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Most children in orphanages have parents

Source
Jakarta Post - September 5, 2008

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – Minister of Social Services Bachtiar Chamsyah called on parents Thursday to take care of their children instead of handing them over to orphanages.

Bachtiar was commenting on results of a survey conducted by the Bandung Social Welfare Institute (STKS), in cooperation with international NGO Save The Children, which showed 90 percent of children living in orphanages still have parents.

The survey, which used qualitative methods, was conducted in 37 orphanages in six provinces: Aceh, Central Java, Maluku, North Sulawesi, West Kalimantan and West Nusa Tenggara from 2006 to 2007.

"We have limited funds to help 6,000 orphanages across the country. Parents who still have financial resources should take care of their children," the minister said.

He said the number of orphanages has doubled in the past five years, with most new ones set up in conflict or disaster areas, such as in Aceh and Maluku.

He said the government currently has allocated about Rp 67 billion (US$7.2 million) of Rp 2.1 trillion of the ministry's budget to help orphanages. Only some of the Rp 67 billion has been disbursed to finance free meals – worth Rp 2,500 per day per meal – for 138,000 children, 30 percent of the total number in orphanages.

"Rp 2.1 trillion is not enough to set up better orphanages. We need better buildings, bedrooms, study rooms. That's the ideal goal," he said.

STKS researcher Ellya Susilowati said the survey, which was also supported by UNICEF and the ministry, found the children were subjected to violence and sexual abuse.

Ellya said the violence, such as beating and pinching by the guardians, occurred often and the staff never considered it abuse. "The caretakers don't have professional handling training. Many of them just know how to feed the children," she said.

She said the survey found abuses in the orphanages were also committed by older children against the younger ones.

Responding to the findings on frequent violence, Bachtiar said the government could not limit the establishment of new orphanages, it could only recommend standards of care for the facilities.

"We cannot prevent people from establishing orphanages. In South Solok, West Sumatra, the Islamic organization Muhammadiyah has built a good orphanage, but they are lacking children and are looking for children from other regions," he said.

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