SMERU Indonesia

SMERU n Monitoring the Social Crisis in Indonesia n No. 11 / November 2000

During these last two years, the number of street children in the village of Cikarang. Kabupaten Bekasi, has increased significantly. Based on statistics collected by the Kabupaten Office of Social Welfare, in early 1999 there were 385 school-aged street children (aged 8 - 18 years old) in this kabupaten, including 69 children from Cikarang. However, by July 1999 the number had doubled to 125. This situation attracted the attention of Yayasan Bina Masyarakat Sejahtera (BMS), an NGO involved in community development and working to help those in the community who are less fortunate to achieve a better quality of life.

According to BMS's investigations, as many as 84 of these children in Cikarang had been forced to help their parents obtain additional income over the previous two years, while most of the others had been working for up to five years at the local bus terminals and market places. They have been working as shoe-shine boys, plastic bags sellers, scavengers, collecting cardboard cartons and used materials, or as laborers.

Most of these children are still living with their parents, their grandparents or their next of kin. Many of the parents work in the informal sector as laborers, becak drivers, washing clothes, eel catchers, farmers, coolies, and mechanics. Around 20% of them are unemployed or without steady jobs.

Funded by the West Java Provincial Social Welfare Office, BMS conducted an assistance program in Cikarang for 75 of these school-aged street children and 25 of their parents over a 9 months period, from July 1999 to March 2000. The objective of the program was to develop positive attitudes among these street children, improve their quality of life, equip them with various skills, and give their parents an opportunity to start a small enterprise.

Dalam dua tahun terakhir ini jumlah anak jalanan di Desa Cikarang semakin bertambah. Menurut statistik Dinas Sosial Cabang Kabupaten Bekasi pada awal 1999 tercatat 385 anak jalanan usia sekolah (8 - 18 tahun) di Kabupaten Bekasi, termasuk 69 anak di Desa Cikarang. Namun pada awal Juli 1999 jumlah tersebut telah membengkak menjadi 125 anak. Keadaan ini kemudian menjadi perhatian Yayasan Bina Masyarakat Sejahtera Bekasi (BMS), suatu LSM yang aktif dalam upaya pengembangan masyarakat dan membantu anggota masyarakat yang terpuruk agar mampu mencapai kualitas hidup yang lebih baik.

Berdasarkan pengamatan BMS, 84 anak jalanan di Cikarang terpaksa ikut aktif menambah pendapatan keluarga sejak dua tahun terakhir ini, selebihnya sudah bekerja di jalan sejak lima tahun lalu, misalnya di terminal bis dan pasar. Mereka bekerja sebagai tukang semir sepatu, penjual kantong plastik, pemulung kardus dan barang bekas, dan kuli pikul di terminal bis atau pasar.

Kebanyakan anak-anak tersebut masih tinggal bersama orang tuanya, nenek atau keluarga dekatnya. Kebanyakan orang tua mereka bekerja di sektor informal, misalnya sebagai buruh, tukang becak, tukang cuci, pencari belut, buruh tani, kuli, dan montir. Sekitar 20% dari orang tua anak-anak tersebut adalah penganggur atau tidak mempunyai pekerjaan jelas.

Dengan dana bantuan dari Kanwil Sosial Jawa Barat, BMS melakukan program pendampingan untuk 75 anak jalanan usia sekolah dan 25 orang tua anak jalanan di Desa Cikarang selama 9 bulan, sejak bulan Juli 1999 hingga Maret 2000. Tujuan program pendampingan anak jalanan adalah untuk mengembangkan sikap positif, meningkatkan kesejahteraan hidup, membekali anak jalanan dengan berbagai keterampilan dan memberikan peluang bagi orang tua mereka untuk merintis usaha kecil.

The assistance was extended to include tuition fees and school supplies for 25 children who indicated that they would like to continue their education. Their parents received Rp. 300,000 as a loan to start their own small enterprises. It was hoped that with a successful small business the parents might be able to increase their income so that they can support their children’s education when the program ends.

About 25 young adults (aged 17 - 18 years old) have been trained as drivers, mechanics or barbers, so that they will be able to earn a better income. Unfortunately SMERU found that few of these former street children have been able to find jobs with their newly acquired skills, many of them have returned to their old ways. However, another 25 young adults have been given financial assistance to start their own small enterprises. Many of them have chosen to sell cigarettes, fruit and vegetables, and other food.

BMS has also established a shelter known as Depot Kreatif Ibnu Sabil, where they can take a bath, chat with friends, study, practice martial arts, and also where they can meet other street children and their parents.

SMERU talked to the parents of one of these street children, a widow who has received financial assistance. With this money as her capital, she now sells spices in the local market, and her child is now able to attend elementary school once again. n

Bentuk bantuan yang diberikan termasuk pemberian biaya dan kebutuhan sekolah kepada 25 anak yang masih ingin sekolah dan bantuan pinjaman modal sebesar Rp. 300.000 untuk orang tua anak-anak jalanan sebagai modal untuk memulai usaha kecil. Diharapkan agar orang tua mereka dapat meningkatkan penghasilannya, sehingga bila bantuan dihentikan mereka sudah mampu membiayai sendiri sekolah anak-anaknya.

Bantuan lainnya adalah 25 remaja jalanan (usia 17-18 tahun) mendapat pelatihan keterampilan sebagai sopir, montir, atau tukang cukur agar bisa mendapat penghasilan yang baik. Sayang SMERU menemukan bahwa ternyata hanya sebagian kecil yang berhasil mendapat pekerjaan sesuai dengan keterampilan baru yang diperoleh. Kebanyakan mereka masih harus mengandalkan pekerjaannya yang lama. Sementara 25 remaja sisanya mendapat bantuan modal usaha, untuk membuka usaha kecil. Kebanyakan mereka memilih usaha berjualan rokok, buah-buahan dan sayuran, atau makanan.

Selain bantuan dana, BMS juga menyediakan rumah singgah yang disebut Depot Kreatif Ibnu Sabil. Depot ini berfungsi sebagai tempat istirahat, mandi, mengobrol, belajar, bermain, membaca, berlatih olahraga beladiri, dan tempat pertemuan dengan sesama mereka atau dengan orang tua.

SMERU bertemu dengan salah satu orang tua anak jalanan yang telah menjanda yang mendapat bantuan modal. Dengan bantuan modal dari BMS kini ia bisa berjualan bumbu dapur di pasar, dan anaknya kini telah kembali sekolah. n Hariyanti Sadaly Samekto, NGO Liaison

Untuk informasi lebih lanjut silakan hubungi Bapak Chairil Anwar Tanjung di Yayasan Bina Masyarakat Sejahtera Bekasi, Jl. K.H.M. Fudholi 49, Kaum Utara Cikarang, Bekasi 17530. Tel: 021-9166675; Fax: 021-8845400.