Surabaya (ANTARA) - Youths of the Nippon Donation Foundation handed out two cars to the Bakti Asih Special School in Surabaya, East Java, as a contribution to Indonesia’s education sector.
“This activity is part of the Maaru program, which aims to encourage world peace," the founder of the Nippon Donation Foundation, Yuma Muranushi, said at Bakti Asih Special School.
He added that with a large number of youngsters, Indonesia will potentially become the center of the world, and play a significant role to maintain world peace.
“Compared to Japan, Indonesia has more young people, and it makes Indonesia more energetic. So, I think this country will be the center of the world in the future,” he noted.
Thus, he said, education in Indonesia needs more attention as many schools still need assistance.
"By assisting the schools, I feel involved with Indonesian society and I am happy to receive such a warm welcome from the Indonesian people. I hope these children will lead Indonesia going advance,” he explained.
Muranushi emphasized that the foundation will continue to make donations to the school.
"My hope is not only to assist, but I expect to learn a lot from this activity as well. By doing so, I will be happy if we can maintain world peace together with the leaders from Indonesia. It will also be beautiful if we can share this kind of activity around the world,” he said.
A representative of the Nippon Donation Foundation in Indonesia Sakura Ijuin said this program would be implemented on an ongoing basis because they wanted to invite young people in Indonesia to take part in improving education in this country.
"We have a goal to help children and schools in Indonesia, not only today but also in the future, to think together with children to build schools here," she said.
Meanwhile, the foundation’s Strategic Partner Tovic Rustam appreciated the donations, saying that the Japanese youngsters showed concerns about social movements, apart from their interest in making a business in Indonesia.
"I think young Japanese are extraordinary, because, on the sidelines of building a business, they are also concerned with education around the world, especially in Indonesia," he said.
The Chairperson of the Bakti Asih Special School Foundation Edi Sukiswo was grateful for the donation, adding that 75 percent of students at the school came from underprivileged families.
The vehicles donated by the foundation would be very useful for taking the students home after school, he added.
Even so, the school still needs a lot of help, including building a roof so the children will be more comfortable.
On this occasion, special needs students from Bakti Asih gave gifts to the Nippon Donation Foundation group.
"The children collected their pocket money to give souvenirs to Maaru. This makes us emotional. We did not tell them to, they took the initiative to give the presents themselves," Sukiswo said.(*)
