ISCO FOUNDATION

Buka Puasa Bersama PT ABB

2011-10-19T02:00:00.001-07:00

Rabu, 10 Agustus 2011 di Sanggar ISCO Cipinang Besar Selatan. PT ABB mengadakan buka puasa bersama dengan anak-anak beserta Tutor ISCO di Cipinang Besar Selatan (dekat waduk). Rangkaian yang dimulai sejak pukul setengah 5 sore hingga pukul 7 malam tersebut dibentuk dan dilaksanakan oleh anak-anak ISCO. Mereka membentuk panitia acara ini yang di mana Mukhtar (Kelas 3 SMA) yang menjadi ketua pelaksana acara. Acara buka bersama ini diisi dengan penampilan anak-anak ISCO.

Mulai dengan hafalan doa hingga kultum. Di sela-sela acara pun terdapat quiz yang berkaitan dengan bulan puasa. Di akhir acara, anak-anak ISCO Cipinang memberikan sebuah karya tangan (menyerupai bunga) kepada pihak PT ABB yang diwakilkan oleh Mbak Elisa M.

Berbuka Puasa 2010 Bersama Anak ISCO

2010-10-04T04:08:00.000-07:00

Di bulan 28 Ramadhan 1431 Hijriyah atau 7 September 2010 lalu, anak-anak ISCO hadir di acara buka puasa bersama di sanggar Pademangan, Jakarta Utara. Hadir dalam acara ini Mbak Nia Dinata, Roby Tumewu, Aming dan teman2 lain dari Kalyana Shira Foundation.

Acara ini di mulai pukul 16,00 WIB di mana anak-anak di kumpulkan dan diarahkan oleh para tutor dan kakak-kakak dari ISCO agar sambil menunggu waktu berbuka puasa sambil mereka dapat sambil mengisinya dengan kegiatan yang bermanfaat.

Anak-anak sangat bersemangat dalam mengikuti acara ini. Terbukti, acara ini diikuti oleh semua anak dampingan ISCO di wilayah Pademangan tersebut. Dan mereka sangat senang sekali karena acara ini dapat dihadiri oleh Mbak Nia Dinata, Aming, Roby Tumewu dan teman-teman Kalyana Shira Foundation.

Dengan acara ini, kebersamaan dan tali silaturahmi antara anak-anak ISCO dan para staf dan tutor ISCO serta Kalyana Shira dengan baik tercipta. Semoga kebersamaan ini dapat tercipta dari waktu ke waktu. Amien.

Liputan Anak ISCO di Koran Berani

2010-03-24T01:55:00.000-07:00

Satu Langkah Maju Lestarikan Budaya!

2010-03-08T21:37:00.001-08:00

Sabtu, 6 Maret 2010—Sukses! 100 anak dampingan ISCO yang berasal dari 17 wilayah kumuh di Jakarta berhasil menunjukkan kebanggaan mereka sebagai anak Indonesia. Dengan dibantu oleh banyak kakak-kakak relawan dan para guru tari, anak-anak dampingan ISCO menggelar acara malam kesenian bertema Cintai Budaya Kita.

Seluruh 350 tiket telah terjual habis beberapa hari sebelum acara. Para pengunjung menikmati malam tradisional di Gedung Teater Nyi Ageng Serang, Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav.22C, selama 2 jam penuh dari pukul 19.00-21.00 WIB.

Para pengunjung yang datang dipersilahkan untuk mencicipi makanan dan minuman khas daerah, kuliner ini disponsori oleh Carrefour yang juga mensponsori pendidikan hampir 500 anak di 8 wilayah dampingan ISCO.

Usai mencicipi makanan, pengunjung dipersilahkan melihat hasil karya anak baik berupa lukisan, kerajinan tangan serta foto-foto kegiatan anak selagi di sanggar kegiatan anak.

Tepat pukul 19.30 pengunjung diajak masuk ke dalam ruang acara untuk menikmati suguhan kesenian tradisional Indonesia dari anak-anak usia 5 hingga 12 tahun yang telah berlatih keras dan intensif dalam kondisi yang penuh tantangan.

Acara kesenian ini akan diadakan lagi pada akhir tahun, dan akan digelar secara rutin tiap tahunnya. Untuk teman-teman ISCO yang belum mendapatkan kesempatan untuk datang, siapkan waktu untuk datang di pagelaran seni kami berikutnya ya.

