Jakarta Schools’ Initiatives to Support Difabel
As a non-governmental foundation, Wisma Cheshire needs to raise funds to run its various facilities to provide opportunities to its residents and support to the Young Voices members. For this reason, the residents are given skills in sewing handicraft and making woodwork products that sold in the shop and at various community bazaars. Starting this year we are introducing Wisma Cheshire to several schools in attempt to raise the awareness of the difabel society and their capabilities. On the 20th of April 2018, seventeen Grade 4 students from the Singapore Intercultural School (SIS) Bona Vista Jakarta visited Wisma Cheshire for their service project. Accompanied by 2 teachers, they observed the residents’ activities in the workshops and enjoyed a full explanation on the woodwork done at Wisma, right up to the point Fendo – the Wisma Chesire Manager – checks for quality.
The students were also taught by residents Sahata and Kabul how to paint small furniture for the doll house. They played melodicas and sang together with the residents with great joy. And just before leaving, the students gave lunch for all the residents and handed over donations that the students had raised at school.
We had also been visited by twenty four Grade 2 studends from Sekolah Gemala Ananda Jakarta on the 4th of May. Accompanied by teachers and parents, the children wanted to learn about the lives of difabel people, done through discussion with Fendo and of course direct interaction with the residents. Observing the hustle and bustle at the Wisma workshops to playing games and singing together, the children saw a day in the life at the house. They generously shared donations, staple food and groceries before leaving. We were incredibly grateful for the visit from both schools, who we hope enjoyed their experience with the residents and we hope opened their eyes to a different side of life. Sharing, learning and laughing together without any limitation.