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

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

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.