ISCO Art Night: Love Our Tradition

2010-02-22T17:53:00.001-08:00

Come to ISCO Children Art Performance!

Date:	Saturday, 06 March 2010
Time:	19:00 - 20:30
Location:	Nyi Ageng Serang Theatre Building

We welcome you to support our sponsored children Art Performance Event.
The children will display some of their artwork, drawings, handicraft, and they will perform traditional music and dancing, as well as invite you to join them play angklung together with them.

Enjoy the evening with them, wearing traditional costumes... sing and dance together....
Support them by coming to the event !!

Obtain the ticket by giving voluntary contribution/donation at
ISCO Foundation : 021-7222008
(or Memes at 0899 810 9530 or Dita at 0856 9412 7297)

ISCO cultural night preparations: Love Our Tradition

2010-02-11T21:34:00.000-08:00

The long and winding road to the upcoming Saturday, March 6, 2010 are start to show some results. Starting the art class on October 2009 with 109 unexperienced children in Jakarta, 120 children in Surabaya, and 60 children in Medan, now ISCO are very proud to assist these children whom after intensive 5 months training are transforming into near-pro art performers.

They can dance, sing, play musical instruments, and create many paintings, crafts, and others arts materials.

Moreover, they are very excited about the opportunities to performs in front of all the 300 guests in Theater Nyi Ageng Serang, Jl. HR Rasuna Said. Make sure to save a date to share the magical cultural moment in a festive ambiance of 1000 talented adorable yet vulnerable street children.

For more information, please contact ISCO office at (021) 7222-008 or email us at isco@iscofoundation.org.

ISCO Children Happy Day (Hari Gembira Anak ISCO / HAGIS) Februari 2010

2010-02-11T21:05:00.000-08:00

The 336 selected ISCO sponsored children in Jakarta (from total 700 children in Jakarta and 1930 children in Indonesia) were had fun in public places on January 31, 2010.

249 number of them went to Ragunan Zoo whilst 87 children took delight times in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah.

These selected children living in very slum and underprivileged areas but managed to achieve high rank in their school (top ten ranks in class), had almost perfect absents rate (above 90% of attendance) in school and activity center.

Without support from ISCO, it was extremely rare opportunity for these children to enjoy such fun educative trip.

The children did not waste the moment and explore the event sites.

Children in Ragunan Zoo were strolling around and learning how to distinguish characteristic of different types of animals, along with memorized the plants names. The feeling of being in open space was very relaxing for them, especially because they were used to stay in their narrow, gloomy, crowded, slum areas which limited their playgrounds and movements literally.

In Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, children were learning about the rich Indonesian cultures such as the traditional attires, folk tales, musical instruments, sculptures, and the history which brings all the ethnics and culture groups united in one nation, Indonesia. Children were very enthusiast and kept tagging ISCO staffs demanding more explanation about the things inside Taman Mini Indonesia Indah’s museum.

Children in both places sat for had picnic lunch time, and played various kind of games.

These children know they deserved this experienced. They captured the opportunity given. They worked real hard in school and activity centers with strong will and persistence in a threatening condition. Now, they reaped the fruits and had some serious fun.

ISCO regularly takes children with high achievements, gain top ten ranks in school and high attendance rates to the various affordable fun educative learning places as the rewards of their continuous effort.

If you know more information about affordable educational public places in Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan suitable for children age 5-18 years old, please let us know so we could bring our children to those edutainment places next year around January-March.

Please contact our office in (021)-7222-008 or send us email in isco@iscofoundation.org.

Enjoy your day! Let’s contribute more for the equal distribute opportunities for children.

Selamat Natal dan Selamat Tahun Baru

2009-12-21T18:36:00.001-08:00

Happy Ied Fitri 1430 H

2009-09-17T00:16:00.001-07:00

Kite Festival: Learn to befriend with wind

2009-08-26T23:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-26T22:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-12T23:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-12T22:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-01T17:27:00.000-07:00

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 !!

URBAN POOR CHILDREN LONGING AN HONEST AND FIRM NEW INDONESIAN PRESIDENT WHO CARES FOR CHILDREN

2009-05-18T18:08:00.000-07:00

Jakarta, 13 May 2009 — Urban poor children are hoping that the upcoming Indonesian president to be a good, honest, firm, and not corrupt leader, who cares more about children education.

