Progress Report of Children Learning Community in April 2015

Dear friends,

www.inavyn.org

Happy Easter 2015
Let the resurrection of Christ renew our faith.
Let us become the example of His love and faithfulness.

The Children Learning Community is very grateful for your supports and prayers. All activities ran smoothly throughout the month.

On Saturday, April 11th, 2015, we prepared hard-boiled eggs for children to enjoy after their studies. Moreover, for Christians all over the world, Easter eggs are symbol of a new life. Since the early development of Cakung Children Community, we have tradition to decorate Easter eggs. This year, the third category children decorated the Easter eggs.

We distributed Easter eggs, snacks and candies during the Child Nutritional Improvement Activity. We started this activity with handshaking. All the Christian children lined up to receive Easter greetings from their Muslim’s friends.

This activity reminds all of our children about the importance of religious tolerance. The younger generations learn to live in harmony with other people with different beliefs. As successor of this great nation, they will grow to be wise and to live in peace with others.

On Sunday, April 12th, 2015, we visited “PAUD”, the early childhood education program and the place to study Koran in Kampung Semanan, Kali Deres. The purpose of our visit is to teach the craft of recycle coffee pack.

When we arrived, the children have gathered and prepared all recycle materials. We introduced each other. Moreover, right away, we started to introduce recycle coffee packs. We informed them about several kinds of recycle coffee packs. Some coffee packs are made of pure aluminum. Some are made of mixture of aluminum with other materials.

In knowing various kinds of coffee packs, they learn that the pure aluminum materials are not easy to fold. This requires hand stitches. Therefore, they can make bags, wallets and hair accessories out of aluminum coffee pack. In the other hand, mix materials are easy to fold. They can make knitted bag without any stitches.

The children were very excited. They separated the materials and started to cut open the coffee packs.

Even before finishing all the cutting, the children were very excited to go into the next step. The next step was learning to knit the base of a bag without stitches. A few young girls can learn this quickly. However, some small children still need more time to practice.

Because of limited time and closed to Maghreb, the prayer time before dawn, we ended our session. We gave them tasks to cut and clean the materials. In addition, of cutting and cleaning, the young girls will also knit the clean coffee packs.

We plan to have the next session in May 2015.

On Saturday, April 25th, 2015, after the lesson review, we joined in prayer to commemorate the second year passing of our big sister Sarah Laftavi. We held the prayer in both the Christian and Muslim way. We still remember her visit to Cakung in 2010.

In Cakung, the facilitators lead the prayer. We held the prayer also in remembrance of the five years passing of our big sister Chichie. She passed away in April 22nd, 2010. She assisted the children in Cakung between 2008 and 2010.

We prayed for peaceful rest of big sister Sarah and Chichie. May God pardon their sins and grant them happiness in His loving home. May the memory of our big sisters fuel us to move forward toward our goal.

We thank the Laftavis for their monetary donations and gifts. The children in Cakung and Muara Baru were very grateful for your generosity. May The Lord keep you healthy. May God bless your works in helping and caring for others.

The Alternative Learning Activities

a. Cakung Children Community

Throughout April 2015, the alternative learning activities ran well.

To celebrate the Easter, we had our day off on Friday and Saturday in the first week of April 2015.

All learning activities resumed on the second week of April, on Friday, April 10th, 2015.

On Saturday, April 25th, 2015, at the end of April, we had our first quarter review. There were twenty-one students in all categories who participated in this review session. In addition, there was regular class in the first floor for those children who did not participate in this review session. Big sister Indri supervised this class.

For on one and half hour, we had the first quarter review on the second floor. After that, we held a joined prayer to commemorate the second year passing of our big sister Sarah Laftavi. We also distributed the gifts from the Laftavis.

For those who are diligently following our learning activity in the period of January to April 2015, we will reward them. Their review of the result determines the reward. We will announce the result in the beginning of May 2015.

We had a crafting activity every week, on either Tuesday or Wednesday. We focus on making bandanas, beanies or hair band stitches. Other crafting activity was making goods out of recycled coffee packs. We had routine donation of recycle coffee pack almost every other day from our neighbors.

We are very grateful to the monastic community of Saint Mary in Juanda Road for their attention and loyal support in collecting left out coffee packs.

We accept recycled materials. In fact, we encourage our friends to donate any left out materials. The materials are useful for this activity. Young girls and mothers learn to create many wonderful things out of these recycled materials. We are grateful for that. With this activity, we also support the global movement of reducing, reusing and recycling plastic waste.

b. Muara Baru Children Community

This month activities were on the first Saturday, April 4th, 2015 and on the third Sunday, April 19th, 2015.

We divided the participant into two groups. Big sister Indri, Yana and Ester, accompanied these two learning groups. The activities took place at Ms. Herda’s house, because our assembly hall was still under repair.

