Indonesia
A Bright Future for Them
Monday morning, April 7th 2014, Benhil Public Elementary School 01 – 02 – 03 at Danau Toba Street, Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta was crowded. School kids gathered singing Indonesian national songs while waving the Red White flag. On that occasion, the minister of Woman Empowerment and Children Protection (Minister of PP&PA) Ibu Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar was spotted among the kids. The festive was due to the kick off of “Bright Eyes, Bright Future” program held by PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk (SAT), organizer of Alfamart and Alfamidi in coordination with Berani Bhakti Bangsa Foundation who cares about the welfare of progress and education of children in Indonesia.
The “Bright Eyes, Bright Future” program aimed to facilitate children with eye sight difficulties. The program initiated with free eyes check up and followed by distribution of 10.000 free eye glasses for children within the range of age 6 – 15 years old. The event was conducted in several locations; orphanages, areas that recently had natural disaster and Elementary to Junior High schools all over Indonesia.
Ibu Linda Gumelar welcomed the program that was held in association of 2014 National Kid Day. She stated that “There are 80 million under 18 year old kids in Indonesia. According to the data, there are 37.4 percent from the number require glasses. Thereby, free 10.000 glasses will be very helpful, especially in areas that need help.”
Healthy eyes are very important, yet often left unattended. Especially on children, problems on eye are often skipped from attention, due to the less awareness and slow responds from people around about the state of the kids’ sight, while they are unable to comprehend and communicate the trouble with their eyes. Failing to apply an immediate treatment leads the kids having problems in taking lessons and they become reluctant to study. It will eventually affect their development, physically and mentally.
That’s why, Ibu Linda Gumelar reminds people to always maintain the eye health by frequently eat vegetables and fruit, avoiding long duration of using gadget and video games, and not reading under low lights or staring directly to the source of light.
The “Bright Eyes, Bright Future” Program was conducted thank to the donation collected from the community through Alfamart and Alfamidi stores in February 16th – March 15th 2014. The accumulated donation from Alfmart reached Rp1.843.058.887 and from Alfamidi Rp173.084.497,” according to Corporate Affairs Director SAT, Solihin, on behalf of President Director Alfamart, Feny Djoko Susanto, and Managing Director Alfamidi, Velina Yulianti, who were also at present in that bright sunny morning.
MAHARANI INDRI