These children's aspiration for the ideal president was written by dozens of street children in Tanah Merah, Semper slum area, on a piece of fabric. They are going to send the uniquely written fabric to the Presidential Palace, as expression of their concern for the nation, while doing a long-march .

These children are just a small part of 1,725 urban poor children supported by ISCO Foundation, from Jakarta, Depok, Surabaya, and Medan areas. They are receiving 12 years of free formal schooling from the Foundation, an NGO that has been actively helping Indonesian children for their right for education over the last 10 years.

The writing of these children aspirasion was held as part of the Recycled Material Handicraft Exhibition in Children Activity Center in Tanah Merah area. The government representative also came to see the children handicrafts handmade. They are Djafar Muchlisin, S.Sos, M.Si as the Head of Help Section of Social Catastrophy Victim, as representative from Social Section DKI Jakarta and Dr. Wahyu Hartomo, M.Sc as the Asisstant Deputy Children Social Issue, and also representative from The Ministry of Woman Empowerment, and the local authorities.

In this occassion, PT HERO Supermarket Tbk handed the donation they received from their customers all over Indonesia, totaling to Rp 467 millions Rupiah, through their ”Small Money, Big Hope” program.

According to ISCO Executive Director, Ramida HF Siringoringo, the fund is going to be used to support children education in 4 shanty areas in North Jakarta, and West Jakarta, and 1 coast slum area in Medan.

Founded in May 1999, ISCO started their programs in two slum areas, sponsoring 58 children. Now, ISCO is sponsoring 1,725 children in 26 areas in Jakarta, Depok, Surabaya, and Medan.

ISCO is going to celebrate its 10th anniversary by conducting a special gathering in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Medan involving about 1,400 children in July 2009.

These gatherings are going to be attended by many of children, who will be doing various activities such as puppet show, children choir, and lots of educative games. In Jakarta alone, at least 800 children are going to celebrate the happy moment in Taman Bunga Wiladatika, Cibubur, East Jakarta in July 11th 2009.

”Four ISCO Main Programs are giving free education from pre-school to high school, establishing and running Children Activity Center (CAC), providing additional nutrition, and fighting for children education right,” Ramida said.

Every supported children has an obligation to attend CAC to reduce the possibility for them in becoming street children or children labourer. They are learning the values of life such as attitude, discipline, diligency, honor, as well as strengthening their school subject. They are also receiving additional food and nutrition, vitamins, and fruits to support their health condition.

ISCO chooses urban slum areas because the tendencies for children to become street children or child labourer in these areas are high. It is very easy for them to get exploited by their own parents, or influenced by their neighborhood to do negative activities.

“By following the CAC program, children will learn about some manners as queueing in line, being a responsible person, building self confidence, and achieving high school grades,” Ramida said.
She hopes that Indonesian government realizes how important the tasks to eliminate poverty is, where out of those 41,7 million poor people (which is about 21,9 percent of Indonesian population), 150.000 are street children.

CIPINANG BESAR SELATAN

2009-03-10T05:47:00.001-07:00

Cipinang Besar Selatan, is ISCO's first sponsored area. Its location is in East Jakarta, close to the highways, traditional markets, river banks, and it is very very densely populated. Children in this area are very vulnerable to go to the streets and become street children, as they live very closely to the areas where most busy Jakarta people pass by and do their activities. The busy streets, buses, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, tricycles, carts, sellers, buyers, drivers, passengers, pedestrians, all are too attractive for these children to work as beggars, food hawkers or garbage collectors. They have often been sent out onto the streets by impoverished parents who can't support their families, and as a result, are deprived of an education.

ISCO sets up Children Activity Center in Cipinang Besar Selatan to attract these children to do fun and educational activities, and minimize their time spent on the streets. The tutors in the Center help these children with their school work or do some interesting projects together with the children.
The children seem to enjoy going to the Activity Center. They learn many things, school stuff as well as other important things such as self hygene, eating healthy food, taking care of the young ones, and other living values.

ISCO strives to keep these children stay at school,and to rise all kids upward to their highest results as most parents do, and our target is to provide formal jobs to all sufficiently educated. ISCO wishes to cut the poverty cycle through better education for these children.

