Thomas with one of the two men who has been employed by the donation of the "BakSampah" (trash cart). New fishing boat, courtesy of Family Care, donated to a fisherman (left) who lost his in the Tsunami. Poor children in Pelumpang learning to read. Project Managers Thomas Bergstrom, Carl Arnold and Mary Brannon Jakarta, Indonesia Family Care Indonesia Project No: P10 Project Managers: Thomas Bergstrom, Carl Arnold and Mary Brannon Contact Info: fcindo@familycareindonesia.or.id Family Care Indonesia (FCI) has been carrying out voluntary work in Jakarta and various parts of Indonesia for well over a decade. Activities include: Tsunami rebuilding and relief in Banda Aceh. Read more Ton-A-Month-Club program, which has supplied rice and other needs to hundreds of needy recipients in Jakarta and West Java on a regular basis for the last several years. Assist several orphanages on a regular basis (at one time or the other have made contributions to all 150 orphanages in the greater Metropolitan area of Jakarta). Supply computers to needy institutions, orphanages, centers for street children and others, plus English language instruction, in an effort to bridge the digital divide. Read more Assistance to the handicapped. Regular program of drug counseling at a major rehab center. Emergency relief at the sites of local earthquakes, floods, and tidal waves.

To donate to this Family Care Foundation Project, please note Project NAME and then click here.

Bridging the Digital Divide in Jakarta

"There are some times when there is a sense that one's efforts have made a difference, and these past months here in Jakarta have been one of those times", quips American Tom Bergstrom, Project Manager for Family Care Indonesia. "With the help and encouragement of FCF, we have at last been able to institute a sustainable program providing computer hardware and operational training to scores of Indonesian children in several orphanages in and around Jakarta, children who otherwise would have little or no access to such technological benefits."

Indonesia, still suffering the effects of the '98 financial crash, has the largest number of school dropouts of any Asian country, the seeds of future problems flourishing as we write. --All the more reason to be happy about programs such as this providing an opportunity for scores of children to cross the digital divide.

"The genesis of FCI’s computer program was when FCI received used computers from a couple of local foreign companies. Focusing on a couple needy institutions which we had already been supporting, and where we had found a good connection with the ‘management’, we thus set up our first experimental computer labs. There were some rough beginnings with the constant power fluctuations causing hardware damage, children playing with the setups, causing malfunctioning software; small and old hard-disks crashing, faulty floppy-disk drives, and. …Well, you name it.

"With time, we replaced those in need with newer models, and meanwhile the children had the opportunity to learn the basics. But the need for a sustainable program was always our goal, and with the encouragement and help of FCF we have finally been able to institute one. Although the physical standards may not be comparable to institutions in the west, the children are becoming computer literate in these institutions and are also enrolled full time in public school, an exceptional achievement seeing that such institutions are totally funded by donations, with almost non-existent governmental help. Street children and orphans have access to regular training and input from the volunteer teachers who, thanks to the help of FCF/FCI, now receive the benefit of a minimum of support to reward their voluntary initiative.

"A secondary benefit of the help from FCF has been that others in Jakarta have taken notice of our program and are now beginning to offer their help. They see that it is a substantial and serious project, and so we have hope of enhanced help from new sources in the future."

Another great encouragement in all of this is the response from the staff and children themselves in the orphanages: The staff are elated to be able to do their administrational duties on solid, working computers and to print out their work on good printers. The students come back from school and are eager to get on a computer for self-initiated study.

Already, in the short time since we began the program we have witnessed the first group of ‘graduates’ from the Parapattan orphanage (who are obliged to move on when they reach 18) that have gone on to study and/or work in computer/technology related work. Those attending university have their own PII computers to work with as a graduation present from the FCI course. We look forward to hearing that many more of the young people, who now have this technological and digital opportunity, will become achievers and build a sustainable future as productive members of their society.

Three 'graduated' orphans, now enrolling in college, shown receiving their computer as a graduation present.

