"I ask for children's help to care about other children who are disabled and sick," she said while visiting and distributing assistance to a child with cerebral palsy, identified as Yohanes Gabriel Bayu Pratama, in Jebres, Solo, Central Java, on Monday.
During the visit, she also invited the son of Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka and the grandson of President Joko Widodo, Jan Ethes Srinarendra, to participate in distributing aid.
"Thank you to Mrs. Selvi (Mayor Raka’s wife), and the Mayor for allowing Ethes to go to (see) his friends in need," the minister said.
She expressed the hope that the effort would serve as an example for other children to care about other children.
"Some time ago, there was a disabled child who was bullied by his friends, then (he) committed suicide. This is our effort to make the children care more. It can be seen that Ethes was not confused (when interacting with a child with cerebral palsy). This means that children can be taught from an early age to care for their other friends," she explained.
The minister provided an adaptive wheelchair, food, clothing, and business capital assistance in the form of a diesel machine for grinding tofu to Pratama’s parents.
Meanwhile, Ethes said that he was happy to have visited Pratama.
"Yes, (I am) happy. I invited him to play, go for a walk, drink chocolate milk. So Mas lel (Yohanes Gabriel) can be excited," he remarked.
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Translator: Aris W, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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