Guarding the Future of Children Who Lose their Parents to Pandemic

The Residents Help Residents movement has become a community bulwark in coping with the Covid-19 pandemic. Residents help each other with information, logistical support for those undergoing self-isolation.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Pilgrims pray at the cemetery tomb with the Covid-19 protocol at the Rorotan Public Cemetery, Cilincing District, North Jakarta, Tuesday (24/8/2021). Many Indonesian children have lost their parents due to Covid-19.

The solidarity of residents from different social backgrounds is seen a number of initiatives in helping children who have become orphans because of COVID-19.

Due to their concerns about such problems, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) activist Kalis Mardiasih, the founder of crowd funding website kitabisa.com; Alfatih Timur, the initiator of Warga Bantu Warga (Residents Help Residents) Faiz Ghifar; and the initiator of Kawal COVID-19, Ainun Najib, have established the Kawal Masa Depan (Guarding Future) platform.

This joint initiative has listed a number of orphans on an online database based on information provided by the children themselves and their relatives. As of last weekend, around 700 children who have lost one of their parents or both were registered in the Kawal Masa Depan platform. The registration and verification of the children were carried out in cooperation with their schools and related institutions, including Gusdurian Peduli.

The problem is data collection.

“We focus only on campaigning through social media, which means we have limitations. So, we cooperate with Gusdurian Peduli, who has a network and access in the field," Kalis said on Wednesday (18/8/2021).

Initially, those who could register were limited to children aged 6-18 years, with an assumption that they were still in school. Later, many children under five from many regions such as Aceh and East Nusa Tenggara were also registered. This platform provides information and the backgrounds of the children who are seeking for help.

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> Child Pandemic Victims Need Guidance

> Tens of Thousands of Children Lose their Parents

In addition to compiling data, the Kawal Masa Depan platform also raises funds to support these children. Since the donation was opened on 4 Aug. 2021, the platform has raised more than Rp 1.16 billion (US$80,600) with a target of helping 10,000 orphans.

Some of the funds have been distributed to these children in the form of cash; they receive Rp 1 million each. In addition, Kawal Masa Depan also provides long-term assistance such as educational scholarships and finds foster parents for them.

A similar initiative was carried out by the branch of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) in Yogyakarta with the ICMI Ngrumat movement, which was established to assist the education of children whose parents died of COVID-19, especially who worked as health workers.

"The problem is data collection," said Akhmad Akbar of ICMI Yogyakarta.

PEMERINTAH KOTA SURABAYA

Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi and his wife visited a child who had become orphans because their parents died due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Surabaya, East Java. In Surabaya there are around 1,400 families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic so that children become orphans.

Open access

In Jakarta, social activists Woro Wahyuningtyas (an activist for the Paritas Institute) and husband and wife Ilma Sovri Yanti and Farid Ari Fandi (an activist with the Indonesian Children\'s News Agency), have assisted a number of children who have lost their parents to access assistance from the government.

Through the Family Assistance Movement, they have visited children who have lost their parents in Jakarta and its surroundings, collected data and reported to the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) and related ministries. Now, these children can access various government aid.

On Sunday (22/8/2021), in Cakung, Jakarta, Woro, Ilma and Farid met with Melia Marpaung, 34, whose husband died of COVID-19 a month ago, to help her 3-year-old son Matthew Simanjuntak. Melia was grateful that her son had been registered to access assistance.

Also read:

> Children\'s Rights Towards the Future

> Protect the Children

In Semarang, Central Java, the Chinese Entrepreneurs Community has helped about 200 children in the city who have lost their parents.

"Chinese business leaders and the Tlogorejo Health Foundation are ready to help," said Harjanto Halim, a representative of Chinese entrepreneurs in Semarang.

Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini said on Tuesday (24/8) that the ministry was currently preparing a program for children orphaned by COVID-19. The program will include the provision of the basic needs of the children and psychosocial support.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.