Teacher Sakron with one of his young students. Sakron receives a salary from FCI to teach orphans computer basics.

Computers to needy institutions

Matthew Wilding (left) beside Siswandi and street children; in the background a newly donated computer for both administration and teaching needs.	Thomas Bergstrom with the Assistant Director of the Orphanage and some of the orphans in the newly inaugurated computer room at the orphanage.
Yoto, our enthusiastic technician launching FCI computer programs of computers and free tuition for orphans.	The computer room of Orphanage in Jakarta, with 8 renovated Computers donated by Chase Bank Jakarta.

Donation to orphanage for 25 kids, run by couple at right, Mr. and Mrs. Toha.

Orphans Wibowo and Bagus receive computer training to help them eventually become self-sufficient members of society.

Job placement for trainees

Once these young people are trained we arrange employment opportunities for them. Or in other cases, we target young people from other equally underprivileged backgrounds, and provide training for similar purposes.

Lamhot (standing) now being trained as a computer technician.

Steve (seated), one of our brightest computer students.

FCI Food Program: Ton-A-Month Club

Each month we distribute a minimum of 1 ton of rice to needy recipients. The rice is given to individual families in three targeted neighborhoods of Jakarta.

Additionally, some months we distribute extra rice supplies to areas hit by disasters or other emergencies, supplementing the rice with other foodstuffs, plus basic needs like soap, floormats, and so forth. For example, we recently undertook food distribution for displaced and terribly poor families from Flores, one of the islands in East Indonesia. They had been 'transmigrated' 9 years ago under a government program to populate other parts of the country with smaller populations, where they are given land and start-up money, seed, tools, etc., to cultivate and start new lives. Due to circumstances though, these particular people had ended up in even worse situations and consequently they have been living under terrible conditions.

Rice sent by FCI being distributed by the Red Cross in the mountainous area of Kerenci in West Sumatra.	The Provincial Head (left) on hand to personally distribute donated goods to the people of his district.
Maggie holding a child after delivering food, diapers, baby powder and shampoo to orphanage.	Enthusiastic orphan kids project their thankfulness for the good and services FCF provides.
Aside from those individual families of low wage earners who we help on a regular basis, we are expanding this program to include newly-met people in great need. For example, we distributed food to 65 displaced and terribly poor families from Flores, one of the islands in East Indonesia. These folks had been 'transmigrated' 9 years ago under a government program to populate other parts of the country with small populations and where they are given land and start-up money, seed, tools, etc., to cultivate and start new lives. This project had failed in their case and so they have been living under terrible conditions.
FCI volunteer Maggie with rice recipients in an outlying Madurenese Village.	These dear folks thankful for the donated goods delivered by volunteers of FCI.
Here the local village chief is involved in assisting to distribute aid, an effort designed to get these supplies to the neediest.	Unloading of the goods is usually easy, but there are times when a situation can be touchy, and care must be exercised to avoid jealousy and having people feel left out.

Himmata Street Kids Project - Pelumpang

We assist a small but very effective street children program "Himmata", where children who could not otherwise afford to attend public school are schooled.

Poor Children in Pelumpang learn to read at Himmata

Home for 25-50 Street Kids (4Mt x 7Mt)

The couple who operates the Himmata home began by taking street kids into their own home, and recruited friends to teach the kids reading, English language, music and art. FCI has since helped to supply salaries for these teachers

A typical home in the Pelumpang Slum	Classroom for Sewing Class for Pelumpang poor

Assistance to Disadvantaged Families

As part of our assistance to disadvantaged families, we attempt to identify their most pressing physical needs and supply these through sponsors. Below we are distributing water storage containers to 234 households in the village of kampung Baru.

Mr. Thomas giving one of the dispensers

Residents receiving their dispensers

Thomas with one of the two men who has been employed by the donation of the "BakSampah" (trash cart)

Donating a printer to village head, who had a computer but no printer

After serious flooding in this village, we supplied new floor mats for their dwellings.

