It is my heart intention I want to pour
to you whom I miss so much
I wonder where you have gone
Only your shadow I dream about

That was a couplet sung by Devi, 11, a street child from a Balernik Halfway House, who attended the launching of storybook Journey in Coal Mine.

Devi’s loud voice echoed in the auditorium of Bulungan Youth Sport Center Jakarta. The touched verses and the singer’s full comprehension made the audience moved to pity. Even some of them dropped their tears.

Devi was not the only street children there, but there were other 400 street children and orphans who took part in that event. All of four hundred children came from six different halfway houses, that is, Saja, Balernik, Melati Taman Bacaan, Galeri Kita, Taman Bacaan Warabal, dan Sancil.

The event was held by PT Indo Tambangraya Megah Tbk. (ITM). That was a part of corporate social responsibility program focusing on education aimed to promote reading interest among Indonesian children. All board of directors attended the Wednesday event.

“By reading a lot, people can bring his life to upper level,” President Director of ITM Somyot Ruchirawat said. ITM was coal mining company from Thailand.

The children looked enthusiastic in following the program guided by a master ceremony. Particularly during the quiz season when the MC gave them a bundle of questions, every kid raised their hands all at once.

They competed to answer. The atmosphere became glowing. Watching the innocent creatures acted straightforwardly, the president director smiled.

The occasion was also filled by story told by Big Brother Heru Prakoso from Mutiara Indonesia and by shows from each halfway house. Besides, the representatives from each halfway house showed many performances to their counterparts and guests.

The children, most of them were street musician, showed their ability in playing musical instruments. For example, Indah, Haris, Maya, and Rizal, who were from Saja Halfway, provided ‘Ibu Kita Kartini” song (Our Mother Kartini) while Tiara from Taman Bacaan Warabal sung ‘Bunda’ (Mother), which composed by Melly Goeslow, in solo.

The most impressive performance was when Ripai, 17, Tison, 16, Misday, 16, and Devi, 11 sung “Niat Hati’ (Heart Intention). The audience asked them for one more song.

Without saying too much, they fulfilled the audience will. So, ‘Lelaki Cadangan’ (Backed up Man) was sung that afternoon.

Misday, doing beggar singing around Pulo Gadung, said they needed only two days to practice. He had been 10 years joining the Halfway House Balernik in Pulo Gadung.

The singer, Devi, had joint Balernik since she was on the 3rd grade of Elementary School. When asked whether she want to be singer some day, she answered, “I don’t know. I have not thought about that.”

Provided Freely

Cooperated with Erlangga Publishing, ITM printed the pictured storybook Journey in Coal Mine.

There were 3.000 books provided freely to some elementary schools in around Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi.

“ITM will publish other journey series in a near time,” Somyot, who favored The Toyota Way as his most inspired book in his life, said.

The storybook Journey in Coal Mine told about five children named Minko, Eston, Bain, Eka, and Adin, who visited a mine site.

There they saw and learnt many things, from the natural process of coal formation, the benefits of coal, the mining method, and the equipments needed in mining activity.

In this storybook, children will learn the importance of safety in mine site and the necessity of environmental conservation to avoid damage caused by mining activities.

Apart from getting this storybook, the children were provided a package of school stationery, fast-breaking food and drink, and of course, a piece of coal.

“I am delightful to be here, I hope you enjoy our program,” Somyot, who were fond of reading about company success story, said.

From Coal Mine to Halfway House