Happy Ied Fitri 1430 H

Kite Festival: Learn to befriend with wind

Saturday, August 8th, 2009--As an archipelago country, Indonesia is a country with great wind. No wonder, almost every single person in Indonesia knows how to play the kite. Some of these people take the kite-flying activity very seriously and held this wonderful kite festival in Ancol on 8th of August 2009.

ISCO children were invited and very much glad to be able to see marvelous kinds and shapes of kites: flying cow kite, big crab kite, peacock kite, garuda bird kite, batman kite, tiger kite, and many one-of-the-kind kites. These kites came from various countries such as Indonesia, Germany, Cambodia, Japan, etc.

Not only became a spectator, the children got the opportunity to make kites for themselves and learn how to fly them. (Not a very easy task, you have to befriend with the wind. Luckily, the wind loves the children, and it was easier for them to fly the kites.)

That particular day, the sky was full with kites and laughter of the children.

Celebrating Indonesian Independence Day

ISCO went to Ancol last saturday, August 16th 2009, to celebrate Indonesian Independence Day (August 17) with around 100 sponsored children. These children are already part of ISCO Family since they were in pre-school, and up to now they are in junior high. We laughed, screamed, learned and played, and we shared great memories together.

In Ancol, ISCO Staff and children teamed up in numbers of very challenging fun games, such as the classic "Makan Kerupuk" (Eating crackers that are hang up with ropes, and we have to use our mouth only to eat the crackers -not allowed to hold with hands), "Balap Karung" (2 or 3 person wears one sarong and race to the finish line), the very unique "Balap Jongkok"(race while squading), "Suap Pisang"(One person closed his/her eyes and spoon bananas to his/her pair), and the calm yet absorb lots of attention is "Dansa Balon"(Two people dance with a baloon in their forehead, the balloon have to be kept up as long as possible).

At the end of the games, children ran to the beach, swam, built sand castles, and took a wooden ship ride (just out of curiosity for the experience). They were all happy and grateful, because they surely believed that one day, they could become great people who would exercise the free education for all principle, and bring this lovely nation to it greatest level.

Hundreds Children’s Dreams Written on the Tree of Dreams

Jakarta, July 11th 2009 - Indonesian Street Children Organization (ISCO) in cooperation with PT Hutchison CP Telecommunications and a number of other supporting sponsors will celebrate in Jakarta with 800 underpriviledged Children, 10 years ISCO – 1000 dreams come true” at Museum Keprajuritan – Taman Mini Indonesia Indah from 09:30 am until 04:00 pm.

ISCO Foundation is a social organization with the vision ”to give equal chance to every child in Indonesia” Currently ISCO is supporting urban underpriviledged children’s education in Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan at a number of 1.725 children in 2008-2009 and will reach 2.200 children in July 2009, with the target to grow up to 200.000 children in the next 10 years.

ISCO Foundation, concerned with underpriviledged children’s fate is trying to make unfortunate children’s dreams comes true to get proper and future leading education. ISCO's 10 year celebrations are in near coincidence with the World Children's Day on July 23rd 2009. ISCO is a Non Government Organization that was founded during the period of Indonesia's economic downturn in 1999 by two Eureopean expats living in Jakarta. We celebrate with 800 children from 17 areas of Jakarta in Museum Keprajuritan, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah.

“According to the Indonesian Statistics Bureau, the amount of poor people population has increased to 41.2 million people in 2008. The lack of basic needs, price inflation and the instability of global economy are the main drivers of this dramatic increase in Indonesia. Ironically, children are the most impacted, whereas so many of them have to live and grow up the hard way on the street without having proper education. The event will feature children’s yell-yell competition for every ISCO area, the children will put their dreams in the tree of dreams and a number of traditional games will roll out during the event.” said Ramida Siringo-ringo, Executive Director of ISCO.