10 TAHUN YAYASAN ISCO, 1999-2009.

2009-03-09T23:32:00.000-07:00

Bersamaan dengan workshop tahunan staf ISCO, pada tanggal 25 Peb 2009 tim besar & para board ISCO merayakan 10 tahun ISCO berkarya. Acara dimulai pukul 20.30 dimulai dengan salam pembukaan dari panitia, dilanjutkan dengan makan bersama hingga pukul 21.30.

Setelah para board berkumpul semua, pukul 22.00 diputar slide tentang perjalanan ISCO dan para stafnya yang sangat berdedikasi tinggi membantu mewujudkan hak pendidikan anak. Suasana haru dan sukacita mewarnai wajah teman-teman...

Tiup lilin yang dilakukan oleh board (Pak Pascal, Ibu Isti, Pak Soetjahjo) menambah meriahnya acara peringatan 10 tahun ISCO. Acara penutup adalah pemberian penghargaan bagi para staf yang sudah bekerja di ISCO selama 5 tahun lebih dan juga pembagian "panduan program ISCO Foundation" kepada perwakilan staf ISCO dari Jakarta, Surabaya dan Medan.

10 tahun ISCO berdiri, semoga membawa perubahan yang berarti bagi pendidikan anak negri..

ISCO Foundation 1999-2009.

Worshop staff ISCO

2009-03-09T21:53:00.000-07:00

Merupakan program tahunan bagi board dan para staf ISCO dari Surabaya, Medan dan Jakarta untuk berkumpul membicarakan perkembangan program selama Tahun Ajaran 2008-2009 dan pembaharuan sistem yang ada.

Pebruari 2009 ini, pertemuan diadakan di Jakarta dan di Puncak dengan konsep yang sedikit berbeda dari tahun-tahun sebelumnya.
Bentuk kegiatannya adalah pelatihan tentang leadership (dibawakan oleh mbak Rifa-DDI), konseling (dibawakan oleh Dian Moeliono-DDI), team building (dibawakan oleh Isti N. Saptiono-board ISCO), diadakan di kantor ISCO 19, 23 & 24 Peb 2009.
Aktivitas di Puncak 20-22 Peb 2009 membahas tentang hasil identifikasi permasalahan anak ISCO usia 13-15 tahun dan program yang diperlukan bagi mereka.

Antusiasnya tim yang terlibat workshop semoga membuat kinerja staf ISCO semakin baik dan program ke anak-anak juga menjadi lebih menarik.

ISCO HAGIS 2009 celebrating the astronomical year

2009-02-17T01:02:00.000-08:00

Jakarta, 15 February 2009:

ISCO invited their sponsored children who live in urban slum areas in North Jakarta to celebrate their high spirit and diligenceness in continuing attending their school classes against all odds. The celebration was held in Planetarium where children learned about planets, the sun, the milky way, and everything about the universe. But more importantly, other than this wonderful fun learning experience, was that the children learned how to share information by transferring these knowledge to their fellow friends who had not understood about it as they were still in pre-school. The children said their prayers before they ate their lunch, learned to say thanks to the people who had helped them show the way to the planetarium. They believe that one day, they will be as bright and shining as all the stars in the universe.

Congratulations for all ISCO children for your school achievement this past year.

You deserve the excitement to watch the stars, and we deserve to see you glow one day in the future.

(HAGIS--HAri Gembira anak ISCO or ISCO Children Happy Day is an ISCO program dedicated to ISCO sponsored children who had great school achievement over the year or those who had great spirit and determination to finish their school by attending both activities at schools and activity centers almost every day. The program invites ISCO children to celebrates the joy to see some educational places, learn, play, and feel blessed while having fun.)

ISCO's Children Happy Day..

2009-02-16T01:29:00.001-08:00

It's a great day for ISCO children!

After completing semester 1 2008 - 2009, the chidren were evaluated based on ISCO system and those who managed to get to the top 10 rank in class and have 0 % absency rate -both at school and activity house-, were invited to join ISCO's Children Happy Day.

The event was held on Sunday, February 15, 2009. ISCO children from South Jakarta (Cipinang Besar Selatan, Manggarai, Depok) visited the Ragunan Zoo. They played, planted corn by themselves, and they were so amazed when they saw the lions and tigers...(zzzzhrrrr..)

