Daniel Visits a Children's Home in Bogor

Friday the 10th of April my family and I went to Bogor to collect information about the orphanage. This orphanage was managed by my grandmother who served there 36 years until she died at her age of 81. The building has been renovated  and has 2 floors with around 50 rooms – enough space for about 150 children. At present they only have around 48 children because of lack of contributions. The manager said that they depend totally on their visitors for contributions. Their foundation only provides the building.

At present, most of the children are from Nias, having lost their parents in the earthquake of 2005, and east Timor because of war. The manager took them from those areas since he had formerly been a social worker in those areas.

I took my friend, who also had been an orphan  since he was 1 ½  years old. He's like a brother to me and was a great help to my grandmother when she managed the orphanage. The orphanage has 1 big room for gathering and studying, it has a library and a big dining room,, 2 kitchens, 10 rest rooms, 50 bedrooms – each with 3 beds, 1 big guest room, and 2 rooms for the managers living quarters. At present it is managed by one man who is helped by his friends who help with the cooking and who help in teaching the children. The children attend public schools and usually graduate from high school. They range in age are from 2 to 19 except for one person that has been at the home since 1952.  He's now 66 and still remembers me. The home still follows the regimen set by my grandmother: 

4:30 get up and shower

5:00 prayer

5:30 breakfast

6:00 ready for school

11:00 home from school (elementary school children)

1:30 home from school (high school)

1:30.lunch

2:00 rest

3:00 playing and cleaning

4:00 studying

6:00 dinner

7:00 prayer and free time

9:00 bed time

The foundation has operated this orphanage since 1952 when my grandmother became the Superintendent. Children graduating from high school are encouraged to attend one of the universities in the city. Surprisingly, there are not many rules or regulations currently governing homes of this kind in Indonesia. Foundations operating homes of this kind should have a permanent place in which to house the children and guarantees of adequate funding.