“Without any formal education since early age, these poor children often get carried away into a criminal world. They do not have the courage to have dreams and desire to become a doctor, an engineer, a teacher or any other proper profession, and that is where ISCO steps in to help, We hope that this 10 years birthday of ISCO will boost the Foundation's future growth to reach the ambigous target of 200.000 children within the coming 10 years.” commented an ISCO social worker.

ISCO's social programs are currently supported by a number of national and international supporters, among them are Hutchison 3, Carrefour International Foundation, HESS Indonesia and others.”

The purpose of ISCO Foundation’s program is to give urban poor children the access to their learning rights, to minimize the children’s time to interact with negative sources or to work on the street. Children’s nutrition- and regular feeding program, additional to their education, is in accordance with Hutchison 3 CSR Program for education. This is what has united the ISCO Foundation with us” stated Janti Wignjopranoto, Human Resources Director PT Hutchison CP Telecommunications.

ISCO Annual Gathering 2009 are supported by: PT Hutchison CP Telecommunications, Andritz Hydro, Coca Cola Refreshzone, Carrefour, Hess, Indofood, Infracell, JW Marriot, Kemang Colonie, Kiehl's, Lufthansa, Mercedes Benz, Navigat Energy, RRI, Pro 2 FM, Siemens, Smart FM, South Pasific Viscose,Sud-Chemie, Waagner Biro, Zink Power Austrindo, and MMS Dream Team.

Surabaya Annual Gathering: Hoping for Future President 2009-2014

Surabaya, July 2, 2009.
More than 500 ISCO Sponsored children celebrated the 10th year ISCO journey in realizing the children dreams to come true through education. These children can now dare enough to dream about their future president as well as about their own futures. Thanks to the education they have received.

ISCO is a social organization working to give equal chance to every child in Indonesia especially in education. By 2009, ISCO has already been helping about 2,000 children in Medan, Jakarta and Surabaya. In Surabaya itself, ISCO helps more than 500 children in Genteng, Sidodadi, Pabean, Perak Timur, Gading, Morokrembangan, and Ujung.

In this annual gathering to celebrate the 10th year ISCO's dreams come true, ISCO sponsored children did art performances: role-playing jobs around their homes, role-playing their own dreams; writing their dreams, playing traditional games, and having more fun.

ISCO are thankful for many generous parties who are more than eager to help these children to reach their future. ISCO conveys special thanks to : Hutchison-3 who has given full supports for this event, Hess and Carrefour who have been consistently supporting more than 500 children in Surabaya over the last years. Our highest appreciation also to Carrefour who had distributed bags for those children with high school achievements in order to motivate them to maintain their good works, to Big Bird who generously had picked up ISCO children from their slum houses to the Taman Flora -where this event took place, Indofood who had given nutritious milk to the children, JW Marriot who had sent their chef to serve delicious lunch for the guests, and all the teachers from the schools who had taught these children wholeheartedly, and many more supporting parties.

ISCO is very delighted to see that many people and companies care to see these children receive proper education and have wonderful future. Together, we can make these children dreams come true!

3 Outstanding Children Films

Wow.... it was really touching to watch three films created by ISCO children, being shown to public at Plaza Senayan, last week, June 22, 2009.

The three short movies, entitled : I want to be a COOK someday, My mother a JAMU seller, and My father a DANGDUT MC, were among several movies produced, directed, written and camera-shot by ISCO children, under the supervision of Nia Dinata and friends. The children were trained, guided, and motivated by Nia Dinata's team in a film-making workshop especially set up for them, for almost 2 months .

This workshop was part of ISCO's various programs to inspire children that they can reach their dreams, that they can become somebody. Seeing the movies, makes you believe even more that these children have all the potentials. Just give them the chance -equal chance- like other children.

ISCO had the supports from Kiehl's (L'Oreal) management to show the films in public to show people what these children are able to do. The children also displayed some of the handycrafts they made. Several celebrities made beautiful designs for the shopping bags sold during the event, and the proceeds of the sale would go to ISCO, to help more needy children discover their potentials and talents.

Thank you all for your supports !! Make these children's dreams come true !!