DARE TO DREAM

2008-11-24T08:16:00.000-08:00

One of the objectives of having a Children Activity Center (called "Sanggar" in Indonesian) is to give the children a place to study, play, and explore new things. These children have very little opportunities to see the world outside their own "kampong". They have never been exposed to, or have no access to, or simply do not know that there are so much to see out there.

These children do not know HOW to dream, or they do not even DARE to have dreams, because they do not want to end up being so disappointed as they have no access to reach their dreams. They have so little confidence level. They need encouragement, stimulation, motivation to build up their confidence, their spirit and desire to reach the dreams they need to create.

To give inspirations to the children about various occupations and professions in the workplace, form time to time ISCO tutors bring the children to various places, such as the museum, police station, post office, city landmarks, or planetarium.

One of the places the children visited was Halim Perdana Kusuma airport, which is the Indonesian military airport base. The children were so happy and excited to see real aeroplanes, especially since they were allowed to go inside the aeroplane, to sit on the presidential seat, and have a look around inside the cockpit. Some of the children said that they wanted to be a PILOT when they grow up.

The children also had a chance to visit the Fire Department, where they were able to talk to the Chief of the Fire Fighters. They learned about the risk, the courage, and the full dedication those fire fighters face. They also learned how important it is to avoid having fire light up, and to keep things safely.

ISCO makes sure that the children understand how important school is to be able to reach their dreams. There is no other way....

NEVER GIVE MONEY TO THEM

2008-10-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

You might have seen many street children around. Especially in big cities such as Jakarta. And you feel that you should do something about it.

If you want to help these children build their dreams... to become someone... someday...
NEVER GIVE MONEY TO THEM !! It may sound horrible... but believe me... it is for their own good.

By giving money to these children directly on the streets, or whenever they beg for money... it just means you are helping them to ruin their future... you are only keeping them on the streets.
It is YOU, who keep giving money to them, who will create more and more street children !! These children will continue doing whatever they are doing right now on the streets. Begging, street singing, drugging, then stealing... robbing... and who knows what ...!! Because that is the easiest way to get money from. YOU are providing it to them... YOU are pushing them to the streets...

Are you really helping them ??? NOT AT ALL... In fact, you are so irresponsible !!

So.. how can you help ? How can you contribute ? And how can we make a difference ?

You can directly be involved in social activities... or create your own social activity in your neighborhood. Just look closely around you... you will find something to do for the lesser.
You can join a social organization as a volunteer, helping the children with their schoolwork, giving some educational activities to motivate them, helping the parents to understand better living skills
You can give contribution directly to the children, in the form of school textbooks, story books, educational materials, or educational toys.
Never spoil them with "one-shot" gifts, especially things that are way unaffordable to them.
Never give money to them!! Give solutions !!

Join ISCO Children Activity Center as our volunteers... Help the children pursue their dreams... Or help create dreams for them... !! Share your dreams with them... !!

Video by : edisonmanik

Find more videos like this on video.filestube.com.

I am so glad I can go to school... (better late than never !)

2008-10-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Sunita could not hide her happiness...
She had a very big smile when she was told that she could attend school immediately. She was already in the age of 9 when she started 1st grade primary school last year. But that had never made her ashamed or embarrased. She was so determined to go to school... just like other children.

Today, this sweet little girl is already in her 2nd grade, SD 08 Rawa Kramat, Duri Kosambi. She loves school, and she does very well in all her school work, despite all the limitations. In fact she has always been top of her class.

Nita lives with her family in a hut made of carton paper, on a piece of land they never knew of the owner, in Duri Kosambi area. She has 2 siblings , all living in the same hut. Nita's parents work as scavenegers, with very uncertain income. They live without electricity nor clean water.

It is so ironic looking at their living condition, right in the middle of the capital city of Jakarta, a modern metropolitan city. During her free time, Nita helps her parents collecting used Aqua plastic bottles and glasses. Nita was very well aware of her family situation. But she manages to make time to study, help her parents, and play with her school friends.

We can learn a lot from her... Her learning spirit, her cheerfulness, her willingness to help out her parents, her time management, her self confidence, her determination to pursue her dream...

ISCO will always support her....!!

ISCO SPONSORED AREAS

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Through a network of field teams located in some of the worst affected neighborhoods of Indonesia’s cities, ISCO strives to help marginal communities, those who live in poverty, and those who are most deeply suffering due to the ongoing crisis. ISCO’s particular focus is the children of these families, who face serious obstacles in their struggle to achieve the productive futures that are accepted as normal by most middle class families. ISCO believes that all children deserve the chance to achieve their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens and leaders of Indonesia.