On Sunday, April 26th, 2015, we held a joint prayer to commemorate the second year passing of our big sister Sarah Laftavi. All children gathered to pray. Ms. Herda was leading us in prayer. After prayer, we distributed the gifts. Children were grateful to the Laftavis for their gifts.

We are in debt to the Laftavis for their attention. We are grateful for their financial assistance in renovating our multipurpose hall. Beside our regular activity, the community can also utilize this hall for their neighborhood activity.

c. Sarang Tupai Children Community

Twice a week, on Monday and Thursday afternoon, we have our learning activities. In the beginning, we only had nine children. We quickly grow since then. At this moment, we have fifty-three children who regularly participate in our activities.

Due to Easter week, we had holiday in the first week of April. There was no class on Monday and Thursday in that week. We resumed our activity on Thursday, April 9th, 2015.

After holiday, we had thirty-eight children attending our class. Big sister Ivonne and Debby supervised these children. They also often get help from Pegi and Cantik who are the daughters of our host.

On Thursday, April 30th, 2015, we reviewed all the children who participated in learning activity since the middle of February until the end of April 2015.

Big sister Ivonne, Debby and Tina supervised this first quarter review. For review purpose, we divided the participant into four categories.

Big sister Tina supervised the zero categories. Big sister Debby supervised the first categories. Big sister Ivonne and her daughter, Pagi supervised the second and third categories.

We still need to provide learning tools such as white board, whiteboard eraser, sit cushion, plastic box to store the books and garbage bin.

In fact, we still ask for your kind prayer and financial support. We are here to give a chance for these children to move forward. With this chance, they can achieve their hope and dream.

We would like to extend our sincere thank you to many of our facilitators and volunteers. We are also thanking the children and the community of Cakung, Muara Baru and Sarang Tupai. We are grateful also to big sister Uju, Yana, Indri, Ester, Tino, and all the program coordinators. We are also thankful to big sister Ivonne in Sarang Tupai. We are also grateful to Sr. Agustina, BKK and Ms Herda in Muara Baru.

Library

We conduct the library activities every week, on Thursday afternoon. The library staff arranged the book and put them back in their shelf. They also prepare the mandatory book for reading session. Children in all three premises, Cakung, Muara Baru and Sarang Tupai participate in this reading session. The 2010 library’s collection is the mandatory reading book for the month of March and April.

Throughout April 2015, we focused on reregistering the 2009 library collection. We also placed book covers for 2014 and 2015 collections.

We accept any children magazines and reading materials for our library facility in Sarang Tupai.

We are also grateful to the library staff for their tenacity in doing their duty.

Child Nutritional Improvement Activities.

Beside Cakung, we also do this activity in Sarang Tupai.

In Sarang Tupai, we do this activity several times a week. We bought some fruits from the nearby Ciawi market or in fruit kiosk on the side road toward Ciawi toll entrance.

On the second Sunday of April 2015, before learning activity begins, the host prepared fried bread. Facilitators helped in serving the children. In the following Sunday, April 13th, 2015, we had fried rice with meatball, sausage and egg. This time, the children had a chance to decide this menu.

To prepare this menu, we divided the children into several task groups. Some children did the cutting of meatball, sausage and vegetable. Some children did the cleaning and grinding the spices ingredients. Some bigger children prepared omelet. Some prepared sautéed ingredients. Some children also fried the rice.

We serve the fried rice with slices of omelet, shrimp crackers, and slices of tomatoes and cucumber. The children ate before studying.

Before eating, we have a habit to clip the children’s nail. The children also encourage washing their hand. As we did in Cakung, we also required Sarang Tupai children to bring their own utensils during this activity. After eating, we asked them to wash their own utensils in the kitchen sink.

On Thursday, April 30th, 2015, after review session, the children enjoyed rice noodle soup with vegetable chicken and fried soybean. The children ate this menu with rice and chili sauce. Our host helped us to prepare the menu.
The children ate after their lesson review.

On the second Saturday, the Cakung Children Nutritional Improvement team prepared hardboiled eggs. The third category children helped decorate the eggs.

While waiting for food, the children washed their hand and sang together. That day was an extraordinary day. We celebrated Easter. Beside decorated eggs, the children got some cookies and candies. The children and facilitators were greeting each other. We said “Happy Easter” to the one that celebrate it.

On the third Saturday of April 2015, the Cakung Children Nutritional Improvement team prepared milk and slices of bread with jam. The children ate before learning. They enjoyed this healthy menu.

On the last Saturday of April, we replaced the Nutritional Improvement Activity with gift distribution from the Laftavis. It was to commemorate the passing of our big sister Sarah Laftavi. The gift package consists of toothbrush, toothpaste, writing materials, a milk carton, a juice carton, cookies and candies.

