My husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of traveling around from one island to another in Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world. During these very same travels, we met many underprivileged children who touched our hearts.
Moved to provide opportunities for some of these children, we began “Gilbert’s Camp”, dug a community well and connected with several whom we are mentoring and one who is now living in our Indonesia home and attending the university there. Sharing these stories with our friends, we saw an interest on the part of others to join in this type of effort to reach out to those in need. And so…… another story begins, that of expanding our outreach by telling others and accepting donations for our cause, Pemimpin Idola. With this new step, the excitement of adventure travel has now been replaced with the fulfillment that comes when one can make a difference in the lives of others.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Rina and her young children
Ever since meeting Rina and her two children in November 2011, I have made regular visits to the town of Weleri where they live, bringing them food, clothing, and toys .... and talking to them, giving them hope for better education and better life. I encouraged Rina and her husband to let Melanie (11) attend school in Semarang after elementary school. I assured them that Mitch and I would give her better education and hope for better future.
The family lives in a small 3 bedroom home with a dirt floor where they rent one of the rooms for the 4 of them. The other 2 bedrooms are also occupied by small families. Twelve people share one bathroom and one "kitchen" .... a u-shape brick stack full of ashes that looks like a small camp fire on which they place the pot to boil rice, cook vegetables and fry bananas and casavas. Many underprivileged families cook their meals using this open fire.... if they have the food to cook.
The family came to stay at our house in the city several times. By developing a good relationship with them, I can only hope that the family will accept my offer to sponsor Melanie to get a better education in Semarang. Without our help, Melanie (like many children) will only be able to finish elementary school because further schooling is not free in Indonesia. During my May visit this year, I received a word from Rina's husband, Rofa, that they support my idea of bringing Melanie to Semarang after she finishes elementary school in 2013.
The family lives in a small 3 bedroom home with a dirt floor where they rent one of the rooms for the 4 of them. The other 2 bedrooms are also occupied by small families. Twelve people share one bathroom and one "kitchen" .... a u-shape brick stack full of ashes that looks like a small camp fire on which they place the pot to boil rice, cook vegetables and fry bananas and casavas. Many underprivileged families cook their meals using this open fire.... if they have the food to cook.
The family came to stay at our house in the city several times. By developing a good relationship with them, I can only hope that the family will accept my offer to sponsor Melanie to get a better education in Semarang. Without our help, Melanie (like many children) will only be able to finish elementary school because further schooling is not free in Indonesia. During my May visit this year, I received a word from Rina's husband, Rofa, that they support my idea of bringing Melanie to Semarang after she finishes elementary school in 2013.
High School Graduation in the town of Gringsing (May 2012)
In May of 2012 I returned to Semarang to attend the graduation party of Irawan's school. Unlike many other cultures, it is not the custom of Indonesian schools for parents to be invited to attend a graduation. However, through the music teacher, Irawan was able to convince the school to invite me. When I arrived, Mr. Yudi the music teacher greeted me and led me to the guests' rows of seats. I saw local government officials sitting in a somewhat rigid position, and some police officers in uniforms which made the event feel and look more official. I had brought from the United States a roll of raffle tickets with the twin numbers side by side for a gift giveaway (door prize) as my contribution to help celebrate the graduation. I was introduced to the principal, the counselor and several teachers who warmly welcome me .... at first.
After explaining about the gift giveaway that I wanted to raffle, the principal agreed that he would pick 3 winning numbers during the ceremony and he would announce the lucky numbers. The lucky ticket holders would win a 4-day getaway to the city of Semarang where we live in Indonesia. A few minutes later, my husband Mitch came on my Android video chat. Excited, I approached the principal and "introduced" Mitch unilaterally. Mr. Principal didn't make any comment, other than "that look" on his face..... And some 15 minutes later, the counselor asked me to step in her office for a discussion. Politely, she expressed her concerns about my motives for bringing the students to Semarang. I explained to her that I intended to give them an educational trip so students may be inspired to go to college and have hope for better life. She then asked me if it would be possible to bring the parents as well..... Though this trip was intended for students, I then stretched my plan to include the parents as well in order to accommodate the situation. The counselor held me "captive" for 15 minutes or so (felt like an hour) while she counseled with the principal.
Out in the school yard on the stage, Irawan was playing in 2 bands, playing both the drums and a bass guitar. The quiet little town suddenly turned into some kind of a rock festival where teenagers and students from other schools tried to crash the party. Many were "caught" inappropriately wearing the uniform of the school and were turned away. Once in a while Mr. Yudi the music teacher took the microphone and stopped the band when students danced too much. I didn't see any danger whatsoever, for their manner was mild compared to dancing to a rock concert in America. Since there is no regular entertainment in the town, the young people take advantage of a happening like this school graduation party. Yet, they were told to behave and were warned of the police officers standing by to discipline them.
The principal and the counselor at this time had finished the discussion regarding the raffle prizes, and we all reached an agreement. The students would be accompanied by the parents, otherwise they wouldn't leave the town. The principal pulled one winning ticket at a time and called the winner. After the party was over, the counselor and I gathered with the winners and discussed the trip, made the arrangement for transportation, etc. They were all excited.
