Helping Children Realize their Dreams in East Java

The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed many lives and caused misery for others, including for children who have lost their parents. In East Java, at least 7,004 children have become orphans.

HUMAS POLRESTA SIDOARJO

A member of the Sidoarjo Traffic Police communicates with children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19, Friday (17/9/2021)

Imelda, 17, Tasya, 15, and Delisia, 6, looked happy when they met in Jayandaru square, Sidoarjo, on Friday (17/9/2021). Since Covid-19 took the life of Harianti, 42, their mother, two months ago, the three no longer live together in their house. Imelda and Tasya live with Sutik, 45, the elder sister of their mother, while Delisia is being taken care of by Fya, 22, the eldest sister of the family, who was recently married.

The house where the three grew up is now empty. Iswahyudi, their father, died when Delisia was still in the womb. Since then, their mother has sold fish at Krian Market.

Now, Imelda is in grade 2 of senior high school, Tasya is in grade 3 of junior high school and Delisia has just entered elementary school. “I want to be a policewoman,” said Imelda, who is quite tall.

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In addition to staying enthusiastic about studying, she has begun to prepare for the job through physical exercise. She really hopes she can reach her dream.

Miftakhun Nabila, 14, a resident of Buduran, Sidoarjo, also lost a parent to COVID-19. The Islamic junior high school student could not hold back her tears while telling stories on the sidelines of a Covid-19 vaccination drive at the Sidoarjo Police Station. She came alone to the Sidoarjo Police Station because his mother had to keep selling ice.

The pain of losing one or both parents has been felt by children in 38 regencies and cities of East Java. In Lamongan, for example, Febri, 12, lost his mother. Meanwhile, in Blitar, there is Valentina Putri, 12. Elsewhere, thousands of children are now orphans, because their parents have died of Covid-19. The East Java Police said 7,004 children in East Java had lost their parents to Covid-19.

KOMPAS/RUNIK SRI ASTUTI

A number of members of the Sidoarjo Traffic Police have been confirmed as foster parents for children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19, Friday (17/9/2021).

Accoding to data from the East Java Covid-19 Mitigation Task Force, as of Thursday (16/9) 392,659 people had contracted Covid-19 in the province. Of that number, 359,454 people, or about 92 percent, had recovered.

Meanwhile, 29,200 people, or about 7 percent, had died, and 4,005 were in treatment.

The 7,004 children who lost their parents to Covid-19 are under 18 years old and need guidance. They also need encouragement to achieve their goals, just like Imelda.

Sapa Saya

In order to revive the hope of the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic, the East Java Police initiated a foster parent program. The program is called Sapa Saya, an acronym for “one traffic police officer, one orphan”. This means that every member of the traffic police (Polantas) unit is encouraged to become a foster parent to an orphan.

However, this program is also open to other people who wish to become foster parents.

We are ready to be companions, protectors and guardians for the orphans.

East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Nico Afinta said that the force had initiated the policy to enable children whose parents died of Covid-19 to receive psychological guidance, material assistance and assistance in facilitating education, which has been partly facilitated by Polantas members throughout the East Java Police.

"[We did this so] that they are not alone. We are ready to be companions, protectors and guardians for the orphans," Nico said at an event for the appointment of foster parents in commemoration of the 66th Traffic Day.

East Java Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. (Pol) Slamet Hadi Supraptoyo added that the Sapa Saya program was launched to raise awareness about children who had lost their parents. They were victims of the Covid-19 pandemic, he said, which did not only have implications for health but also for socioeconomic conditions and education.

KOMPAS/RUNIK SRI ASTUTI

In order to revive the hope of the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic, the East Java Police initiated a foster parent program. The program is called Sapa Saya, an acronym for “one traffic police officer, one orphan” Friday (17/9/2021)..

Through gotong royong (mutual cooperation), he hoped to ease the burden experienced by these children.

The foster parent program cannot solve all the problems faced by child victims of the Covid-19 pandemic. "Nevertheless, this program is expected to ease the burden they face so that they can live decently and have a brighter future," said Slamet.

A commissioner of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), Ai Maryati Solihah, appreciated the foster parent program initiated by the traffic police unit of the East Java Police. The initiative, according to her, could be a role model or pilot program to be applied throughout the archipelago.

Children who have become orphans as a result of the pandemic need moral, social, emotional, educational and health support, as well as trauma recovery and material assistance.

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"This program is a breakthrough that can be developed so that children do not lose their support," said Ai Maryati.

She added that the foster parent program could be a turning point in the revitalization of children as the nation\'s next generation because the role of family was very important for child development. Therefore, the KPAI supported the program and others like it.

Children must continue to grow and develop during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond so that Indonesia will continue to have golden generations in the future. The foster parent movement initiated by the East Java Police is just a small bridge to lead children like Imelda to realizing their dreams.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.