Werkgroep ‘72: A Dutch Welfare Group in Jakarta
Nearly 40 years ago a few Dutch volunteers came together to coordinate their individual social efforts. This was how ‘Werkgroep72’ in Jakarta started. Since that time many enthusiastic volunteers have joined, mostly Dutch people living in Jakarta or Indonesians who speak Dutch. The Group can exist thanks to many donations from individuals, companies and social institutions mainly from the Netherlands.
The projects
Most of the projects target to provide children with a better future. The Group also supports various Pusaka's (care for the elderly) in Jakarta. The volunteers are supervising all projects closely. That is why the ‘Werkgroep’ sponsors predominantly projects in or in the vicinity of Jakarta.
Some examples
Education
Much attention is paid to education: there are several scholarship projects for SMA, SMP, for vocational training
and university. In principle the ‘Werkgroep’ sponsors a child until the diploma has been obtained.
An example of another kind of educational project is the school in Bantar Gebang, a school on the biggest waste disposal site in Jakarta, for children of trash pickers. Every week a group of women visits the school to give craft and English lessons to the children. The ‘Werkgroep’ pays the fees for the government exams and sometimes for a scholarship. Every year the children are taken for an outing. This is a big event for children who hardly ever leave the garbage field.
Medical
The Group receives regularly requests for individual medical support. Think of an operation of a child with a cleft
lip or a child that needs to have heart surgery. Support for medical help has, among others, been given to Sinar
Pelangi, to Sister Andre, who takes care of children with a handicap. The ‘Werkgroep’ supports as well Mary's Cancer Kiddies to enable expensive
treatments, not paid by the government. But equally the Group supports Ykaki (Yayasan Kasih Anak Kanker Indonesia) by paying to set up hospital
schools for children with cancer, so that they can follow classes while in hospital for treatment.
Support for orphans and street children
Children who have no parents, living in the streets, vulnerable, are taken care
of by KDM, providing a home for them. The ‘Werkgroep’ supports KDM not only by paying for renovations but as well by
‘hands-on’ work, such as counseling for the children, training for the staff, sports activities for the children etc.
Also foster home Sayap Ibu is sponsored by the ‘Werkgroep’ . Every week, a group of our volunteers visits the babies and young toddlers to give them a bottle, hug them, sing songs and just pay attention to them. Especially for this group of very vulnarable children this is very important in their process of growing up.
Community Relations Programs
Through networking the ‘Werkgroep’ is a bridge between the elder children and
Dutch companies. For instance children in KDM can do traineeships in companies and are sometimes offered a
job afterwards. Disabled children of Sinar Pelangi do work in the back office of a Dutch organization
and performing well.
The main objective of the ‘Werkgroep’ is to help the children become independent.
That is why the ‘Werkgroep’ always needs volunteers, in the form of board members or as enthusiastic supporters of the projects. And it is a great way to get to know Indonesia. Even if you don’t speak the language, you can always contribute. For more information, please email to werkgroep_72@hotmail.com.
