Intercontinental's Valentine charity assists orphanage

The Jakarta Post, Tabanan

Dozens of teenage girls at the Salam Children's Home in Banjar Taman Sari, Tabanan, were very busy on Wednesday afternoon. They all looked very serious and focused as they made jewelry from colorful gems.

"They are very excited as their jewelry will be sold at the Intercontinental Hotel's shop," Yuni, an attendant at the orphanage home told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

The Intercontinental Hotel conducted a Valentine charity program through its InterConcept Shop from Feb. 6 to Feb. 15. Profits from the sale of the jewelry go directly to the orphanage.

Yuni said that one of the volunteers at the home, Linda, taught the children the technique for making jewelry.

"Previously the girls only made jewelry as a hobby during their spare time after school. Now the children have become very serious about their craft, especially since they learned there is market for their work," she said.

Intercontinental's public relation coordinator Tasya Aulia said the hotel had yet to decide whether to continue selling the jewelry when the program ended.

"It will depend entirely on sales made during the program and whether our guests are interested in these products or not," she said.

Tasya added that she first learned about the home from her mother, who works there as a volunteer.

Yuni said that besides making jewelry, the orphans were also making greeting cards and paintings. Until now they have not know where to sell them.

"Until now we only use the greeting cards for correspondence from the home," said Yuni.

The orphanage previously had a shop that displayed and sold the work of the children. Located in front of the children's dormitory the shop had to be closed due to a lack of visiting buyers.

"The location of this home is quite difficult to reach, so we seldom have visitors," she said.

Salam is located on Jl. Rama Gg. I/9 in Banjar Taman Sari, Tabanan, about an hour from Denpasar.

It is now a home to 47 orphans from Bali as well as children from Java, Sumba, Kalimantan, Lampung, Kupang and East Timor.

Yuni said that although the orphanage was established by a Christian missionary 28 years ago, it has never turned down an orphan from a different religion.

"We welcome all the children who come here or who are brought here," she said.

The home's operation is now supported by the Bali Social Affairs Agency. The agency provides financial support of Rp 90,000 (US$9.7) per day as well as 300 kilogram rice, 100 liter cooking oil and 15 boxes of instant noodle every three months.

The home also receives financial support from the Dharmais Foundation and the Pelayanan Kasih Foundation, which respectively provide Rp 1,25 million a month and Rp 2 million a month.

Yuni said the support hardly covered all of the children's needs and the operation of the home. Despite their difficulties, the orphanage has managed to send 46 of its 47 residents to school. - Irawaty Wardany