Over 200 'tikar', or plastic floor mats donated to a village that was devastated in flooding.	Mrs. Bergstrom (back row, left) delivering the floor mats to villagers.
It's an encouragement both for the residents and us to see a positive improvement in their physical standard over a period of time, as has been the case in this government orphanage shown below.
William and Maggie with the caretakers of a government orphanage for 'balita', children under the age of 5.	Michelle, a full time FCI volunteer, taking time with a few of the youngest children in the orphanage.
Likewise we help improve the living standard of young offenders at a drug rehab for young people, in addition to doing regular programs with these young men.
Maggie with boys from National Police Drug Rehab.	William listening to and counseling a young man.

Mobile Phones for Tsunami Survivors

After December’s tsunami, mobile phones became lifelines. Landlines were down & communications very difficult. Targeting this need, Family Care Foundation purchased mobile phones to be given away to select individuals helping many others in the region.

These mobile phones were to establish lifelines, not lifestyle. The questions we faced were, "Who was deserving?" "Who would be able to maintain the monthly payments?", as well as "How could we avoid people feeling left out?"

Katrina and Thomas Bergstrom presenting donated mobile phone to Sri, Red Cross volunteer, while her supervisor looks on.

Thomas with young Indonesian volunteer aid worker who has just received a donated mobile phone.

We first handpicked breadwinners.Then we came across some outstanding teachers who had lost everything, and were living on the floor of simple, Spartan school buildings, having resolved to continue their teaching. Among other things, this act alone provided security and normalcy to the pupils, including many newly orphaned children.

Then we met Sri, Rizal, Agus, Cut Cinta, Hasan, Indra, Fitri and their friends – all volunteers with the local branch of the Red Cross (PMI). “They are true volunteers,” said their supervisor. “They work around the clock. They receive no salary – only food a couple of times a day. It has been a demanding situation. We all live in tents. We are refugees ourselves."

Sri, previously a student at the teachers college, told how she miraculously escaped the waves. Her rented room, computer, her assignments and textbooks and newly completed thesis, etc., were all wiped out.

Months later, when her workload as a Red Cross volunteer was less, she returned to college. But there were obstacles: The library was gone! She had to rent computer time in a small noisy public place. She has no home or belongings, only the clothes she wore.

Nevertheless, Sri has a radiant personality & strong faith that God would provide. We can only say that our lives and mindsets have been forever altered by the interactions we have been blessed to have with the brave people we have met here – not just survivors but overcomers!

Emergency Relief Efforts

FCI and local volunteers with victims of the landslides and floods in Banten standing in the remains of their home.	Bags of basic food needs all stacked and ready to hand out to victims of the landslide.
The rain which caused the landslides also made many roads impassable. Here is Matthew and Michelle and some local volunteers ankle deep in mud on their way to the next site.	FCI volunteers joining forces with local volunteers to unload aid in one of the camps on the island of Madura.
FCI volunteers standing by loaded truck as they prepare to leave Jakarta for the 25 hour drive to Madura, East Java, with a team of doctors, other volunteers and donated goods. Destination: a refugee camp with 10's of thousands of refugees from the communal violence in their former adopted home in Kalimantan.	One of our associate doctors giving medical aid to some of the victims of the ethnic clashes which officially claimed hundreds of lives.
Certificate of Thanks from the community in Kerenci, signed by the Bupati, the highest appointed government official in a region, and by the head of the Parliament for the region.

Jakarta Flooding

Jakarta, seasonally flood-prone, was recently hit with some of the worst flooding in the history of the city with reports of up to 70% of the city being under water at the peak. Instead of only the poorest of neighborhoods being hit, many very middle-upper class neighborhoods were inundated with up to 1.5 meters of water inside the houses! We brought both humanitarian aid and encouragement to two severely affected areas: Tj. Priok, and Pelumpang.

