Most of the schools are now on summer vacation, but XSProject has still been quite busy for the last 3 – 4 weeks helping individuals and groups of students finalizing their school projects. These projects are mainly related to social and environmental awareness and the involvement of the students has created greater awareness and new funds for the school needs of the trash picker’s children . Through their fund raising activities, the students were able to provide new shoes, school supplies and school bags for the children of the trash pickers for the upcoming school year .
In the new 2013 - 2014 school year, XSProject will be funding 3 new students in Grade 1. Five students, whose education has been funded by XSProject, will be graduating from primary school and going to middle school. This is a big accomplishment for XSProject Scholarship Funds. We are so pleased that we are able to keep these kids in school. We are now getting more middle school students than we have ever.
Thank you again to all our donors for your generous donations. We are looking forward to growing our donor community so more children can continue their education and graduate. Putting the children of the landfill workers through school until they are able to have a better future is still our ultimate goal.
Links:
School Partnerships Strengthen Trash picker Communities – Continue
XSProject and its connection with International Schools continue since the beginning of this year.
Some of the activities including donation of food, clothes and emergency supply to the 41 families of the children that are under XSProject Scholarship due to the heavy floods all over Jakarta in the this year rainy season. The school has also donated 2 new water tanks for 2 groups of trash pickers in the community of about 30 families and the coming project is from the school rugby team to build another bathroom and toilet. Last year the Boy Scout built the bathroom and the toilet in one of the group in the community and it was a success,
Last month, the school organizes a health screening for about 120 children and their parents. The event was very successful that the school has decided to have a follow up health screening in the next 3 months
The school second semester started with new school supplies and new set of books for the children delivered at the beginning of the year. 5 children in grade 6 are preparing for their exams and going to the middle school following 4 other children who are already in their first year of middle school. The middle school children are doing very well. Having more children going to the Middle School is one of the biggest accomplishments for XSProject this year as we are continue the commitment to make sure that the children have the opportunity to be in school until they graduated from Vocational School.
A group of volunteer have been spending their morning – twice a week with the smaller children and their moms, playing and introducing alphabets and numbers to prepare them for their first school year. A significant impact is shown by the enthusiasm of the moms, the important of education for their children.
Thank you to all donors for the generous donations. As more children going to higher level, the cost will be double. XSProject will not be able to change the life of those who lives in the trash picker’s community but putting the children through school until they are able to find better job and better future might change their life.
Links:
Retno Hapsari, the General Manager of XSProject had the
opportunity to attend World Fair Trade (WFTO) Asia Conference that was held in
Goa, India from 8th to 14th October 2012 along with one
other Fair Trade member from Indonesia and the Secretariat General of Fair
Trade Indonesia. Fair Trade members, donors, and buyers from 22 countries
attended the Conference, which was titled ‘Launching the Sustainability Chain
and Building Consumer Confidence in Fair Trade’. The event took place in a beautiful resort
beach hotel of Bogmallo Beach Resort, Goa. .
Since this was the first time that XSProject had the opportunity
to participate in a conference of this type, Retno was quite excited. She was able to share her experiences and
learn about accomplishments and best practices from other Fair Trade members..
The most pressing challenge that many faced has been the global recession,
because this has been making it harder for
members to generate sustainable income for their producers and
artisans. Other issues discussed during
the conference included branding, product visibility, and the need for living
wages among the producers.
As a result of the conference, the President and Board of the
World Fair Trade Organization will focus more intently on creating a standard
brand, increasing the visibility of Fair Trade members, simplifying the membership process, and expanding
distribution by creating an outlet for WFTO members.
XSProject was honored to be at this conference, and looks forward to future opportunities to benefit from its WFTO membership.
Links:
