Solidarity and mutual help remain strong: Minister

Antara News, Sunday, November 29, 2009 18:53 WIB

Solo, C Java (ANTARA News) - Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri has said that mutual cooperation and solidarity among human fellows in the country remain strong as can be seen in the handling of street children here.

The minister who was accompanied by the Surakarta mayor, Joko Widodo made the statement here Sunday when inaugurating "Our School" for street children run by the Foundation for Women`s Empowerment and Isolated Children (PPAP) in Petoran, Solo, Central Java.

"We are really touched that the mutual cooperation and social solidarity of the people in Solo are still strong, and this can be seen in the handling of free-of-charge schooling for the street children. These children previously had no hope and future, but now they have hope and future," he said.

A total of 19 institutions including the regional governments have been taking part in handling the street children due to the complexity of the problem, the minister disclosed.

The handling of this problem is part of the first 100-day work program of his office, and the working visit of Salim Segaf Al Jufri to Solo was the second after visiting North Sulawesi province following his appoinment as a minister.

On the occasion, the minister extended financial aid amounting to Rp295.5 million to the Seroja foundation which handles the street children and Rp109.8 million for the Al Iksan foundation.