A team from Family Care Indonesia made preliminary visits to the village bringing cooked food, clothing, cleaning supplies, stoves and day to day necessities, and then made a follow up visit to document the great need these people and others like them are facing. In a situation like this, we often act in the capacity of middlemen for local businessmen to procure the various items that they want to donate to help in the rehabilitation of such a village.

The following photos are a sampling of the misery and difficulties that residents face. While a good deal of help has already been pledged to help these villages, much is yet to be done. To adequately address the need, please send your donations pledged to Project P10.

This photo captures the despair of the residents whose homes and meager household items have all been destroyed.
Another neighborhood scene, an unsightly view matched by horrible smells.	The entire edge of the village nearest the river looks like this. Normally the river is at least 1 meter lower.
FCI project manager Thomas Bergstrom meeting with the community elders of the kampung to assess the needs.	Everything in this lady's home was destroyed… nothing resembling 'useable' left other than a few utensils.
Wet walls and an empty bed frame are all that are left in this house. All the mattresses of all the affected families were destroyed.	Thomas and this older gentleman standing on the place where a room of his house used to stand.
Two sweet 'kampung' village girls. This street is one of the 'better ones' though everything inside the houses on either side was under water a few days before.	Local Elder (left) and the man in charge of distribution of relief goods (center) standing with village resident who has rescued his bicycle pump from the debris.

Assistance to the handicapped

FCI staff William Hogan shares little Panji's (6) joy as he receives a donated wheelchair, compliments of "Wheelchairs For the World" and FCI. When younger Panji had a fever and went into a coma and when he came out of it, he was unable to hold himself properly anymore or to walk. Panji's mommy is 6 months pregnant and was experiencing more and more difficulty lifting and carrying Panji and seeing to his needs, so this is a Godsend for her.

We recently received a very heart-touching letter from a young man, who explained how the Lord had used a catastrophe in his life to get him to the position of wanting to give his life in service to others. He had been one of those young teens who enjoyed thrills, so while riding wildly on his motorbike one day, he had an accident that paralyzed him from the waist down, effectively ruining his teen life. But through this he learned many lessons. We were touched by his lack of self-pity and willingness to do what he could for others, and were able to provide a good wheelchair for him so that he could get around more easily to be more of a help to others. The donor was particularly understanding of the need, being handicapped himself.

Partnering with others

FCI volunteers and Chase Bank Jakarta cooperated on a program focusing on a one day blitzkrieg of clean-up and painting a renovated library area for orphan children. The day included children's games, and much more!

The highlight for many of the kids was the funny antics of a Ronald McDonald look-alike and the treat of hamburgers and fries! A fun day was experienced by all.

Location: Puncak Mountains -- outside of Jakarta, Indonesia

Venue supplied by a Swiss priest who teaches organic farming to local farmers, a pioneer project here in Indonesia.

Scope: 100 farmers and their families receive rice, instant mashed potatoes, soap, jam, some snacks, a specifically chosen garment for the wife, medicine for each particular need, a medical and dental check, along with an entertainment program of clowns and magic show.

Group of Family Care Indonesia volunteers together with Drs. Sally and Tjoe Pa, and Morman Humanitarian Aid volunteers Mr. and Mrs. Christensen. This is at the site of the aid program for 100 poor farming families in the mountains west of Jakarta, as we prepare to distribute food, clothing, medicine, as administer medical and dental help.	More "candidates" for their "weigh-in" followed by a blood pressure reading, taken by close friend Dr. Tjoe Pa, an acupuncturist from Canada now relocated in Indonesia.
A volunteer dentist checking one of the farmers. Our two dentist friends checked all the farmers and there were 10 extractions that day, as well as numerous fillings.	FC volunteers Maggie, Michelle, Nina, and Michael in the background as the crowd of farmers begin streaming in for their medical check, beginning with a weight check.

To donate to this Family Care Foundation Project, please note Project NAME and then click here.

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