We are grateful to the Cakung Child Nutritional Improvement Team. We are grateful to Indri and her team. We also thank the children of Sarang Tupai, mothers and facilitators for their effort in preparing this month menu.

Scholarship

In April 2015, we spend some fund for Elementary School’s uniform, batik uniforms and socks. We also used some fund for High School, Vocational school and University student to purchase flash disc, photocopies, printout materials, textbooks and other learning materials.

Two vocational students have also received fund for their April’s school tuition. The Middle School and high school students also received transportation money for their swimming and badminton practice. We also gave transport money to all recipients. We also paid for English tutor. The English tutor taught all the recipients.

The scholarship budget for 2015-2016 has already prepared. Based on the learning interest and the family financial condition, we have nominated a few candidates from Sarang Tupai.

We are thankful to our loyal contributors who help us. We believe that your monetary assistance will be beneficial to all recipients. It is a blessing for their better future. We also very pleased for your continuous support.

May 2015 Activity Plan :

1. Learning Activity
a. We still need to equip the Sarang Tupai facility in Megamendung, West Java with carpet, whiteboard, garbage bins, storage containers for keeping writing materials and books.
b. The crafting activities of the entrepreneur organization, “Usaha Mandiri”, will focus on knitting and recycle coffee packs. Knitting products include headband, bandana, beanie hats and table clothes. Recycle coffee pack products include coasters, hair accessories (hair clip and bandana).

2. Library Activity
a. We need to reregister the 2010 collections and register the donation books. For mandatory reading May and June 2015, we prepare the 2011 collection.
b. In order to do book registration, we need to purchase tools and writing materials.

3. Children Nutritional Improvement Activity
a. We prepare healthy menu and list the ingredients. We also need to purchase some dinning and kitchen utensils.

4. Scholarship
a. We need to provide tuition fee for Vocational School students. For all the recipients, we also provide many of their schools’ needs.
b. We provide tuition fee for a college student who is in Semester VI.
c. We need to budget and assist the 2015-2016 scholarship’s need for new batch Sarang Tupai students.

Finally, our sincere thank to all of our friends who throughout this month relentlessly support our program with their presences, finances and prayers.

We are deeply grateful to all donors who care for others more than themselves. We truly respect your trust in our effort.
We thank Sr.Gertrudis, OSU from the Ursulin Sister Community in Juanda Road for their recycled coffee packs and other crafting materials. The recycled coffee packs are very useful for our crafting activity. Many young girls and mothers participate in this activity. We thank Sr. Annunciata OSU who donates some cookies to us. We thank Ie Sie Fun and Ms. Donna Mohede who donate clothing, and food. We also thank Sr. Agustina, BKK who donates writing tablets, water canteen, toothpaste, and toothbrush. We also thank “Pondok Damai” orphanage, Sr. Leony and Sr. Paulina, OSU who donate books, stationeries, clothing, food and vitamin. We also express our gratitude to the Laftavis who through the Tonteys provide us with package of snack, milk, writing materials, toothpaste and tooth brush. These gifts were to commemorate the second year passing of our big sister Sarah Laftavi. We are grateful to Mr.David for his assistance in translating our monthly report.

We are also grateful for your financial support. They are essential for running our program. We thank Mrs MA Nani Tirtajaya, Ms. Jenny, Mrs Djiauw Swie Tjing, Dr. Frans Senff, Mr. Arif Budi Subekti – Ms.Maria, Ms. Jie Jeanny Pratiwi, Ms. Susana Maria Santy, big sister Elissa Meiliana Wiguna, Mrs.Hanaria Putri and Ms. Sofia Erlinda Indra.

To big sister Sofia Erlinda Indra and husband, we congratulate you on your wedding. They got married on April 11th, 2015.

We are deeply grateful to the Laftavis, the Tonteys, for the monetary assistance, especially for the renovation of our learning hall in Muara Baru.

We are deeply grateful also for Rm.Yohanes Sudrijanta, SJ, St. Perawan Maria Ratu, Blok Q, Kebayoran Baru Parish for the monetary assistance.

We are grateful for your kind heart. May God provide you with good health and blessings. May our cooperative efforts will continue to be fruitful. We are called to live in peace and care each other.

God bless us all.

To access this report and children crafting, please visit: http://cakungchildrencommunity.blogspot.com.
To access and order the young girls and mother crafting, please visit: http://cakungchildrencreation.blogspot.com.

Warm regards,
On behalf of the Children Learning Community,

Debby


P.S.
You could give donation through bank:
Acc.holder Debby Maitimu or Dwi Resmi Sari
BCA Branch office Matraman, East Jakarta, Indonesia
Acc.no.342-2792161
Swift code : cenaidja
or contact me for material support on +628129685594