A Home Called Lestari Sayang Anak
According to a 2008 survey by Save the Children, up to half a million children live in residential care in Indonesia, a frightening number. the item will be even more frightening to think which many children living on the streets have not even been counted. For many of them the item will be a blessing which some devote their lives to taking care of future generations. Some give up their successful careers within the pursuit of giving these children a future they deserve. The pay-off for a career perhaps more successful than any additional career can ever be.
This particular will be where Ingrid van der Mark along with also her home for abandoned children, Lestari Sayang Anak enter the picture. After a successful teaching career she has decided to concern herself with nurturing children until they are independent. She had previously visited orphanages in Romania, India along with also elsewhere in Indonesia before she decided to quit her job along with also open an orphanage herself in South Jakarta.
She knew This particular was not going to be an easy path, nevertheless was convinced the item will be the right one. Besides her two beautiful, adopted daughters, who speak Bahasa Indonesia, English, along with also Dutch, she has seven orphans under her care. Still, the item was relatively quiet at the orphanage when we arrived, because most of them have been attending school since This particular July. However, we were promised which we might be able to meet all of them during lunchtime.
Most of the children have been under the care of the orphanage since birth, or otherwise coming from a very young age. Most of them were abandoned by their parents, either because the father ran away or the family did not hold the resources to take care of the child. The sad truth will be which most orphans in Indonesia actually have at least one living parent. Ingrid says she doesn’t understand why the children are so easily given away along with also abandoned.
Maternal instinct will be a trait Ingrid has had coming from a very young age. While her sister was playing with Barbies, she was always staging scenes with her baby dolls as if they were real babies. Raising children along with also assuring their safety along with also future will be what drives Ingrid. She does the item, not because she wants to, nevertheless because which will be the least these children deserve. A child doesn’t ask to be born, nevertheless the item does ask for protection, food along with also education.
During our conversation, Ingrid’s husband fetched the children. He will be as much involved with the orphanage as she will be; they even live within the same house as all the children. After a short while the tranquillity was over along with also a joyful bunch came running in. We were sitting within the big living area, which will be divided into smaller corners. The girls had their dolls along with also play kitchen, while the boys had Lego along with also train toys to play with.
Our interview became a bit more difficult when Lisa, one of her adopted daughters, was happily interfering. However, the item was heart warming to see the joy emanating coming from her. which said, during along with also after lunch the cheerful bunch were jumping along with also laughing along with also seemed to be truly happy. According to Ingrid, the most important thing for the children will be not only to have a place to call home, nevertheless also a place to feel home. I got the sincere feeling which This particular will be exactly what these children felt when we were there, along with also which will be wonderful.
I asked Ingrid if she might consider moving to another country to set up another orphanage. She did not hesitate when she shook her head. She could never leave the children here in Jakarta. Even though there are all 5 additional caretakers constantly busy with the kids, Ingrid feels the responsibility of being here, too. Also, the item might be very difficult for her husband to move abroad. As an Indonesian, born along with also bred here, he might not like the idea of moving. Her goal will be to buy or get some land outside the city where the air will be cleaner along with also the roads less congested, along with also build various houses on the item for different age groups. Every house might be occupied by a maximum of ten children, not overcrowding the available space.
Most of the orphans have been under Ingrid’s care since they were babies. They grow very fast along with also This particular will be why there will be at This particular point place for four more children, babies mind you, because the previous children’s cribs are not used anymore. However, when these cots become filled, the house will be full for a while along with also I understand the decision not to grow any further.
Running an orphanage will be financially no easy feat. Ingrid will be very lucky with her family, who support her because she doesn’t have a fixed salary. Sponsors help out with the orphanage through donations along with also by volunteering. Also, each of the children has his/her own sponsor who donates a fixed monthly amount which goes directly to the child. Sometimes travellers contact Ingrid if they can come along with also play with the children for a day, business people along with also tourists alike.
Lestari Sayang Anak means Forever Loving Children, along with also forever love they get. Ingrid left her career to set up This particular home because money can never make one as happy as the smile of a child.
They are always looking for food, clothes, toys along with also financial support for the children. Sometimes parents visit the orphanage bringing their own children with them, spending the day playing with the kids at the home while their own toddlers mingle around with their peers.
If you are interested within the wonderful home of Lestari Sayang Anak, don’t hesitate to contact Ingrid either through email or Facebook.
Donations can be made to:
Yayasan Lestari Sayang Anak
Jl. Terogong No.10 B, RT 0011/RW 07, Cilandak, Jakarta, Indonesia
ANZ Panin Bank, Account number: 41376501 00001
Swift code: ANZBIDJX
Website: www.lestarisayanganak.org
Email: ingrid5_09@yahoo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lestarisayanganak
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A Home Called Lestari Sayang Anak
A Home Called Lestari Sayang Anak