STORY ABOUT THE STREET CHILDREN SCOUT'S CHEAP BAZAAR : A LESSON OF LIFE FROM THEM WHO LEARN TO SURVIVE IN THEIR LIFE

In that afternoon our vehicle stops in front of the Kemayoran Central Jakarta Police Department. Where are those kids? A little bit confused for me. In the luxury environment of the apartment? Or inside the alley where small houses are located? I can’t imagine how can people live in that place. But, this is the reality beyond life in Jakarta.

Soon after, there’s a Rover Scout came approach us, named Irfan. A small dirty backpack always carried on his shoulder wherever he go. He witnesses how these kids survived everyday life with their own will and power.

After an appropriate greeting, he took us to some place between those alley. Don’t know where his steps took us. There’s only one thing I believe, this is our new journey to build our empathy for these street children scouts (in Bahasa Indonesia : "Pramuka Anak Jalanan Ibukota/ANJALI").

The Rover Scouts : Fabian, Putri, Ratih, Irfan, and Salma

Street children scout?
No, they are Scouts who live and survive on the street. They're part of "Ticket To Life" activities in Indonesia. On the days before Ramadhan ended, they held a "cheap bazaar" which sale used clothes to the people around the neighborhood. These used clothes collected from them who symphatized to this activity. Not only clothes, but shoes and dolls also.

One night before the day, Kak Burhan, the Scout Leader, tell me about the reason why they create this bazaar. All revenues from the sale of these used clothes will be dedicated for "a pocket money" of these street children scout in order to celebrate The Eid. I still remember when his wife, Kak Yulita, tell me more stories about these children. "We're not giving them fish, nor grilled fish. But only  a fishing rod. They need to catch their own fish by it. We're not teach them for begging or waiting for the charity, but how's continuing their life with honor on the Scout Law and Scout Promise".

Thank God... You make me sit together with these wondeful people...

Back to Fabian, Putri, Ratih, and Salma...the Rover Scouts from SMAN 68 (68 senior high school) who followed me and Irfan walking those narrow alley. “where are we going?”, one of them asked him. Irfan only replies with a smile on his face. Yes, we’re going to to The Bazaar with The Street Children Scout.

Then after 10 minutes walking on the alley... Surprise!!! there are about 50 people who willing to buy the used clothes from ANJALI Scout’s cheap bazaar. These kids who are selling clothes to the people also wear sober scout uniforms. Not like me, not like the rovers...



“Come on ladies and gentlemen, there’s new clothes coming...” one of them shouted to attract more buyers. Simultaneously, every single eye observe towards a plastic bag full of clothes, shoes, and a couple of dolls. There’s smile looked from their faces... Subhanallah... there’s a lot of people waiting for us to put out these clothes to our small wooden stand. Without waiting any longer, we take our position in this stand. New clothes are put out from another plastic bag to the tables where they sell it.






“And  the game begins!” the Rover Scouts have to compete with each other to sell these clothes, and the team with the most profit wins. Each of the team accompany with ANJALI Scout around the neighborhood to sell their clothes.

We still cannot believe our eyes that our clothes were sold within a minute. In fact when there’s a hippo doll and there were two ladies who fight for it. After bargaining, this doll which bought in Changi International Airport was sold at 3000 rupiahs (about 4 cents).
But it was hard for us when we try to sell a branded shoes for 20.000 rupiahs (about 21 cents). Too expensive? Don’t know…



“May I buy this one? I can use this for work” said one of the ANJALI Scout member.
“You already work?” I’m a little bit surprised.
“yes, I watch over some people store till night”, said that kid.
“ohh, I can give you this shoe for only 2000 rupiahs (about 3 cents) for you, give the money to Arif, okay?”
“yaaaay...” that kid looked very happy about that shoes.

God, please forgive me.... I should not ask the money for the shoes. I can gave it freely.
But no!, I just remember what Kak Yulita said to me last night... "We're not giving them fish, nor grilled fish. But only  a fishing rod. They need to catch their own fish by it. We're not teach them for begging or waiting for the charity, but how's continuing their life with honor on the Scout Law and Scout Promise"

There is another story about this bazaar when a Rover Scout named Putri Nuraini debates with a buyer about bargaining for a shirt and it took several minutes to convince the buyer to buy the shirt.

“1000 maybe?”, ask the buyer to Putri.
“that shirt costs 3000...”, she replied.
“can you make it 1000?...”, the buyer make a stand for the price.
“Yah mam... look, the shirt is still in good conditions. There is no ripped part on the shirt. Still looked new right? You must be pretty if you wear this in Eid...”
"hahaha... you must be joking. I'm not like you who pretty and good looking with any model of shirt... okay, how about 2000 rupiahs (about 3 cents)? Ask the buyer to Putri
“okay, you can take it...”,Putri gave the shirt for only 2000 rupiahs.



Now time shows at 3 o’clock. There’s 30 minutes left before the game’s over and closing the bazaar before Ashar Prayer and getting ready for break fasting.

"Kak Fuad, we're going to make direct selling from door to door to sale the clothes..." said one of the rovers named Ratih to me.
"What??? from door to door???"
"Yes, I got Putri and Adit in my team", she said with a little Boy Scout who wear a blue cap with them.
"Where willl you going ?"
"Just around here and then to the apartment..."
"Apartment? That building???"
"Sure... Okay, we don't have much time. It's less than 30 minutes..." then they leave me alone there.
God, please protect and bless them with your love and care...






That special day was closed with break fasting together with the Alumni from SMAN 68 Crew and from the donator from Leo Club Jakarta Cosmo Teens, then we conduct a ceremony to commemorate Indonesian Scout Day. Yes... this is our scout’s day… the day when all scouts renew their Scout Promise. All Indonesian Scouts, without exception...
Not only the scout who wears expensive uniforms... but also them, scouts who look sober, but still.. they love their red-white scarft around their neck…




Many smiles and cheers end the day.
The arrogane of the tall building was breaking down now with the brotherhood of fully-gadget teenagers and the street children. They united by their love to this movement, to "the fleur-de-lis", and The Sprouting Coconut (the Gerakan Pramuka Logo).

Eid Mubarak !!!


Fu/DSI
Fa/LRI
Photos by Ratih Amelia

Kak Burhan with the street children scouts before the break fasting

The Alumni of 68 SHS Rover Crew

With Leo Club Jakarta Cosmo Teens

Kak Yulita with her TTL Team

a warm brotherhood after all activities

sumber :
Diperoleh dari catatan Kak Fuad Zaen (Scouter Fuad) di Facebook-nya di :
http://www.facebook.com/notes/scouter-fuad/story-about-the-street-children-scouts-cheap-bazaar-a-lesson-of-life-from-them-w/10151179179811014