ISCO currently sponsors children from 24 selected slum areas, 15 in Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek area), 7 in Surabaya areas, and 2 in Medan areas.

What we mean by "selected"? Well, with limited resources that we have, financially as well as human resource wise, we want to make sure that we target the right communities, and that we will work effectively and efficiently as possible. We work systematically to achieve our targets.... which is to provide access to free education to as many Indonesian underprivileged children as possible.

Our Field Officers will search for target sponsored areas, categorized as the followings :

slum and urban areas
approximate population of 1,000 families within the area
potential street children, neglected children and/or potential child labor
income level of below Rp 500.000/month for family with more than 2 children

We provide educational supports to these families, by giving the parents guidance to better living, better family planning, better education for their children, better place to play and study, better understanding of health and cleanliness, and better chance to brighter future for their children and family.

Today, we have almost 2,000 children sponsored from the following areas :

Greater Jakarta:

Cipinang Besar Selata, East Jakarta
Manggarai, South Jakarta
Guji Baru, Kebon Jeru, West Jakarta
Lio, Depok
Tanah Merah, Semper, North Jakarta
Duri Kosambi, Tangerang
Kebon Melati, Central Jakarta
Pademangan, North Jakarta
Kali Baru, North Jakarta
Penjaringan, North Jakarta
Mangga Dua, North Jakarta
Pesing, West Jakarta
Tanah Rendah, South Jakarta
Kampung Mangga, Semper, North Jakarta
Semanan, Tangerang
Kebon Jahe, Kapuk, West Jakarta

Surabaya:

Kapasari, Cental Surabaya
Pabean, North Surabaya
Gading, Central Surabaya
Moro Krembangan, Central Surabaya
Ujung, Central Surabaya
Sidodadi, Central Surabaya
Perak Timur, North Surabaya

Medan :

Polonia
Belawan

ISCO works together with local school authorities and formal and informal community leaders to identify the most needy families, to arrange for the children to attend public school, to support them and their families in many practical ways and to make sure that these children will not become street-children or child laborers, and to help them learn to create their own dreams.

Look around you.... with open heart

2008-10-24T16:39:00.000-07:00

Estimates of the number of street children in Indonesia vary dramatically. But, surely they are in the tens of thousands and their lives on the streets are surely not easy.
On the streets, they are subject to new threats of abuse and exploitation. Each day the youth run the risk of being hit by cars or motorcycles; being robbed; or even being arrested or jailed. And these happen around us.... probably just around the corner from where we live, we work or we do our activities.

Sometimes we see things just with our eyes... and what do we see ? Things, materials, wealth....
Maybe we should try to see things with our heart.... then we can see : feelings, passion, sadness, hope, and love.....

There are so many ways we can make a difference to this world. Just look around you... with open heart !!

Thank you Kanako Nakajima, for sharing this video to us all.

ISCO ANNUAL CHILDREN GATHERING

2008-10-12T04:25:00.000-07:00

Every year, usually in July, ISCO holds its annual children gathering. All sponsored children are brought together to meet in a public place, where we all share happy moments with the staffs, tutors, volunteers, donors... and just everybody who wants to spend time together with the children. We have all kinds of activities, games, children performances, plays, singing and dancing....

This year ISCO Annual Gathering was held in Ragunan Zoo. We were lucky to have HESS and CARREFOUR sponsoring the event, so we could have quite a big and fun event, with lots of presents and prizes for the children, especially those with good school performances.

Great to see these happy faces... !!
Great to see these children holding on to their dreams... !!

ISCO MAIN PROGRAMS

2008-09-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

ISCO Foundation focuses its support on 5 main areas which it sees as crucial to providing the best help to the sponsored children:

CHILDREN EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

This program is ISCO’s main program for giving full educational support to marginalised children. Beginning from a very young age (pre-school where possible) through to secondary level, ISCO makes sure that these children can and do go to school each day, and supports them with school fees, uniforms and textbooks. ISCO maintains good relationships with teachers and school authorities, as well as with parents and monitors the intellectual ability and development of each child in order to be able to see each child have the chance to grow up to become a responsible and productive citizen.