After explaining about the gift giveaway that I wanted to raffle, the principal agreed that he would pick 3 winning numbers during the ceremony and he would announce the lucky numbers. The lucky ticket holders would win a 4-day getaway to the city of Semarang where we live in Indonesia. A few minutes later, my husband Mitch came on my Android video chat. Excited, I approached the principal and "introduced" Mitch unilaterally. Mr. Principal didn't make any comment, other than "that look" on his face..... And some 15 minutes later, the counselor asked me to step in her office for a discussion. Politely, she expressed her concerns about my motives for bringing the students to Semarang. I explained to her that I intended to give them an educational trip so students may be inspired to go to college and have hope for better life. She then asked me if it would be possible to bring the parents as well..... Though this trip was intended for students, I then stretched my plan to include the parents as well in order to accommodate the situation. The counselor held me "captive" for 15 minutes or so (felt like an hour) while she counseled with the principal.
Out in the school yard on the stage, Irawan was playing in 2 bands, playing both the drums and a bass guitar. The quiet little town suddenly turned into some kind of a rock festival where teenagers and students from other schools tried to crash the party. Many were "caught" inappropriately wearing the uniform of the school and were turned away. Once in a while Mr. Yudi the music teacher took the microphone and stopped the band when students danced too much. I didn't see any danger whatsoever, for their manner was mild compared to dancing to a rock concert in America. Since there is no regular entertainment in the town, the young people take advantage of a happening like this school graduation party. Yet, they were told to behave and were warned of the police officers standing by to discipline them.
The principal and the counselor at this time had finished the discussion regarding the raffle prizes, and we all reached an agreement. The students would be accompanied by the parents, otherwise they wouldn't leave the town. The principal pulled one winning ticket at a time and called the winner. After the party was over, the counselor and I gathered with the winners and discussed the trip, made the arrangement for transportation, etc. They were all excited.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Irawan, the son we never had.
With Mudjiono's acceptance of our sponsorship for his son Irawan and with the full support of his entire family, my communication with Irawan began on a regular basis. He would come to see me and stay at our home in Semarang when he could, mostly weekends and holidays. For 3 months after we met, we developed a good mutual "mentor - mentee" relationship. From the start, he called me Mama Irien for he had heard other kids in our family call me Mama Irien and later on he called my husband Papa Mitch, as did my nieces and nephews. It is not uncommon for young people in Indonesia to address older people as the age and gender may relate to people in their family, if they feel that it's appropriate. For example, if I feel that there is good chemistry, I would most likely call my friend's mother, Mom.
I sent Irawan to a computer school in Kendal for an intensive 2-month introductory course. The town of Kendal is about 30 miles from Gringsing, the town where he lives. The computer course was given every evening from 5 to 7pm 5 days a week. From January to March, he rode a motorcycle every day, a 45-minute ride each way, rain or shine .... but mostly rain. I was back in the States during that time, and called him once a week for about 10 minutes each call. His older brother reported that he only missed two classes because of the heavy rain.
Soon thereafter 18 year old Irawan graduated from high school in May 2012, after which he moved to Semarang to begin his college education at STEKOM, a computer college where he chose Graphic Art Design as his major.
I sent Irawan to a computer school in Kendal for an intensive 2-month introductory course. The town of Kendal is about 30 miles from Gringsing, the town where he lives. The computer course was given every evening from 5 to 7pm 5 days a week. From January to March, he rode a motorcycle every day, a 45-minute ride each way, rain or shine .... but mostly rain. I was back in the States during that time, and called him once a week for about 10 minutes each call. His older brother reported that he only missed two classes because of the heavy rain.
Soon thereafter 18 year old Irawan graduated from high school in May 2012, after which he moved to Semarang to begin his college education at STEKOM, a computer college where he chose Graphic Art Design as his major.
Mudjiono in Gunung Pati - Beginning of Jan. 2012
Beginning of January 2012
After I met Mudjiono, the father of our would be "son", Irawan in November 2011, I offered him and his family the opportunity to move to Semarang and live at our farm house in Gunung Pati. My thought was that he could work the land and make the farm tools, as that is his trade. However, it was hard for him (or anyone at the age of 50+ ... I suppose) to make a drastic change. After staying for 3 days trying to get accustomed to the house, the land, and the neighbors .... he decided he couldn't leave his own home and neighbors where he's been living for his entire life. The good news is that he accepted our offer to sponsor his son Irawan to further his education after he graduated from high school.
After I met Mudjiono, the father of our would be "son", Irawan in November 2011, I offered him and his family the opportunity to move to Semarang and live at our farm house in Gunung Pati. My thought was that he could work the land and make the farm tools, as that is his trade. However, it was hard for him (or anyone at the age of 50+ ... I suppose) to make a drastic change. After staying for 3 days trying to get accustomed to the house, the land, and the neighbors .... he decided he couldn't leave his own home and neighbors where he's been living for his entire life. The good news is that he accepted our offer to sponsor his son Irawan to further his education after he graduated from high school.
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