Christmas Gifts for Teachers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nearly Rp5,000,000,000 or five billion rupiahs in donations were collected from the 'Lari and Gowes Caritas Christmas Cross Challenge 2020 (LG4C)' after being held for two weeks. "Up until today, December 16, the donations that have been collected are nearly Rp5 billion, "said Christiano Hendra Wishaka, Chairman of the Caritas Christmas Organizing Committee. Hendra conveyed this to the Caritas Media Team Christmas in the first consolidation donation on Wednesday morning, December 16, 2020.

"This is quite a surprise because the spirit of sharing remains high amid this pandemic,” said Hendra. He was optimistic about the donations for non-permanent or temporary teachers will still continue to flow until December 31st - the closing date of the LG4C program.

The fundraising event involved 3,100 runners from Indonesia, as well as 17 European countries, North America, Asia and the Middle East. All of the collected money will all be donated to 2000 more underprivileged temporary teachers outside Java. In particular, those who work in remote areas. All donations will be submitted to the KARINA-KWI Foundation - a humanitarian organization under the umbrella of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI). The foundation runs a Relief Program Education with the KWI Education Commission and the KWI Socio-Economic Development Commission.

Executive Director of Yayasan KARINA - KWI, Dr. Fredy Rante Taruk Pr. said fund disbursement from the donation will be made after the Caritas Christmas program ends on December 31, 2020. However, all preparations have started since early December. "The main donation will be given to around 2,000 more underprivileged temporary teachers. The rest is channeled to repair around 200 schools damaged in 27 provinces of Indonesia, "said the priest who is usually called Father Fredy.

According to Fredy, KARINA-KWI will make every effort so that all donations actually arrive at the hands of those who need it most. "This is a public fund that we must manage accountably, accurately, and transparently.” Regarding the list of beneficiaries, KARINA-KWI collaborated with the KWI Education Commission to select and conduct assessments.

Executive Secretary of the KWI TB Education Commission, Gandhi Hartono SJ, with the Education Commission team in 27 provinces, have been collecting data since last November, to filter thousands of teachers with non-permanent contract. The goal is that the recipients of donations are completely in line with the goals of the movement for Caritas Christmas. Namely, "The poorest of the poor," said Father Gandhi.

Executive Director of KARINA-KWI Foundation Dr. Fredy Rante Taruk Pr. (Center). Image Credit: KARINA-KWI Documentation

Gandhi gave an example, if there is a temporary teacher whose spouse is a village head, a regional official, local entrepreneurs, they will definitely not be on the list of the recipients, or if the partner is a temporary teacher having established small and medium enterprises (UKM), they will also not be on the list. "Apart from the teachers, We also screened more than 200 elementary and junior high schools in some remote areas,” said Gandhi.

A number of non-permanent teachers in remote areas have high hopes for LG4C's donations. Some of them have received additional honorarium assistance from the KARINA-KWI Foundation - through KWI Education Commission.

Ignatius cardinal Suharyo, while inaugurating the kickoff, led the opening Mass for Caritas Christmas Cross Challenge 2020 on December 1. He said that this movement for the common good is becoming a form of service for teachers in remote areas who continue to work actively in the middle pandemic. "All the runners, walkers, cyclists are involved with a genuine sense of joy," said the Cardinal.

The Indonesian Jesuit Alumni Association (AAJI) together with the KARINA-KWI Foundation, the KWI Education Commission and The Jakarta Archdiocese Archdiocese's Daya Dharma Institute (LDD-KAJ) initiated this movement in Indonesia and 17 other countries.

This idea spread rapidly throughout Indonesia as well as 17 other countries. “Information moves immensely. It's fast because AAJI members are on five continents, ”said Glenn Sebastian, the LG4C Program Coordinator. LDD-KAJ Executive Director, Kristiono Puspo SJ, said that "Education must go on amidst a severe pandemic situation. Let's pay attention to the teachers,” he said.

Also Read: Christmas Collaborations for Temporary Teachers

TEMPO.CO