CHILDREN PRE-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

ISCO realizes that in some slum areas, there are no pre-school centres available nearby. Yet these children need pre-school activities to be able to be admitted to public schools the following year. ISCO sets up pre-school activity centres to provide these children with basic foundation in education, in some areas, where such facilities are not available.

CHILDREN ACTIVITY CENTERS

ISCO realizes that in order to achieve its goals, providing formal schooling alone for these marginalised children is not adequate. Reinforcement in the areas of personal development, living values, creativity and leadership is required. For this reason, ISCO sets up Children’s Activity Centres in each neighbourhood where it operates. Children are able to visit these Activity Centres after school to do interesting and beneficial activities, instead of going to the streets or being forced to work by their parents. ISCO provides tutors, educational materials, arts and crafts activities, as well as remedial classes for children who have difficulties in certain school subjects.

CHILDREN HEALTH AND NUTRITION PROGRAM

After 2 years of operation, ISCO decided to add this important program to its main education program, because more and more children were found to be under-nourished and vulnerable to illness, which consequently affected their school performance. ISCO provides food supplements and vitamins for the children, examines their physical condition on a regular basis, and introduces the parents to healthy living and a clean environment.

CHILDREN PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM

The Children’s Protection Program is an important extension to this service and ISCO introduced this program in 2003, as indications of child abuse or domestic violence have become more apparent. ISCO always tries to let children get all right they have by giving advocacy to the parents, communities and the children.

HOW DOES ISCO WORK ?

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To open a new sponsored area, ISCO's project officer will do a survey and gather information about some slum areas to find out about its size, population, social structure, economic condition, its customs and the tendency of children that potential to go to the street or becoming children laborer.
Find information and access to educational institutions, public as well as private schools, operating close to the prospective program areas, to enable children to go to schools within reach, and up to high school level.
Evaluate and choose a slum area to be adopted into ISCO's formal program area. The area chosen should be large enough in terms of number of families to be able to bring impact to the community, as the number of children receiving educational support from ISCO will be also large enough. (should have at least 1,000 families with income less then Rp 700,000 per month)
Conduct the mapping of the area (in terms of economical condition, support from parents, and children’s enthusiasm about school), build relationships with local formal and informal leaders, parents of the prospective children and the educational institutions, and then introduce ISCO's programs to the community.
Register the children to receive ISCO's scholarship with the approval of their parents, and strengthen relationships with the families to obtain their commitment to the program.
Choose the educational institutions where these children will be sent for schooling, and register the children to their respective schools. At this time, full cooperation from the headmasters as well as teachers should be evident. Should there not be an appropriate pre-school within the slum area to prepare the children to primary school, ISCO will set-up one.
Monitor each child's educational and social development, and provide full support to the children's psychological development. This includes preventing the children to go to the street.
Implement all ISCO’s programs to provide the children with all the educational supports and to limit them from going to the streets.
Perform home visits to the children to monitor their family upbringings.
Maintain relationship with the local communities in the program areas to make sure the success and continuity of ISCO Foundation's programs

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

2008-09-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

ISCO Foundation began helping children in the areas of Kampung Jembatan (Cipinang Besar Selatan/East Jakarta) and Manggarai (South Jakarta), where children were forced to work on the streets, and often dropped out of school because their parents could not afford the fees and other expenses.

ISCO works together with local school authorities and formal and informal community leaders to identify the neediest families, to arrange for the children to attend public school, to support them and their families in many practical ways and to make sure that these children will not become street children or child laborers.

Beginning in 1999 by sponsoring 50 children in two areas of Jakarta, today ISCO operates in 26 slum areas – 17 in Greater Jakarta, 7 in Surabaya area and 2 in Medan. Around 2,000 children are currently sponsored, most of whom are between the ages of 5 and 16 years. ISCO monitors each child educational development progress individually and maintains a close relationship with each family.

ISCO’s particular focus is the children of those families, who face serious obstacles in their struggle to achieve the productive futures that are accepted as normal by most middle class families. ISCO believes that all children deserve the chance to achieve their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens and leaders of Indonesia.
We invite you find out more about our programs, our children’s achievements and how you can help, at our website : //www.iscofoundation.org

Providing free education for vulnerable street children is a proven and effective method of protecting these children rights. The poor, and working children, should not suffer any discrimination in learning opportunities (World Declaration on Education for All, 1990).