Orphanages Struggle to Survive

The management of orphanages face various operational challenges. They must be creative so that the life needs of foster children are still met.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Children at the Kampung Melayu Orphanage, Jakarta, take the time off by watching television together, Sunday (10/30/2022). The orphanage is inhabited by 22 children and bears the school fees of 52 children from around the orphanage area.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Currently, a number of orphanages or child social welfare institutions (LKSA) are struggling to survive on limited finances following a decline in community assistance and donors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, the government is requiring orphanages to improve the quality and national standards of child care.

In recent years, a number of orphanages have started running business units to meet their monthly operational needs. Some have opened businesses selling food and beverages, including basic necessities. Some orphanages have encouraged their foster children to progress and excel in school and develop their sports and artistic abilities.

In Tebet, South Jakarta, the manager of the Kampung Melayu Orphanage must find a way to fulfil the operational needs of the orphanage following a drop in donor contributions of up to 70 percent.

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In addition to relying on donations, the orphanage also runs a business selling refilled drinking water, the equipment for which is provided by donors. In a month, the income from this business is around Rp 4 million.

"Although it is not much, the income from the sale of refilled water is sufficient to help the needs of foster children," said the head of the orphanage Ujang Supratman on Monday (31/10/2022).

Meanwhile, Panti Putra Nusa in Kebon Melati, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, which has 40 children, opened a business during the Covid-19 pandemic selling basic necessities.

Although it is not much, the income from the sale of refilled water is sufficient to help the needs of foster children.

"The number of donors is not like what it used to be, because some have died, their businesses have decreased, or have even been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic," said Upik, the manager of the women’s unit of Panti Putra Nusa.

The profit from the basic necessities business is used to finance education at Rp 10 million per month, as well as food and electricity, including pocket money for foster children.

In response to the financial difficulties, the orphanage manager also manages the children's pocket money. If their school is close to the orphanage, they get Rp 5,000 per day. Meanwhile, if the location is far away, they get Rp 20,000-Rp 25,000 per day.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

The activities of the Cahaya Ummi orphanage children in the yard of the orphanage in Ilir Timur II District, Palembang, South Sumatra, Thursday (27/10/2022). The children of this orphanage continue to attend school despite the limited funds.

In Palembang, South Sumatra, the manager of the Cahaya Ummi Orphanage, located on Jl. Seduduk Putih, Ilir Timur II district, in addition to running the business more efficiently, has also opened a piggy bank trading business to finance the needs of his 20 foster children.

“Currently, there are only a few donors. Government assistance does not come anymore. In fact, before the pandemic, the government always provided help. Usually we got funds from the government of around Rp 13 million to Rp 18 million per month," said Nirwana, owner of the Cahaya Ummi Orphanage, on Thursday (27/10/2022).

As for the manager of the Rumah Kasih Orphanage, in Lembang, West Java, James Damima, he revealed that when donations declined, the manager and the children of the orphanage began to make snacks, which were then sold to neighbors and the community. The profits were used to offset the daily expenses of the orphanage.

Learning entrepreneurship

Chairman of the Lampung LKSA Regional Forum, Amir Hamzah, said that in recent years, a number of orphanages had started running businesses to meet their operational needs. For example, the Pelita Harapan Bangsa Orphanage, which he leads, is currently running three types of businesses, namely flower board rental services, LPG gas sales and drink refill services.

"In addition to increasing the orphanage's income, this business also serves as a forum for orphanage children who want to learn entrepreneurship," said Amir.

A similar step was taken by the Bussaina Orphanage in Lampung, which cares for abandoned babies and children who are victims of violence. In addition to the bread-making business, they also opened a stall for basic necessities.

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Previously, the orphanage, which took care of around 60 foster children, had a shrimp farming business. The money from the shrimp farm was used to meet the needs of the orphanage. "Every month, the need for food and other necessities is around Rp 60 million," said chairman of the Bussaina Lampung Foundation, Budi Hidayat.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rumah Hati Suci Orphanage, in Tanah Abang, Jakarta, also experienced a slump in incoming donations. Faced with this situation, they opened a business, selling cakes made by orphanage children.

The sale of cakes through social media has received a lot of positive attention, especially from residents in the Tanah Abang area. In the past year they have also sold cakes at the Rumah Hati Suci school canteen, which is also in the same complex as the orphanage.

RIVALDO ARNOLD BELEKUBUN

A girl at the Rumah Hati Suci orphanage is baking a cake, at the Rumah Hati Suci, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Monday (31/10/2022)

Although the income from selling cakes is not very much, the business was able to support the finances of the orphanage during the pandemic.

"This effort is not only one for financial support, but also an activity to hone children's abilities, both in cooking and selling cakes," said the director of the Rumah Hati Suci orphanage, Imelda Tjandra.

In addition to opening a business, the Rumah Hati Suci orphanage also encourages its children to develop artistic and sporting talents, such as practicing choir, dancing, playing basketball, playing futsal and self-defense.

Some of these programs, according to Imelda, have succeeded in improving the ability of the foster children academically.

“Our choir was invited to the G20 event in Bali in November. I think this is a great achievement, and shows how talented our children are,” she said.

The assistance is aimed at empowering families to be able to take care of their children. Thus, the child does not need to be handed over to an orphanage.

The director of children's social rehabilitation at the Social Affairs Ministry, Kanya Eka Santi, said government assistance had been provided through various programs, such as the Family Hope Program and Social Rehabilitation Assistance (Atensi).

The government also carries out social empowerment, skills provisioning and business assistance for children's families.

“The assistance is aimed at empowering families to be able to take care of their children. Thus, the child does not need to be handed over to an orphanage,” said Kanya.

The deputy for special child protection at the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, Nahar, added that as alternative care institutions and last resorts in child care, orphanages still faced various challenges, especially regarding the capacity of caregivers to care for children.

Other challenges were human resources and the supporting infrastructure, as well as the fulfillment of other rights, such as children's civil rights, informational rights and the rights to health and nutrition. (REN/ESA/COK/VIO/SKA/RAM/ XTI/EGI/Z02/Z03/Z14/SON)

This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo.