They can pin their hopes up as high as they want.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Social Affairs Ministry will host commemorative events on National Children's Day (HAN), which is celebrated every July 23, in a number of underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions of Indonesia this year.

“We want children (from) all over Indonesia to be able to communicate with each other. We want children in Asmat district in Papua to interact with the kids on Bertam Island in Batam city (in Riau Islands province),” Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini said in a statement received here on Wednesday.

At the directive of the minister, the Directorate of Child Social Rehabilitation is preparing to celebrate the national day at several locations across Indonesia by considering the diversity and uniqueness of the potential and problems of children in the regions.

"Including at various remote indigenous communities, disaster areas, and (social) institutions," director of child social rehabilitation, Kanya Eka Santi, informed.

In addition to the Asmat Tribe and Bertam Island Coastal Community, the communities which will host HAN celebrations are the Anak Dalam Tribe in Jambi province, the Baduy Tribe in Banten province, as well as refugees in Nabire city, Central Papua province.

Children from the Sebatik-Nunukan border area of North Kalimantan province, Wini town in East Nusa Tenggara province, Meratus Dayak Tribe in South Kalimantan province, and refugee camp in Majene district in West Sulawesi province will also participate in the commemoration.

Meanwhile, the Soeharso Integrated Center in Surakarta city and the Antasena Child Social Rehabilitation Center in Need of Special Protection (BRSAMPK) in Magelang district, both located in Central Java province, have been assigned to host the national day’s celebrations.

The main event of 2022 HAN will take place in Selong sub-district, East Lombok district, West Nusa Tenggara province.

“East Lombok district was chosen (to host the main event) because it has a large children population," the director said.

The series of 2022 HAN commemorations will take place from July 24 to July 30, 2022.

The theme of the events is “Protected Children for Advanced Indonesia" and their slogan is “Indonesian Children are Excellent.”

Santi said that the theme was selected to encourage Indonesian children to dream high.

“They can pin their hopes up as high as they want. With the support of all parties, we believe that the hopes of Indonesian children to become superior children can be realized," she remarked.

To encourage children's participation in remote areas, the ministry will involve local community centers to invite them to join the activities organized during the series of 2022 HAN commemorations.

“The activities will be varied and adjusted to the respective communities, such as playing traditional games or singing. We will invite the children to have fun,” the director informed.

The activities are expected to foster a sense of solidarity and friendship among Indonesian children as they will be invited to interact with kids from other regions, thus they can get acquainted with children from locations across Indonesia.

In addition, they will also be invited to lend encouragement to their fellows who are struggling with illness.

Through the activity, it is hoped that the children would develop a strong character and a spirit of mutual cooperation.

A number of assistances will also be disbursed for children during the commemorative events, such as the Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI), the Family Hope Program (PKH) assistance, basic necessities aid, and house renovation assistance.

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Translator: Devi Ramadhan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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