My amazing children, starting from today, you must all be brave; do not feel inferior, do not give up, and you must all be successfulBatam, Riau Islands (ANTARA) - The Social Affairs Ministry disbursed social rehabilitation assistance for 220 children and residents living in buffer islands in Batam, Riau Islands, to commemorate the 2022 National Children's Day.
According to a written statement received here on Monday, assistance amounting to Rp319,455,700 (US$21,403) was distributed for infants, students, and school dropouts in Betram, Lingke, and Gara islands, Batam.
Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini greeted children attending the National Children's Day commemoration event in Batam through online means from West Nusa Tenggara.
"My amazing children, starting from today, you must all be brave; do not feel inferior, do not give up, and you must all be successful," she remarked.
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The minister also asked Indonesian children to not bully others, but develop mindfulness and be keen to help each other.
She said that children must not bully or make fun of their friends with disabilities because everyone is the same.
Besides disbursing assistance, the ministry collaborated with the Belakang Padang public health center to send a dentist, general practitioner, midwife, and pharmacist to serve residents during the event.
As part of the event, health officers taught Belakang Padang 006 primary school students how to brush their teeth properly, while Bertam 006 primary school students received free haircuts.
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Several competitions, such as volleyball, tug of war, mancala, and wooden shoe race, were also organized during the event.
A child from Gara Island who participated in the event, Muhammad Deni, 9, expressed his joy after receiving the aid, which comprised a school uniform, school bag, school essentials, and a pair of shoes from the ministry.
He promised that he would be diligent in pursuing his dream of becoming a police officer.
"Thank you Minister Rismaharini, Deni will study diligently and become a police officer," Deni remarked.
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Translator: Ilham Yude P, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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