

“Usually they pawn jewelry — gold or diamonds — for cash to pay school fees,” he said.

The busiest times of the year at state pawnshops are just before school starts, Idul Fitri (Muslim holiday) and at Christmas.

Based on the experience of past years, Agus expects pawn activities to increase by between 10 to 20 percent this year for the months of May to August, before school starts.

“Since the beginning of May we’ve seen daily earnings climb past Rp 200 million (about US$21,400), so we expect there will be more increases by August,” he said.

Last year, the Petogogan pawnshop made Rp 36 billion, while, as of June 21, it had brought in some Rp 27 billion in earnings.

While people mostly pawn jewelry before the new school year, they prefer pawning televisions, cell phones, stereos and motorcycles or cars during the two religious holidays.

“Not because they need the cash, but because they think pawnshops are a safer place to leave their belongings while they go away for the holidays,” Agus said grinning, “they say the cash is a bonus to buy snacks for the trip”.

Goods to be pawned must first be appraised according to a pricing standard, which the company regularly updates.

“Gold and precious stones are assessed according to current market value, and we have a standard pricing system for electronic goods, which we update from nearby shops,” Agus said, explaining that in this way, each pawnshop might price goods differently.

The company also regularly updates the types of goods it will accept. Until a couple of years ago, for example, pawnshops did not accept digital cameras or laptops.

“It all depends on market demand. If there’s a high demand for laptops and digital cameras, then we’ll accept them,” Agus said, explaining that this was important because the company must be able to auction off goods that were not reclaimed by their owners, that is, after four months.

“That’s why we’ve never accepted platinum jewelry, there’s just no market for it yet,” he said.

Auctions for jewelry are conducted twice a month at the regional coordinator’s office, which in this case is on Jl. Wijaya in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, and with a deposit of Rp 5 million, it is open to the public. The next scheduled auction is on June 27.

For Ibu Astin, the deal offered by the pawnshop — at 1.6 percent interest per 15 days — is satisfactory.

“It’s a good deal. I feel safer pawning jewelry here than borrowing money through loan sharks,” she said.